Environmental Science, Mycology, Virology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology
The Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) in Egypt is the country’s largest applied agricultural research institution, headquartered in Giza. It plays a critical role in advancing crop production, livestock, and sustainable farming practices to ensure food security and agricultural development.
Mission and Objectives
• Food Security: Ensuring safe, high-quality food for Egypt’s population.
• Sustainability: Maximizing the use of land and water resources while promoting environmentally sustainable practices.
• Technology Transfer: Bridging research and practice by providing farmers with modern techniques and training.
• Economic Development: Supporting a competitive agricultural economy through innovation and applied research.
Structure and Research Areas
ARC is composed of 17 specialized research institutes and 13 central laboratories, covering:
• Crop production: Wheat, rice, maize, cotton, legumes, and horticulture.
• Animal production: Livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
• Plant protection: Pest management, plant pathology, and biotechnology.
• Soil and water research: Irrigation efficiency, soil fertility, and desert reclamation.
• Food technology: Post-harvest handling, food processing, and quality control.
Services and Outreach
• Training programs: Courses for students, graduates, and agricultural practitioners.
• Extension services: Guidance on best practices in crop and livestock production.
• Products: High-quality seeds, seedlings, honey, and other agricultural inputs.
• Collaborations: Works with international organizations (FAO, ICARDA, CIMMYT) to integrate global expertise.
Ahmed Abd El Aziz Kheder; I am an Assistant Professor at Agriculture Research Centre (ARC), Plant Pathology Research Institute, Virus and Phytoplasma Dept., Giza-Egypt. My MSc study focused extensively on the characterization and identification of peach rosette mosaic virus (PRMV) using molecular, biological and serological assays. I also used electron microscopy to detect the effect of virus disease on plant cells. My PhD project in Japan involved in mycoviruses detection and molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of the tomato pathotype of Alternaria alternata”. This project has given me an in-depth insight into different preparation and processing methods such as DNA/RNA extraction qPCR, PCR and RT-PCR techniques, cloning& sequencing, Transformation, gene knockout and gene over-expression, and nucleic acid hybridization. During Postdoctoral position at the united graduate school of agriculture science (UGSAS) Tottori University – Japan, 2012-2013. I have been working on the Global COE project. Which is funded by the Japanese government (JSPS) to identify and characterize the molecular mechanism of pathogenicity genes. During the visiting fellowship at the Nottingham University – UK, 2015 and 2016. I have been working on the development of RT-LAMP diagnostic techniques for RNA and DNA viruses, Phytoplasma and fungi and viruses of significance to Egyptian Crops. For international cooperation. I have been working on more than 12 international cooperation projects since 1999 until now, which is Funded by STDF, EURO (NATO), Global-COE (Japan) and MERC (USAID) as Principal Investigator (project PI), Co-PI and project team member in the basic group, through these projects I attended and organized the annual and semi-annual meetings in different countries such as (Egypt – Japan – South Korea – Taiwan – Italy – Greece – Spain – UK and Jordan).
Our lab is fully equipped and certified by ISO17025:2017. The laboratory uses the modern and advanced techniques for viruses and phytoplasma detection. It also includes unique and qualified expert researchers in this field.
Currently in Egypt, my research projects endeavours revolve around the molecular characterization, breeding for resistance, marker assisted selection, and identification of viruses, fungi and phytoplasma affecting Tomato, Potato, Strawberry, Cereal, Artichoke, Sugar beet, Citrus and Cucurbits crops and other strategic crops.
