Overview
Background
Dr Samir Alahmad is an early career plant breeder, geneticist and plant physiologist within the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at the University of Queensland. He graduated with a PhD degree in 2019 from the University of Queensland. His main focus is dissecting the genetics of complex traits that contribute to enhanced yield. In particular, his research is focused on better understanding the genetics of drought adaptive traits such as root system architecture and canopy development. He worked on two GRDC-funded projects that aimed to develop elite durum and bread wheat varieties with optimal root system architecture for improved yield. Dr Alahmad also focuses on integrating breeding technologies and high throughput UAV remote sensing technologies to better understand crop response to drought stress. His primary focus is to understand how spectral reflectance indices can be used to speed up the development of new resilient varieties with enhanced genetic gain. Dr Alahmad's interests are quantitative genetics, population genetics, genomic selection, machine learning, and UAV phenotyping.
Availability
- Dr Samir Alahmad is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Agriculture, Damascus University
- Masters (Research) of Agriculture, Damascus University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Winter cereals pre-breeding and genetics
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Investigating the value of root traits and canopy development in improving resilience and yield of cereal crops
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Developing elite lines with designed root system architecture for future climates
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Adapting wheat to drought and crown rot conditions
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Using UAV sensor technology to provide new means of evaluating plant root performance
Research impacts
Novel approach aimed at reducing yield losses under drought and crown rot conditions by optimising root system architecture, enhancing plant access to water in deep soils, and improving other water use efficiency traits such as canopy structure. Details of this work can be found https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/15/5260. In addition, the identification and management of crown rot disease for winter cereals are summarised in "Taking the stock of what we know about crown rot disease in Australia".
Rooty and GRDC projects aimed at the development of elite bread and durum wheat with modified root systems (different root ideotypes) targeting different environments and soil types are essential for placing a value on these below-ground traits. Information on the best root-environment-combination is crucial to defining breeding targets for Australian wheat breeding programs and delivering benefits to farmers and growers globally and here in Australia. To get more details about these projects, read the GRDC press release here
In 2022, I commenced a second postdoctoral research project (3 years) funded by an ARC-linkage grant which focuses on using cutting-edge breeding technologies to explore and harness variation in root systems and canopy development. This project aims to accelerate the development of stable, productive barley varieties for future Australian farms.
Works
Search Professor Samir Alahmad’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2011
Journal Article
Morphology and distribution of the Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica (Hardwicke, 1807), in Syria : (Rodentia: Gerbillinae)
Shehab, Adwan H., Al-Ahmad, Samir A. and Samara, Fauzy F. (2011). Morphology and distribution of the Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica (Hardwicke, 1807), in Syria : (Rodentia: Gerbillinae). Zoology in the Middle East, 52 (1), 3-10. doi: 10.1080/09397140.2011.10638473
2025
Conference Publication
Envirotyping to assist crop improvement in barley
Heidariask, B., Alahmad, S., Hickey, L. T., Smith, M., Severini, A., Baraibar, S., Moody, D., Ganesalingam, D. and Chenu, K. (2025). Envirotyping to assist crop improvement in barley. Breeding Horizons, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 21-25 July 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Phenotyping the hidden half: combining UAV phenotyping and machine learning to predict barley root traits in the field
Alahmad, Samir, Smith, Daniel, Katsikis, Christina, Aldiss, Zachary, Brunner, Stephanie M., Meer, Sarah V., Meijer, Lotus, Heidariask, Bita, Chenu, Karine, Chapman, Scott, Potgieter, Andries B., Wasson, Anton, Baraibar, Silvina, Godoy, Jayfred, Moody, David, Robinson, Hannah and Hickey, Lee T. (2025). Phenotyping the hidden half: combining UAV phenotyping and machine learning to predict barley root traits in the field. Journal of Experimental Botany eraf268. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraf268
2025
Journal Article
Time to flowering and flowering duration in mungbean are unrelated physiological traits with independent genetic controls
Dudley, Caitlin, Van Haeften, Shanice, Alahmad, Samir, Dinglasan, Eric, Hickey, Lee T., Robinson, Hannah, Beveridge, Christine, Udvardi, Michael, Noble, Thomas, Massel, Karen, Dun, Elizabeth A. and Smith, Millicent R. (2025). Time to flowering and flowering duration in mungbean are unrelated physiological traits with independent genetic controls. Journal Of Experimental Botany eraf222. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraf222
2025
Journal Article
Rooting for microbes: impact of root architecture on the microbial community and function in top- and subsoil
Lattacher, Adrian, Le Gall, Samuel, Rothfuss, Youri, Gao, Chao, Harings, Moritz, Pagel, Holger, Giraud, Mona, Alahmad, Samir, Hickey, Lee T., Kandeler, Ellen and Poll, Christian (2025). Rooting for microbes: impact of root architecture on the microbial community and function in top- and subsoil. Plant and Soil, 513 (1) 579904, 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s11104-024-07181-w
2024
Journal Article
Stacking beneficial haplotypes from the Vavilov wheat collection to accelerate breeding for multiple disease resistance
Tong, Jingyang, Tarekegn, Zerihun T., Jambuthenne, Dilani, Alahmad, Samir, Periyannan, Sambasivam, Hickey, Lee, Dinglasan, Eric and Hayes, Ben (2024). Stacking beneficial haplotypes from the Vavilov wheat collection to accelerate breeding for multiple disease resistance. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (12) 274, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04784-w
2024
Conference Publication
An integrated modelling and physiological approach to assist breeding for improved yield stability in barley
