Prof. Mohammad Masroor Akhtar Khan

Biography

M. Masroor A. Khan is a Professor at Department of Botany, AMU, Aligarh, India. After completing his Ph.D. from AMU, he got an offer from Cambridge University, UK for another PhD degree but he preferred to join the Ohio State University, USA as a PDF (1987-88). On his return from USA, he worked as Pool Scientist (CSIR) and as a Research Associate (CSIR and UGC) and then appointed as Assistant Professor in this University. Prof. Khan has published more than 120 research papers appearing in internationally recognized journals and eight books in the subject concerned. He has guided 8 Ph.D., 2 M.Phil. and 27 M.Sc. projects to date. Two of his students, namely, Dr Mu Naeem and Dr Tariq Aftab are working as Assistant Professor in this department. Prof. Khan is working to promote the productivity and active ingredients of medicinal and aromatic plants using different strategies, e.g. application of mineral nutrition, PGRs and nanoparticles. Prof. Khan has contributed greatly towards the establishment of Radiation-Processed Polysaccharides (RPPs) as plant growth promoters. He is involved the research collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai to formulate the RPPs which would help masses to increase the productivity of medicinal and aromatic plants and their active constituents. He has been successful in achieving this goal so far and has published his research on the effects of RPPs on medicinal and aromatic plants in high impact factor journals such as Carbohydrate Polymers, Industrial Crops and Products etc. The formulations are going to be just launched in the market for the farmers. His another field of research is nanoparticles. Dr Khan has found that application of some nanoparticles could enhance the essential oil production of some aromatic plants. Recently, he has a filed application for patent to the Govt. of India on enhanced peppermint production through the application inexpensive silicon nanoparticles. On the other hand, he has developed a lot of study materials and launched more than 130 class notes, PPTs etc. on this web-page for the convenience of the students.

Research Interest

Plant Physiology, Medicinal Plants, Radiation Biology, Nanotecnology & Algae