Background

Loothfar Rahman has worked as a Plant Pathologist at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Wagga Wagga in NSW Agriculture since December 1996. Prior to this position, he worked as a Rice Nematologist at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute from 1978 to 1995.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University – 1975
• M.Sc. in Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University – 1977
• M.Sc. in Plant Nematology, The Imperial College of Sc. & Tech., The University of London - 1980 
• Ph.D. in Plant Nematology, The Imperial College of Sc. & Tech., The University of London - 1987 

Key research

• Association of pest nematodes and their interaction effects with young vine decline fungi in grapevines
• Beneficial and pest nematode biodiversity under different cover crops and floor management practices in vineyards. 
• Biofumigation to control pest nematodes in vineyards
• Yield loss studies due to pest nematodes in grape varieties.
• Nematode diagnostic service for all crops in NSW.

Current projects

• Collaborator in the Young Vine Decline project (co-ordinator- Melanie Whitlaw-Weckert) within the NWGIC Vine Health, Winegrowing Futures project.
• Sequence of application of biofumigation materials to control root–knot nematodes in vineyards.
• Damage threshold level of pest nematodes and yield loss in grapevines

Selected publications

Rahman, L., Chan, K. Y., Heenan, D. P. (2007). Impact of tillage, stubble management and crop rotation on nematode populations in a long-term field experiment. Soil & Tillage Research 95,110-119.

Whitelaw-Weckert, M.A., Rahman, L., Hutton, R., Coombes, N. (2007). Permanent swards increase soil microbial counts in two Australian vineyards. Applied Soil Ecology 36, 224-232.

Rahman, l., Somers, T. (2005). Suppression of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) after incorporation of Indian mustard cv. Nemfix as green manure and seed meal in vineyards. Australasian Plant Pathology 34, 77-83.

Selected publication from rice research: Published 18 papers in scientific journals

Plowright, R.A., Grayer, R.J., Gill, J.R., Rahman, L. and Harborne , J.B. (1996). The induction of phenolic compounds in rice after infection by the stem nematode Ditylenchus angustus. Nematologica, 42 : 564 – 578.

Rahman, L. and Miah, S. A. (1994). A profitable deepwater rice based cropping sequence in root-knot nematode infested field. Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 23: 107-112.

Rahman, L. and Miah, S. A. (1993). Effect of organic and inorganic soil amendment on root knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) in deepwater rice. Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 22(2): 209-215.

Rahman, L. (1991). Evaluation of nematicides to control root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) in deepwater rice. Current Nematology, 2: 93-98.

Hunt, D. J. and Rahman, L. (1991). Two new species of Paralongidorus (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from deepwater rice in Bangladesh. Afro-Asian Journal of Nematology, 1: 83-85.

Rahman, L. (1990). Screening of deepwater rice cultivars for resistance to root-knot nematode in Bangladesh. SABRAO Journal, 22: 57-64.

Rahman, L., Evans, A. A. F., Miah, S. A. (1990). Plant damage and yield loss caused by the rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, in deepwater rice. Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 19: 107-116.

Rahman, L. (1990). Effect of different cropping sequences on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, and yield of deepwater rice. Nematologia Mediterranea, 18: 213-217.

Rahman,. L., Evans, A. A. F. (1987). Studies on host parasite relationship of rice stem nematode, Ditylenchus angustus, (Nematoda: Tylenchida) on rice (Oryza sativa L.). Nematologica, 33: 451-459.

McGeachie, I., Rahman, L. (1983). Ufra disease: A review and a new approach to control. Tropical Pest Management, 29: 325-332.

Cox, P. G., Rahman, L. (1980). Effects of ufra disease on yield loss of deepwater rice in Bangladesh. Tropical Pest Management, 26: 410-415.