Dr. Mahreen Yahya

Contact / Address


Dr. Mahreen Yahya
PostDoc

Department of Ecology of Agroecosystems
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4 | D-06120 Halle/Saale
Germany

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Web:

+49 341 6025 2934
mahreen.yahya@ufz.de mahreenyahya@yahoo.com

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Mitarbeiter

Research Interests

  • Molecular plant-microbe interactions
  • Phosphorus solubilization and plant nutrient acquisition
  • Plant responses to abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress
  • Soil bacterial diversity, microbial ecology and DNA metabarcoding
  • Microbial genomics, functional gene expression and transcriptomics
  • Microbial biostimulants for sustainable agriculture
  • Microbial seed and chemical fertilizer coating technologies

Research Projects

Drought Tolerant Bacteria-Driven Microbiome Engineering: A Pathway to Global Agricultural Sustainability in Drought-Prone Regions. Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship; Postdoctoral Researcher, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany.

NRPU HEC 20-14919/2021 “Process development for biologically enhanced DAP production with improved phosphorus use efficiency”. Research Associate; subsequently, Scientist under the Higher Education Commission-IPFP at NIBGE, Pakistan

CV / Scientific Career

since 2025

Postdoctoral Researcher (AvH Fellow), Department of Ecology of Agroecosystems (AECOL)

2024

Associate Microbiologist, Engro Fertilizers Limited, Pakistan

2023

Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP), Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), Pakistan (Research group & leader: Plant Microbe Interaction Lab Prof. Dr. Sumera Yasmin).

2016-2022 

Ph.D. Biotechnology, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE-C), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan                                                                            Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sumera Yasmin
Thesis: "Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria as a Biofertilizer for Wheat"

2020-2021 

International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP)” Fellow “Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany (Research group & Supervisor: Community Ecology. Dr. Tesfaye Wubet).
Research: "Harnessing the Wheat-associated Bacterial and Fungal Microbiomes across Agro-Ecological Zones of Pakistan"

2014-2016 

Master of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB-C), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan                                                           Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hamid
Thesis: "Role of Some Promising Wheat Varieties for Better Crop Harvest When Protected Against Aphids and Rust Diseases"

2010 - 2014

Bachelor of Science (BS. Honors) Botany, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Pakistan

Publications

  • Yahya, M., Mahreen, N., Farooq, I., Reitz, T., Tarkka, M.T., Yasmin, S. (2026): Bridging chemical fertilizers and biostimulants for climate-smart agriculture. Pedosphere (in press). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S100201602600086X.

  • Tabbasum, S., Yahya, M., Zia, M., ul Haq, M., Anwar, S., Azeem Khan, U., Mahreen, N., Ejaz, K., Tarkka, M.T., Yasmin, S. (2026): Spatial heterogeneity of soil phosphorus (P) influencing bacterial functional adaptations in alkaline calcareous soils. Front. Microbiol. 16 , Art. 1720323. 10.3389/FMICB.2025.1720323

  • Hussain, H.S., Tabbasum, S., Mahreen, N., Yahya, M., Ejaz, K., Aslam, Z., et al. (2025): Integrated application of drought-tolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria and native P source improves P availability with sustainable wheat production J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 25 (2), 4723-4746. 10.1007/s42729-025-02425-9

  • Rasul, M., Yahya, M., Suleman, M., Hakim, S., Mirza, B.S., Mirza, M.S., Reitz, T., Tarkka, M.T., Yasmin, S. (2024): Diversity and functional traits based indigenous rhizosphere associated phosphate solubilizing bacteria for sustainable production of rice. Front. Microbiol. 15 , Art. 1470019. 10.3389/FMICB.2024.1470019

  • Aslam, Z., Yahya, M., Hussain, S., Tabbasum, S., Jalaluddin, S., Khaliq, S., and Yasmin, S. (2024): Development of bacteria-based bioorganic phosphate fertilizer enriched with rock phosphate for sustainable wheat production. Front. Microbiol. 15, Art. 1361574. 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1361574

  • Ahmad, A., Yasmin, S., Yahya, M., Akhtar, K., Khaliq, S., and Akhtar, N. (2024): Bio-solubilization of rock phosphate using acidophilic bacteria and effect of bio-organic-phosphate composite on the growth of wheat. Geomicrobiol. J. 41(6), 648-659.10.1080/01490451.2024.2367536

  • Yahya, M., Rasul, M., Hussain, S.Z., Dilawar, A., Ullah, M., Rajput, L., Afzal, A., Asif, M., Wubet, T., and Yasmin, S. (2023): Integrated analysis of potential microbial consortia, soil nutritional status, and agro-climatic datasets to modulate P nutrient uptake and yield effectiveness of wheat under climate change resilience. Front. Plant Sci. 13, Art. 1074383. 10.3389/fpls.2022.1074383

