CEMB Centre of Excellence in
Molecular Biology University of the Punjab
Plant Biotechnology Lab team photo at CEMB

Research laboratory

Plant Biotechnology

The Plant Biotechnology Group advances crop improvement through CRISPR genome editing, molecular breeding and plant-based vaccine platforms, with a focus on cotton, potato and edible vaccines for livestock.

Research with field and farm impact

From precise gene edits to crops and vaccines that work in the field.

Under Prof. Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rao, the group uses CRISPR-Cas9, CRISPR-Cpf1 (Cas12a) and CRISPR-Cas13 to improve cotton’s tolerance to abiotic stress, insect pests and fungal disease, and to extend potato shelf life, disease resistance and nutritional value. It has developed a transgene-free genome-editing technology based on FLP-FRT site-specific recombination, and plant-based edible vaccine candidates against Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease using maize and alfalfa. Through training, technology transfer and industry collaboration, the group turns these advances into practical solutions for sustainable agriculture, food security and animal health.

CRISPR genome editingCotton & potato improvementPlant-based edible vaccines
23
research scholars
9
commercialised cotton varieties with Seed Biotechnology
4
patents granted by IPO Pakistan
4
plant-based vaccine candidates

Research programme

Six programmes, one mission.

Genome editing, molecular breeding and plant molecular farming, pursued together for crops, livestock and poultry.

  1. 01

    Cotton improvement

    Tolerance to drought, heat, waterlogging and salinity; resistance to pink bollworm, whitefly, aphids, jassids, thrips and Cotton Leaf Curl Virus; Verticillium- and Fusarium-wilt-resistant cultivars; and compact, early-flowering plant architecture.

  2. 02

    Potato improvement

    Longer shelf life and post-harvest quality, resistance to scab, PVX, PVY and fungal pathogens, biofortification with essential vitamins, and higher biomass and productivity.

  3. 03

    Advanced genome editing

    CRISPR-Cas9, Cpf1/Cas12a and Cas13 with multiplexed editing, integrated with functional genomics and molecular breeding for high-yielding, climate-smart cultivars.

  4. 04

    Transgene-free genome editing

    FLP-FRT site-specific recombination to excise selectable markers and other introduced elements, producing genome-edited plants without stable foreign DNA.

  5. 05

    Plant-based edible vaccines

    Vaccine candidates against NDV, IBDV, AIV and FMDV expressed in maize and alfalfa, with antigen stability, immunogenicity and efficacy evaluated for livestock and poultry.

  6. 06

    Translation & capacity building

    Workshops and hands-on training in genome editing, technology transfer and R&D support for industry, and academia–industry partnerships for agriculture and veterinary sectors.

Translation & outcomes

Varieties, patents and vaccine candidates.

Commercialised cotton varieties, granted patents, genome-edited potato lines and plant-based vaccines in trials.

01

Developed four insect-resistant cotton varieties through the Seed Biotechnology Group’s breeding programme, approved by the Punjab Seed Council and commercialised as CEMB 33, CA12, CEMB 66 and CEMB 100

02

Developed five insect- and herbicide-resistant cotton varieties with the CEMB Seed Biotechnology Group, approved by the Punjab Seed Council and commercialised as CKC1, CKC3, CKC5, CKC6 and CEMB AAS3

03

Developed five-gene cotton lines (trade name CKK) with enhanced resistance to chewing and sucking insects, transferred to the Seed Biotechnology Group for variety development

04

Developed fusion-gene technology for the CKC and CKK cotton platforms to sustain resistance against pink bollworm and whitefly

05

Developed genetic strategies against sucking insects through wax-structure, terpenoid-biosynthesis, lectin, aspartic-acid and jasmonic-acid pathway genes, transferred to the breeding team

06

Developed an alternative insect-control strategy based on methanol production on the cotton leaf surface

07

Improved fibre length, strength and micronaire in transgenic cotton, and raised Desi cotton (G. arboreum) staple length and micronaire to 26.2 mm and 5.6

