Keynote Speakers

Oryza coarctata, endemic to the coastal belt of Bangladesh, is the only known halophyte which can set, albeit only a few, rice-like grains in sea water (~400mM salt). It, however, propagates through rhizomes and can form a web of underground mass from which it re-grows continually throughout the year, except in winter months. It is most often found growing alongside mangroves in flat lands in estuaries, even though it is becoming more difficult to find these natural populations. On the other hand, thousands of hectares of land in the districts of Satkhira and Khulna nowadays remain fallow throughout the year. Many of these lands, which are adjacent to riverine flow from the sea, are suitable for growing O. coarctata, in places where the soil salinity exceeds 200mM salt. In addition to the CO2 that such plantations would absorb, O. coarctata can be used as biomass since its leaves, stems, roots and rhizomes are an excellent source of both cellulose and lignin. It is estimated that a third of its mass can be harvested every six months without affecting its re-growth. The effects of CO2 absorption can be monitored by smart AI devices. In addition, we have discovered a plant growth promoting fungal endophyte in the roots of O. coarctata, which has been shown to be a beneficial biofertilizer in field trials of boro rice, particularly in saline affected areas of Satkhira. This biofertilizer will therefore positively promote rice cultivation in saline soils as well. Last, but not least, we are attempting to domesticate O. coarctata, through genome editing so that the number and weight of its grains can be increased, while reducing their shattering, since it is sometimes used by cattle as well as wild animals as a source of food.

Prof. Dr. Zeba Islam Seraj earned her PhD in Biochemistry, University of Glasgow, UK; Post-Doctoral in Molecular doctoral; University of Liverpool, UK.

She has been a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka. She is now working as an UGC (University Grants Commission of Bangladesh) Professor from September 2024 to till date.

Prof. Zeba worked as Hon. Visiting Researcher, Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin (till date); Visiting Scientist, Molecular and Developmental Cell Biology, University of Texas; Visiting Scientist, USDA Research Station, Beaumont, Texas; Cochran Fellow, Current Status of Crop Transformation, Washington DC; Visiting Scientist, IRRI and She is also the Founding Director, Centre for Bioinformatics Learning Advance and Systematics Training (cBLAST), University of Dhaka (till date).

Prof. Zeba is involved in the following synergistic activities: Associate Editor, CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, section on genomics; President, Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (GNOBB); Fellow, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences; Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); Board Member, Freedom Foundation.

She was awarded as UGC Talented Teacher, 2023; Annannya Prize, 2016; TedX Dhaka invited Speaker 2017, Interviewed by NHK Television 2016, Dean’s Award, 2012. She published more than 90 papers in national and international journals. 10 students have already completed their PhD under her supervision at the University of Dhaka. Two more are currently involved in PhD work.
Some of her notable research activities are-
(a) Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of Salt-Tolerant Rice: Zeba Seraj has over 30 years of experience in teaching molecular biology and researching salt-tolerant rice for Bangladesh using advanced molecular biological and biotechnological techniques. (b) Salt Tolerant Rice Development: Collaborating with IRRI and BRRI, she helped fine-map salt-tolerant loci from Bangladeshi rice landraces for introgression into commercial rice via high-throughput marker-assisted backcrossing. (c) Research on Halophyte O. coarctata: Her work focuses on the halophyte Oryza coarctata, the only rice-like grain-producing halophyte endemic to the coastal regions of Bangladesh. She studies genes and microbes associated with this plant to improve the salt tolerance of commercial rice. (d) Endophytic Fungi for Salt Tolerance: Testing an endophytic fungus from O. coarctata in saline fields for higher rice yields in coastal areas. (e) Gene Cloning & Genome Editing: Involved in cloning regulatory genes responsible for salt tolerance into sensitive rice and engaged in genome editing of both wild and commercial rice varieties for improved salt tolerance and higher yields. (f) Field Trials: Some of her marker-assisted salt-tolerant commercial rice lines are currently undergoing yield trials in the saline coastal zones of Bangladesh.

Present Address:

Prof. Dr. Zeba Islam Seraj
House-25, Road- 18, Block- A, Banani, Dhaka-1213.
E-mail: zebai@du.ac.bd, ziseraj@gmail.com