Activities of Plant Biotechnology Laboratory for the support of horticulture industry of Afghanistan 1 AGA KHAN FOUNDATION Afghanistan By: Shamsur Rehman National manager NRM lab: Plant Biotechnology Laboratory AGA KHAN FOUNDATION AFGHANISTAN

 Agriculture as primary engine of Afghanistan’s recovering economy  Agriculture was thriving in 1970s  Today incapable of competing in international market  Rejuvenation of horticulture industry is government priority (Agriculture Master Plan 2005)

 Health status of germplasm National Collections of local and exotic fruit varieties Mother Stock Nurseries Insure propagation of cleaned planting material  Data base for plant pathogens  Phytosanitary certification scheme  Support to MAIL  Diseases control strategies  Provision of capacity building 3

4  Pathogens testing Serological assay (ELISA) Molecular technique (PCR) Microbiology Unit Nematode Extraction Biological Indexing  Tissue culture unit Micropropagation Micrografting Production of clonal rootstock

 Analyzed the National Collections (Stone fruits) Apricot (PHD center Kabul) Almond (PHD center Mazar) Plum (PHD center Herat) Grape (PHD center Herat) Citrus (PHD center Jalalabad)  Analyses of MSNs Citrus (Jalalabad, Kunar, Laghman) Stone fruits (Kabul, Mazar ) 5

 Detected plant viruses in Afghanistan PNRSV in almond PNRSV in plum and peach CTV in Citrus GFLV in grape  Capacity building NGOs technical staff MAIL technical staff University students(Internship) 6

 Genus (Closterovirus)  The most destructive virus among 30 citrus viruses or virus-like diseases.  Killed or rendered unproductive(1989) ◦ Argentina more than18 million trees ◦ Brazilmore than10 million trees ◦ Spainmore than 40 million trees  Can infect all citrus species, cultivars and hybrids.  From mild to severe

Thanks for your attention 8