08

Established CRISPR/Cas9, Cas12, Cas13 and RNAi approaches against cotton and potato viruses, improved drought tolerance through transcription-factor expression, and engineered the flavonoid pathway in cotton

09

Developed genome-edited potato with enhanced shelf life (commercialisation in progress), plus pathogen-resistant and biofortified potato lines

10

Developed plant-based oral vaccine candidates against NDV, AIV and IBDV in alfalfa and maize, and an edible vaccine candidate against FMDV; trials are in progress

11

Achieved expression of human serum albumin in Aloe vera for potential cosmetic use, particularly products that reduce the appearance of dark circles

12

Patents granted (IPO Pakistan): novel transgenic approach to decrease the cost of cotton production (#142243, 2016); NDV edible vaccine in plants (#144424, 2025); CRISPR/Cas9 editing of potato vacuolar invertase to reduce cold-induced sweetening (#144591, 2026); Vip3Aa and ASAL vector for insect-resistant cotton (#144596, 2026)

13

Patent applications submitted (IPO Pakistan): CRISPR-based editing against insect pests and viruses (222/2022); edible vaccine against avian influenza H9N2 (223/2022); resilience of transgenic insect-resistant cotton (1/2024); Aloe vera modified with human serum albumin (699/2024); chloroplast expression vector for Medicago sativa (667/2026)

14

Testing services: photosynthetic activity by infrared gas analyser (PKR 500 per sample); FISH transgene detection (PKR 10,000 per sample); FISH with karyotyping (PKR 15,000 per sample)

Research group

Faculty leading the programme.

Expertise across genome editing, cotton and potato biotechnology, molecular breeding and plant-based vaccine development.

Research students

The questions shaping tomorrow’s crops and vaccines.

15 PhD scholars8 MPhil scholars

PhD research scholars 15

Sahar Sadaqat

Sahar Sadaqat

PhD Research Scholar

Functional genomics to genome editing: plant stress and disease management via Cpf1-based genome editing in cotton

Muhammad Awais

Muhammad Awais

PhD Research Scholar

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing to develop transgene-free, biotic-stress-resistant potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Muhammad Saad Bhutta

Muhammad Saad Bhutta

PhD Research Scholar

Development of a poly-epitope-based edible vaccine targeting structural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus in Medicago sativa

Huda Rehman Mir

PhD Research Scholar

Targeted acetolactate synthase gene mutagenesis: an approach to generate multiple-herbicide resistance in cotton

Sehar Zulfiqar

Sehar Zulfiqar

PhD Research Scholar

Tailoring cotton architecture with genomic bioengineering to improve high-density cultivation and mechanical harvest

Sidra Qayyum

Sidra Qayyum

PhD Research Scholar

Development of a chimeric edible vaccine targeting structural proteins of Newcastle disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus

Sania Naeem

Sania Naeem

PhD Research Scholar

CRISPR/Cas-mediated glycoengineering of alfalfa for enhanced immunogenicity of a multi-epitope Newcastle disease virus vaccine

Narmeen Tariq Zaman

Narmeen Tariq Zaman

PhD Research Scholar

Targeted genetic manipulation of cotton defence mechanisms for sustainable resistance against sucking pests

Noreen Iftikhar

Noreen Iftikhar

PhD Research Scholar

Precision engineering of the florigen–antiflorigen transcriptional module for early flowering, stress escape and climate-resilient cotton

Pashma Nawaz

Pashma Nawaz

PhD Research Scholar

CRISPR/Cas9-driven modification of potato dry matter and starch for improved nutritional properties

Samran Sardar

Samran Sardar

PhD Research Scholar

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of a stress-responsive regulatory gene to reduce boll shedding in cotton

Laiba Khalid

Laiba Khalid

PhD Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2030 · research title to be finalised

Rutaab Shereen

Rutaab Shereen

PhD Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2030 · research title to be finalised

