Naweed’s Lab utilizes an integrated strategy of microbiomes, molecular genetics, cell signaling, chemical biology as well as novel biotechnological and multi-omics tools to precisely enhance yield and resilience in important food crops. The long-term goal is to enhance food security and build climate resilience in agri-food systems while mitigating climate impact in a sustainable manner. Naweed Lab harnesses plant-microbe systems and biotic interactions to enhance crop productivity via improved growth and stress resilience. Strategically apply their molecular understanding of intra- and interkingdom biotic exchanges (beneficial and pathogenic) to:

• Improve disease resistance in urban and traditional crops.
• Identify plant growth-promoting microbes
• Identify biocontrol agents against fungal diseases in important crops
• Provide microbial solutions for climate-proof and stress-resilient crops for next-generation sustainable agriculture

Naweed’s lab explores the basic molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions, with the aim to discover specific signalling and metabolic programmes evolved by fungal pathogens that infect and colonise host tissues. The lab utilises the blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and its major host, rice, as a model pathosystem for fungal virulence and host specificity. Molecular genetics, cell biology, systems biology, chemical biology and synthetic biology approaches are also adopted for the understanding of infection-related development and fungus-plant interactions to develop novel antifungal agents for disease control. While natural variation in blast populations and the extent of blast resistance or susceptibility in rice/wheat cultivars are being investigated, Naweed hopes to develop rapid diagnostics for precise detection of important fungal pathogens, in particular Xylaria and Magnaporthe, under field conditions. The lab looks forward to developing next generation research specialists in precision farming and agri-biotechnology, as well as extending external collaborations to local and international agencies..

Naweed’s lab identified several beneficial fungal and bacterial isolates that can significantly improve disease resistance and crop yield in urban (leafy greens) and traditional crops (rice and sugarcane). Some of these biomes have been successfully tested under field trials in farms and plantations.

In the Decarbonizing Rice project (funded by Temasek Trust, Philanthropy Asia Alliance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bayshore Global), Naweed Lab is involved in harnessing beneficial microbiomes, plant physiology and modern agronomy to reduce methane emissions and water use while improving rice production in a nature-based sustainable manner.