Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research Overview
The immediate aim of Professor Tester's research program is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that enable certain plants to thrive in sub-optimal soil conditions, such as those of high salinity or high temperature. In our research group, forward and reverse genetic approaches are used to understand and manipulate traits that contribute to salinity tolerance and improve this in crops such as barley, tomatoes and quinoa.
One intellectual aim is to understand the co-ordination of whole plant function through processes occurring at the level of single cells, particularly through processes of long-distance communication within plants. This aim is being addressed by integrating genetic and genomic approaches with a broad-based understanding of plant physiology in both controlled conditions and the field.
An immediate applied aim of the program is to modify crop plants in order to increase productivity in conditions of challenging abiotic stress, with consequent improvement of yield in Saudi Arabia, the region and globally. A larger aspiration is to unlock seawater, by developing a new economically viable agricultural system where salt-tolerant crops are irrigated with partially desalinised seawater or brackish groundwater.
Key Research Areas
Functional Biology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education
Plant Sciences, Ph.D., University of Cambridge
1988
Award Date: Jan 1 1988
Plant Sciences, B.S., University of Adelaide
1984
Award Date: Jan 1 1984
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Network
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Publications
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Digital insights: bridging the phenotype-to-genotype divide
McCabe, M. & Tester, M. A., Apr 2 2021, In: Journal of Experimental Botany. 72, 8, p. 2807-2810 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Early growth stage characterization and the biochemical responses for salinity stress in tomato
Alam, M. S., Tester, M. A., Fiene, G. & Mousa, M. A. A., Apr 7 2021, In: Plants. 10, 4, p. 712Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations -
Genetic mapping of the early responses to salt stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Awlia, M. S. A., Alshareef, N. O. H., Saber, N., Korte, A., Oakey, H., Panzarová, K., Trtílek, M., Negrão, S., Tester, M. A. & Julkowska, M. M., May 8 2021, In: The Plant Journal.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Haplotype variations of major flowering time genes in quinoa unveil their role in the adaptation to different environmental conditions
Patiranage, D. S. R., Asare, E., Maldonado-Taipe, N., Rey, E., Emrani, N., Tester, M. A. & Jung, C., Apr 20 2021, In: Plant, Cell & Environment.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Quinoa Phenotyping Methodologies: An International Consensus
Stanschewski, C., Rey, E., Fiene, G., Craine, E., Wellman, G., Melino, V. J., Patiranage, D., Johansen, K., Schmöckel, S., Bertero, D., Oakey, H., Colque-Little, C., Afzal, I., Raubach, S., Miller, N., Streich, J., Amby, D., Emrani, N., Warmington, M., Mousa, M. & 8 others, , Aug 24 2021, In: Plants. 10, 9, p. 1759Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Strategies for engineering improved nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants via redistribution and recycling of organic nitrogen
Melino, V. J., Tester, M. A. & Okamoto, M., Sep 22 2021, In: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 73, p. 263-269 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The role of PQL genes in response to salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis and barley
Alqahtani, M. D. S., Lightfoot, D., Lemtiri-Chlieh, F., Bukhari, E., Pardo, J. M., Julkowska, M. M. & Tester, M. A., Feb 10 2021, In: Plant Direct. 5, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Dissecting new genetic components of salinity tolerance in two-row spring barley at the vegetative and reproductive stages
saade, S., Brien, C., Pailles, Y., Berger, B., Shahid, M., Russell, J., Waugh, R., Negrão, S. & Tester, M. A., Jul 23 2020, In: PLOS ONE. 15, 7, p. e0236037Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
6 Scopus citations
Prizes and Honors
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Dermot P Coyne Distinguished Lecturer, University of Nebraska
Tester, Mark (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Award or Honor › Distinguished Lecturer
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Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (KIADPAI)
Tester, Mark (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Award or Honor › Excellence Award
Research News
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Saudi Agtech Startup Red Sea Farms Is On A Mission To Enable MENA Farms To Grow Crops Using Saltwater
10/5/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Generation Start-up: how this Saudi company is helping farmers cut water use
08/29/21
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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BioLumic announces Scientific Advisory Group - Press Release issued by BioLumic
08/18/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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BioLumic announces Scientific Advisory Group
08/16/21 → 08/17/21
19 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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BioLumic announces scientific advisory group - Agtech light signal leaders recruit...
08/17/21
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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BioLumic announces Scientific Advisory Group Agtech light signal leaders recruit scientific expertise for next stage of growth
08/16/21
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Farms raises $16m in expansion push
08/16/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Red Sea Farms Raises an Additional $6M to Grow Crops With Saltwater
08/16/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media