University of Sargodha | Pakistan
Prof. Rashad Mukhtar Balal is a leading horticultural researcher and academician currently heading the Department of Horticulture at the University of Sargodha. He holds a PhD in Pomology, Biotechnology, and Horticultural Stress Physiology and earlier earned an MPhil in Horticultural Biotechnology and a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture. Over more than two decades, he has served in roles from Assistant Professor to full Professor, with visiting appointments at Cornell University (USA) and Harper Adams University (UK). His research spans Pomology, stress physiology of horticultural crops, biotechnology, citrus rootstocks and nursery management, off-season vegetable production, and the use of phytoextracts to mitigate abiotic and biotic stress. According to his profile on ScienceDirect, He has received numerous national and international recognitions, including the ASHS Outstanding Research Publication Award, national innovation awards, and accolades for establishing certified disease-free citrus nurseries. Through leading significant funded projects and mentoring many MPhil and PhD scholars, he continues to advance horticultural research and education in Pakistan.
Featured Publications
Shahid, M. A., Sarkhosh, A., Khan, N., Balal, R. M., Ali, S., Rossi, L., Gómez, C., … (2020). Insights into the physiological and biochemical impacts of salt stress on plant growth and development. Agronomy, 10(7), 938.
Abbas, T., Balal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Ayyub, C. M., Aqueel, M. A., … (2015). Silicon-induced alleviation of NaCl toxicity in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is associated with enhanced photosynthesis, osmoprotectants and antioxidant activities. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 37(2), 6.
Khan, H. A., Ayub, C. M., Pervez, M. A., Bilal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., & Ziaf, K. (2009). Effect of seed priming with NaCl on salinity tolerance of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at seedling stage. Soil and Environment, 28(1), 81–87.
Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Balal, R. M., Mattson, N. S., Rashid, A., Ahmad, R., … (2011). Brassinosteroid (24-epibrassinolide) enhances growth and alleviates the deleterious effects induced by salt stress in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(5), 500–510.
Shahid, M. A., Balal, R. M., Khan, N., Zotarelli, L., Liu, G. D., Sarkhosh, A., … (2019). Selenium impedes cadmium and arsenic toxicity in potato by modulating carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 180, 588–599.