Taimia Mujahid

Taimia Mujahid

PhD Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2030 · research title to be finalised

Zaveeba Shahid

Zaveeba Shahid

PhD Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2030 · research title to be finalised

MPhil research scholars 8

Aleeza Khan

Aleeza Khan

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Maryam Shaukat

Maryam Shaukat

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Sara Sherazi

Sara Sherazi

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Minhal Malik

Minhal Malik

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Emaan

Emaan

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Hina Javed

Hina Javed

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Jaweria Naz

Jaweria Naz

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Musfira Ashraf

Musfira Ashraf

MPhil Research Scholar

Newly enrolled, 2025–2027 · research title to be finalised

Research funding

Fifteen years of national and international funding.

Projects funded by HEC, the Pakistan Science Foundation, the Punjab Agriculture Research Board, the Islamic Development Bank, the Humboldt Foundation, ICARDA and industry.

Active projects

Targeted regulation of the GoPGF pathway by GhANT overexpression for enhanced insect resistance in cottonNRPU, HEC · 2026–2028 · PKR 10.527 million
Internal genetic switching for TPS12-mediated cotton resistance against sucking insectsNRPU, HEC · PKR 10.023 million
Development of Verticillium wilt and abiotic stress-resistant cottonCollaborative project with Azerbaijan · Islamic Development Bank · 2022–2025 · USD 150,000
CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-edited potatoes with enhanced shelf lifeHEC Technology Development Fund · PKR 9.423 million

Completed projects

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of LOV1 and AOS2 genes to impart biotic stress resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum)HEC CPEC-CRG-P2 386 · PKR 12.963 million
Development of climate-resilient, drought- and heat-resistant cotton via Cpf1 multiplex editingNSLP, Pakistan Science Foundation · 2023–2026 · PKR 6.0 million
Development of climate-smart cotton by editing Arginase (GhArg) genesLCF, HEC · 2022–2024 · PKR 3.8 million
Regulating the NAD salvage pathway in cotton for drought stress toleranceCollaborative project with LUMS · NRPU, HEC · 2022–2025 · PKR 9.5 million
Enhancement of omega-3 fatty acids in maizeNRPU, HEC · 2022–2025 · PKR 3.7 million
Improving the cosmetic impact of Aloe vera on human skin through genetic modification with the human serum albumin genePunjab Higher Education Commission · 2021–2023 · PKR 5.0 million
Control of cotton insects through a modified combination of Bt and plant lectinNRPU, HEC · 2018–2021 · PKR 2.45 million
International equipment subsidy grantHumboldt Foundation · 2018–2019 · 14,900
An alternative approach to combat pink bollworm infestation in cottonNRPU, HEC · 2018–2021 · PKR 4.59 million
Cas9-mediated engineering of the Solanum tuberosum VInv gene to reduce tuber sweetening during long-term storageHEC · 2019–2022 · PKR 9.7 million
Laboratory bioassays of maize stem borer to determine Bt protein efficacyPioneer Seed Corporation, USA · 2014–2016 · USD 50,000
Transformation of gene constructs and engineered germplasm resistant to cotton leaf curl disease and its insect vectorPak-US ICARDA project · 2011–2017 · USD 65,043
Development of transgenic cotton with multiple genes resistant to cotton leaf curl virusPunjab Agriculture Research Board, project 426 · 2011–2017 · PKR 5.281 million
Genetic improvement of cotton for herbicide and bollworm tolerancePunjab Agriculture Research Board · 2010–2017 · PKR 14.58 million
Development and commercialisation of cotton leaf curl virus-resistant, glyphosate-resistant transgenic cotton hybridsPunjab Agriculture Research Board · 2012–2016 · PKR 13.17 million
Novel approach to generate wide-spectrum resistance to cotton begomovirusesPunjab Agriculture Research Board · 2014–2015 · PKR 1.10 million

Collaborate with the lab

Bring a crop or vaccine challenge. Build the edited solution.

Contact the group lead