Heidariask, B., Alahmad, S., Hickey, L. T., Smith, M. and Chenu, K. (2024). An integrated modelling and physiological approach to assist breeding for improved yield stability in barley. Australian Barley Technical Symposium, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-14 August 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Mapping quantitative trait loci for seminal root angle in a selected durum wheat population
Kang, Yichen, Alahmad, Samir, Haeften, Shanice V., Akinlade, Oluwaseun, Tong, Jingyang, Dinglasan, Eric, Voss‐Fels, Kai P., Potgieter, Andries B., Borrell, Andrew K., Makhoul, Manar, Obermeier, Christian, Snowdon, Rod, Mace, Emma, Jordan, David R. and Hickey, Lee T. (2024). Mapping quantitative trait loci for seminal root angle in a selected durum wheat population. The Plant Genome, 18 (1) e20490, e20490. doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20490
2024
Journal Article
Seminal root angle is associated with root system architecture in durum wheat
Kang, Yichen, Rambla, Charlotte, Haeften, Shanice V., Fu, Brendan, Akinlade, Oluwaseun, Potgieter, Andries B., Borrell, Andrew K., Mace, Emma, Jordan, David R., Alahmad, Samir and Hickey, Lee T. (2024). Seminal root angle is associated with root system architecture in durum wheat. Food and Energy Security, 13 (4) e570. doi: 10.1002/fes3.570
2024
Journal Article
Characterizing stay-green in barley across diverse environments: unveiling novel haplotypes
Brunner, Stephanie M., Dinglasan, Eric, Baraibar, Silvina, Alahmad, Samir, Katsikis, Christina, van der Meer, Sarah, Godoy, Jayfred, Moody, David, Smith, Millicent, Hickey, Lee and Robinson, Hannah (2024). Characterizing stay-green in barley across diverse environments: unveiling novel haplotypes. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137 (6) 120, 120. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04612-1
2023
Conference Publication
Exploring the ‘hidden half’ of barley: characterising Australian barley for root distribution under field conditions
Katsikis, C., Robinson, H., Smith, M., Van Der Meer, A., Alahmad, S., Wu, A., Chenu, K., Moody, D. and Hickey, L. (2023). Exploring the ‘hidden half’ of barley: characterising Australian barley for root distribution under field conditions. Australian Society of Plant Scientists Conference, Hobart, TAS Australia, 28 November - 1 December 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Exploring the ‘hidden half’ of barley: characterising Australian barley for root distribution in the field
Katsikis, C., Robinson, H., Smith, M., Van Der Meer, S., Alahmad, S., Wu, A., Chenu, K., Moody, D. and Hickey, L. (2023). Exploring the ‘hidden half’ of barley: characterising Australian barley for root distribution in the field. NextGen Ag Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 September 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Root angle and how much does it matter?
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Aldiss, Zachary, Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., De Faveri, J., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2023). Root angle and how much does it matter?. The Plant & Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, CA United States, 13-18 January 2023.
2022
Conference Publication
Exploring the potential of using UAV phenotyping platforms to support breeding for improved root systems
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Smith, D., van Haeften, S., Rambla, C., Meer, S.V., Smith, M., Christopher, J., Chenu K, Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Chapman, S., Potgieter, A.B., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). Exploring the potential of using UAV phenotyping platforms to support breeding for improved root systems. 7th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Wageningen, Netherlands, 27-30 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
From lab to field: a major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Aldiss, Z., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Potgieter, A.B., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). From lab to field: a major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat. International Wheat Congress, Beijing, China, 11-15 September 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Exploring root-shoot dynamics to enhance yield potential and stability of future wheat cultivars
Alahmad, S., Kang, Y., Rambla, C., Meer, S.V., Smith, M., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Smith, D., Chapman, S., Watt, M., Ober, E., Potgieter, A.B., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). Exploring root-shoot dynamics to enhance yield potential and stability of future wheat cultivars. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
A major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat
Kang, Y., Alahmad, S., Aldiss, Z., Christopher, J., Chenu, K., Able, J.A., Voss-Fels, K.P., Potgieter, A.B., Jordan, D.R., Borrell, A.K., Wasson, A. and Hickey, L.T. (2022). A major QTL to modify root system architecture in elite durum wheat. Wheat Breeding Assembly, Narrabri, NSW Australia, 28-31 August 2022.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Samir Alahmad is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Expanding the barley breeding toolkit to support the development of leaf rust-resistant cultivars
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Yasmine Lam
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Doctor Philosophy
Physiological traits and environmental characterisation to improve yield stability in barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Millicent Smith, Dr Alan Severini, Associate Professor Karine Chenu
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Doctor Philosophy
Insights into the associations between functional above ground plant traits and root function for drought adaptation in sorghum.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Barbara George-Jaeggli, Dr Dongxue Zhao, Associate Professor Andries Potgieter
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into designer root systems for durum wheat improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Associate Professor Andries Potgieter, Professor Lee Hickey
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2023
Master Philosophy
Investigating the genetics and value of root traits to support yield in barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Godwin, Professor Lee Hickey
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of phenotyping and selection tools to support breeding of future wheat varieties with improved root systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Voss-Fels, Professor Lee Hickey
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Samir Alahmad directly for media enquiries about:
- Breeding technologies
- Drought addaptation
- Plant Physiology
- Quantitative Genetics
- UAV phenotyping
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