Dr Naofel Aljafer
Profiles

Dr Naofel Aljafer

Research Fellow

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

Dr Aljafer is working with the FIND project to detect and diagnose plant diseases using imaging techniques: Chlorophyll Fluorescence (CF) Imaging and Normalised Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI). He is also aiming to optimise early detection methods of nutrient deficiency and disease symptoms for crops grown in open field, greenhouse, and plant factory systems.

Qualifications

2013 - 2017
Ph.D. in Biosciences: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham. (Thesis Title: Compare and improve phytoplasma diagnostics techniques and use the techniques at evaluate control strategies).
2011 - 2012
M.Sc. in Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate: School of Life Science, the University of Warwick.
2005 - 2009
B.Sc. (Hons) in Biotechnology BSc in Agriculture: Faculty of Agriculture Damascus University, Syria (2005/2009). The Graduate Project: Efficacy of Chemical Control against Fusarium Wilt Disease (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lentils) on lentils.

Professional membership

2014 - now Society of the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP), UK

2016 - now International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (Isber).

2019 - now New Phytologist Trust.

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

2013 - 2017

Demonstrator in Introductory Plant pathology Course for MSc students (C123P1), School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK.

2013 - 2017

Demonstrator in Integrated Disease Management for MSc students (D241DM), School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK.

2009 - 2010

Teaching & Research Assistant (Microbiology & Plant Protection) Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria.


Research

Research

Research interests

We are deploying fluorescence imaging equipment in vertical farming systems to monitor plant disease and nutritional status. We are working alongside our sister project, Plant Factory, in order to provide an integrated sensing system and we are developing knowledge which will allow for the automatic assessment of plant health.

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals

Aljafer, N. and Dickinson, M., 2021. Evaluating LAMP assays for detection of phytoplasmas classified in different ribosomal groups. Journal of Plant Pathology, pp.1-7.

Mohamed, S.J., Rihan, H.Z., Aljafer, N. and Fuller, M.P., 2021. The Impact of Light Spectrum and Intensity on the Growth, Physiology, and Antioxidant Activity of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Plants, 10(10), p.2162.

Abeysinghe, S., Abeysinghe, P.D., Kanatiwela-de Silva, C., Udagama, P., Warawichanee, K., Aljafar, N., Kawicha, P. and Dickinson, M., 2016. Refinement of the taxonomic structure of 16SrXI and 16SrXIV phytoplasmas of gramineous plants using multilocus sequence typing. Plant Disease, 100(10), pp.2001-2010.

Articles
Almowallad SA, Alshammari GM, Alsayadi MM, Aljafer N, Al-Sanea EA, Yahya MA & Al-Harbi LN (2022) 'Partial Purification and Characterization of Exo-Polygalacturonase Produced by Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 4153' Life 12, (2) , DOI Open access
Rihan HZ, Aljafer N, Jbara M, McCallum L, Lengger S & Fuller MP (2022) 'The Impact of LED Lighting Spectra in a Plant Factory on the Growth, Physiological Traits and Essential Oil Content of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)' Plants 11, (3) , DOI Open access
Mohamed SJ, Rihan HZ, Aljafer N & Fuller MP (2021) 'The Impact of Light Spectrum and Intensity on the Growth, Physiology, and Antioxidant Activity of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)' Plants 10, (10) , DOI Open access
Aljafer N & Dickinson M (2021) 'Evaluating LAMP assays for detection of phytoplasmas classified in different ribosomal groups' Journal of Plant Pathology 103, (4) 1315-1321 , DOI Open access
Personal

Personal

Conferences organised

2019   GARNet Workshop on Advances in Plant Imaging Workshop, University of Warwick, UK

 

2019    Plastid Preview 2019, University of York, UK

 

2018    The International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) in Turku, Finland.

 

2018   Plant Imaging, 3D X-ray imaging in Hounsfield Facility, the University of Nottingham, UK

2017    Plant Health: Challenges and Solutions workshop, Antalya, Turkey

2016  Learn How to Analyze Microarray and Next Generation Sequencing Data with Partek Software at Imperial College  London, UK.

 

2014     COST FA0807 – WG3 New Perspectives in phytoplasma Disease Management (Barcelona, Spin).

 

2013    COST FA0807 – WG1 School on Methodologies to improve phytoplasma DNA extraction from plants and insects (Ankara, Turkey).