Four M.Phil Scholars Successfully Defend Their Theses in the Department of Botany
The Department of Botany, Women University Mardan, successfully conducted the M.Phil Thesis Viva Voce Examinations on 14 July 2026. Four M.Phil scholars successfully defended their research theses and qualified for the award of the M.Phil degree.
The scholars included Ms. Khushboo Khalil, supervised by Dr. Naveen Dilawar, and Ms. Sunaina Kakkar, Ms. Urooj Naseer, and Ms. Rabia Sher, supervised by Dr. Maimoona Ilyas.
The research supervised by Dr. Naveen Dilawar focused on plant stress physiology and plant–microbe interactions, with particular emphasis on the application of beneficial rhizospheric fungi to enhance crop resilience under salinity and waterlogging stress. The work explored sustainable biological approaches for improving wheat growth, physiological performance, and stress tolerance, contributing to climate-resilient agriculture and environmentally friendly crop management strategies.
The research supervised by Dr. Maimoona Ilyas demonstrated expertise in microbial and molecular genetics, involving the comparative analysis of genetic diversity in Sordaria fimicola strains from contrasting environmental conditions. The studies employed molecular genetics and bioinformatics approaches to characterize nucleotide- and protein-level variations in the β-xylanase, Endo-1,4-β-xylanase, and EFM4 genes across multiple fungal strains. The findings provide valuable insights into how environmental stress drives genetic variation, molecular evolution, and adaptive mechanisms in fungi.
The viva voce examinations were evaluated by distinguished external examiners. Prof. Dr. Anwar Hussain, Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, served as the External Examiner for Ms. Khushboo Khalil, while Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hamayun, Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, served as the External Examiner for Ms. Sunaina Kakkar, Ms. Urooj Naseer, and Ms. Rabia Sher.
The Department extends its sincere gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana, for her continued support in promoting quality research and academic excellence. Appreciation is also extended to Dr. Hira Bashir, Head of the Department of Botany, for her guidance and facilitation in the successful conduct of the viva voce examinations.
The Department of Botany congratulates the graduating scholars, their supervisors, and the external examiners on this significant achievement and wishes the graduates continued success in their future academic, research, and professional endeavors