  • Mahreen, N., Yasmin, S., Asif, M., Yahya, M., Ejaz, K., Shahid, H.M., Sajjid, Z.I., and Arif, M. (2023): Mitigation of water scarcity with sustained growth of rice by plant growth promoting bacteria. Front. Plant Sci.14, Art. 1081537. 10.3389/fpls.2023.1081537

  • Yahya, M., Rasul, M., Sarwar, Y., Suleman, M., Tariq, M., Hussain, S.Z., Sajid, Z.I., Amin, I., Reitz, T., Tarkka, M.T., and Yasmin, S. (2022): Designing synergistic biostimulants formulation containing autochthonous phosphate-solubilizing bacteria for sustainable wheat production.  Front. Microbiol. 13, Art. 889073.10.3389/fmicb.2022.889073

  • Mahreen, N., Yasmin, S., Asif, M., Yousaf, S., Yahya, M., Ejaz, K., Shahid, H.M., Sajjid, Z.I., and Arif, M. (2022): Integrated analysis of osmotic stress and infrared thermal imaging for selection of resilient rice under water scarcity. Front. Plant Sci. 13, Art. 834520. 10.3389/fpls.2022.834520

  • Yahya, M., Islam, E.U., Rasul, M., Farooq, I., Mahreen, N., Tawab, A., Irfan, M., Rajput, L., Amin, I., and Yasmin, S. (2021): Differential root exudation and architecture for improved growth of wheat mediated by phosphate solubilizing bacteria Front. Microbiol. 12, Art. 744094.
  • 10.3389/fmicb.2021.744094.

  • Rasul, M., Yasmin, S., Yahya, M., Breitkreuz, C., Tarkka, M.T., and Reitz, T. (2021): The wheat growth-promoting traits of Ochrobactrum and Pantoea species, responsible for solubilization of different P sources, are ensured by genes encoding enzymes of multiple P-releasing pathways. Microbiol. Res. 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126703

  • Yahya, M., Saeed, N.A., Nadeem, S., Hamed, M., and Saleem, K. (2020): Effect of leaf rust disease on photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll contents and grain yield of wheat. Arch. Phytopathol. Plant Prot.10.1080/03235408.2020.1748369

  • Suleman, M., Yasmin, S., Rasul, M., Yahya, M., Atta, B.M., and Mirza, M.S. (2018): Phosphate solubilizing bacteria with glucose dehydrogenase gene for phosphorus uptake and beneficial effects on wheat. PLoS ONE 13(9), Art. e0204408. 10.1371/journal.pone.0204408

  • Yahya, M., Saeed, N.A., Nadeem, S., Hamed, M., and Shokat, S. (2017): Role of wheat varieties and insecticide applications against aphids for better wheat crop harvest. Pakistan J. Zool. 49(6), 2217-2225  10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.6.2217.2225

Conference Contributions

Talks

  • Yahya, M. (2026). Soil Bacterial Diversity and DNA Metabarcoding. Invited lecture at One-Day Workshop on “Bacterial Identification and Metagenomics,” Soil and Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Pakistan, March 2026.

  • Yahya, M. (2025). Microbial Engineering for Climate-Resilient Wheat: Enhancing Phosphorus Uptake and Stress Tolerance. ROOT-BENEFIT Symposium: Strategies for Bridging Knowledge and Application. Müncheberg, Germany, May 2025. Link 

  • Yahya, M., Ejaz ul Islam, Rasul, M., Breitkreuz, C., Reitz, T., Tarkka, M. T., and Yasmin, S. (2023). Phosphate Solubilizing Rhizobacteria Confer a Stronger Influence on Wheat Root Traits and Aboveground Physiology Through the Expression of Their Genes Responsible for P Solubilization. 10th Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS 2023). Hamburg, Germany, July 2023.Link 

Posters

  • Tabbasum, S., Yahya, M., Zia, M., ul Haq, M., Anwar, S., Azeem Khan, U., Mahreen, N., Ejaz, K., Tarkka, M. T., and Yasmin, S. (2026). Geographical Variability in Soil Phosphorus Influences Bacterial Adaptation to P Scarcity. Letters in Applied Microbiology Early Career Scientist Research Symposium (LAMECS 2026). Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, Manchester, United Kingdom, June 2026. https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/lamecs-2026.html

  • Yahya, M., Ejaz ul Islam, Rasul, M., Breitkreuz, C., Reitz, T., Tarkka, M. T., and Yasmin, S. (2023). Designing Synergistic Biostimulants Formulation Containing Autochthonous Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria for Sustainable Wheat Production (Award-winning poster). ICGEB Workshop: Trends in Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture. Belgrade, Serbia, September 2023. Link 

  • Yahya, M., Yasmin, S., Rasul, M., Ejaz, K., and Mahreen, N. (2022). Differential Root Exudation and Architecture for Improved Growth of Wheat Mediated by Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria. Botanik-Tagung: International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences. Bonn, Germany, August-September 2022. Link