Journal of Plant Pathology

Affiliation: Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dr. Muhammad Rafiq is currently serving as an Assistant Researcher at the Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Jiujiang, China. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, where his doctoral research focused on the biological management of black scurf disease in potatoes using biofertilizers and Asteraceae weeds.

Dr. Rafiq specializes in plant pathology, medicinal plants, and green chemistry. His research interests include the development of antimicrobial agents from natural sources, stress biology, and the production of medicinal and functional plant products. He possesses strong expertise in plant physiological studies, compound isolation and characterization using GC-MS, HPLC, and SEM, and has demonstrated proficiency in conducting both field and lab-based research.

Throughout his career, he has held positions in academia, industry, and international research institutions. His international experience includes a research fellowship at Iowa State University (USA) where he studied antifungal compounds from Silybum marianum. Prior to his current role in China, he served as Technical Manager at Abdullah Haseeb Agrochemicals in Pakistan, where he led integrated pest management programs and biotechnological solutions for crop diseases.

Dr. Rafiq has published over 25 peer-reviewed research articles in renowned journals, contributed a book chapter, and actively participated in international conferences and scientific training programs in the USA and China. His recent work focuses on the identification and quality assessment of traditional medicinal plants, TCM plant industrialization, and natural product development.

He is a member of professional societies including the Pakistan Phytopathological Society, the Pakistan Society of Food Scientists and Technologists, and the Jiangxi Botanical Society in China.