Mudassir Iqbal

My research focuses on managing major strawberry diseases such as grey mould, crown and root rot, and anthracnose using the beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. I study its interaction with resistant and susceptible cultivars, exploring the genetic basis of resistance and conducting metabolomic analyses to identify bioactive compounds that suppress pathogens. In parallel, I am also developing sustainable strategies for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes affecting both horticultural and agricultural systems. My research aims to advance practical, science-based approaches for sustainable and eco-friendly crop management.

19. Mazhar, S., Hyder, S., Khan, B. S., Gondal, A. S., Ahmed, R., Iqra, I., and Iqbal, M. (2025). Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using guava leaves: an effective strategy to control chilli fruit rot disease. BMC Plant Biology 25.499.

18. Iqbal, M., Andreasson, E., and Stenberg, J. A. (2023). Biocontrol of strawberry diseases by Aureobasidium pullulans and sugar beet extract under field conditions. Journal of Plant Pathology 105: 933-941.

17. Iqbal, M., Broberg, A., Andreasson, E., and Stenberg, J. A. (2023). Biocontrol potential of beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum. Phytopathology 113: 1428-1438.

16. Iqbal, M., Jützeler, M., França, S. C., Wäckers, F., Andreasson, E., and Stenberg, J. A. (2022). Bee-Vectored Aureobasidium pullulans for biocontrol of gray mold in strawberry. Phytopathology 112: 232-237.

15. Iqbal, M., Jamshaid, M., Zahid, M. A., Andreasson, E., Vetukuri, R. A., and Stenberg, J. A. (2021). Biological control of strawberry crown rot, root rot and grey mould by the beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. BioControl 66: 535-545.

14. Iqbal, M., Broberg, M., Haarith, D., Broberg, A., Bushley, K., Mikael, B. D., Viketoft, M., Jensen, D. F., Dubey, M. and Karlsson, M. (2020). Natural variation of root lesion nematode antagonism in the biocontrol fungus Clonostachys rosea and identification of biocontrol factors through genome‐wide association mapping. Evolutionary Applications 13: 2264-2283.

13. Broberg M, Dubey M, Iqbal M, Gudmundssson M, Ihrmark K, Schroers H, Funck Jensen D, Brandström Durling M. and Karlsson M (2020). Comparative genomics highlights the importance of drug efflux transporters during evolution of mycoparasitism in Clonostachys subgenus Bionectria (Fungi, Ascomycota, Hypocreales). Evolutionary Applications 14: 476-497.

12. Iqbal, M., Dubey, M., Broberg, A., Viketoft, M., Funck Jensen, D. and Karlsson, M. (2019). Deletion of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene nps1 in the fungus Clonostachys rosea attenuates antagonism and biocontrol of plant pathogenic Fusarium and nematodes. Phytopathology 109: 1698-1709.

11. Hyder, S., Inam-ul-Haq, M., Fatima, N., Hannan, A., Alam, M. and Iqbal, M. (2019). First report of root rot of tomato caused by Phytophthora syringae in Pakistan. Plant Disease 103: 590.

10. Iqbal, M., Dubey, M., Gudmundsson, M., Viketoft, M., Jensen, D.F. and Karlsson, M. (2018). Comparative evolutionary histories of fungal proteases reveal gene gains in the mycoparasitic and nematode-parasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea. BMC Evolutionary Biology 18: 171.

9. Nygren, K., Dubey, M., Zapparata, A., Iqbal, M., Tzelepis, G.D., Durling, M.B., Jensen, D.F. and Karlsson, M. (2018). The mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea responds with both common and specific gene expression during interspecific interactions with fungal prey. Evolutionary Applications 11: 931-949.

8. Hyder, S., Inam-ul-Haq, M., Ashfaq, M., Ahmad, A., Gondal, A. and Iqbal, M. (2018). First report of Pythium myriotylum D., causing damping off and root rot in chili pepper (Capsicum annum L.) from Punjab, Pakistan. Plant Disease 102: 687.

7. Iqbal, M., Dubey, M., McEwan, K., Menzel, U., Franko, M.A., Viketoft, M., Jensen, D.F. and Karlsson, M. (2018). Evaluation of Clonostachys rosea for control of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil and in roots of carrot and wheat. Phytopathology 108: 52-59.

6. Iqbal, M., Ehlers, R.-U. and Waeyenberge, L. (2016). Molecular characterisation of novel isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes. Nematology 18: 277-291.

5. Jabbar, A., Aleem, S.A., Iqbal, M.A., Javed, N., Shahbaz, M.U. and Iqbal, M. (2014). Determination of resistance in chickpea germplasm against Ascochyta rabiei (Pass L.) and its chemical management. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 26: 75-83.

4. Waris, M., ul Haq, I., Khan, S.A., Iqbal, M., Shoaib, M. and Ullah, Z. (2014). Screening of cucumber varieties against downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) and its chemical management. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 26: 21-24.

3. Haq, I.U., Zaman, Z., Habib, A., Javed, N., Khan, S.A., Iqbal, M. and Ihsan, J. (2014). Assessment of yield losses caused by purple blotch disease in onion (Allium cepa L.) and its management. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 26: 225-232.

2. Haq, I.U., Sarwar, M.K., Khan, S.A., Javed, N., Khan, N.A., Iqbal, M. and Umar, U.D. (2014). Seedling root rot of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush) and its chemical management. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 26: 233-240.

1. Zia, A., Zia, K., Anwar, S. and Iqbal, M. (2014). Distribution and association of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) with tomato crop in Faisalabad district. Pakistan Journal of Nematology 32: 1-6. 

Ph.D in Plant Biology with specialisation in Plant Pathology.

1. Beneficial fungus can save strawberries from grey mould (SLU news, 2023).

2. Participated in a TV news interview about the biological control of strawberry diseases (SVT, 2020).

3. Participated in media interviews discussing the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes (2018).

4. Research on Clonostachys rosea highlighted its potential in controlling plant-parasitic nematodes and was featured in SLU News and agricultural magazines (2018).