Dr. Mojegan Kowsari got her PhD in molecular genetics from from National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB) 2013. She has begun her research activities as a talented in the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) in 2002. Her research focuses on microbial biotechnology, particularly fungi (plant pathogens, helpful and industrial fungi). Her research fields are: molecular identification of important plant pathogens, optimization of useful microbial production used in agricultural such as biological control and growth promoter based on Trichoderma. Also understanding the mechanisms of plant-pathogen interaction as well as biological reactions Plant- biological growth factors are the other areas of her research. Besides, protein and enzyme engineering and production of recombinant proteins with applications in agriculture and industry are other her activities. In this regard, development and application of genomics technologies, metagenomics, genetic engineering and microbial formulation in the manufacture of biological products for agricultural activities are her skills.

Current research:

• Investigating about agent/agents of Oak decline by new molecular mechanisms
• Investigation and production of biocontrol / biofertilizer of Trichoderma to control fungal diseases in tomato and cucumber in greenhouse and increase of plant capacity by the Biotechnology and Biological Processes
• Morphoanatomy changes induced rice plant roots with native strains of Trichoderma, for the development of the root system of rice for increased tolerance to drought
• Improve biocontrol activity and stimulating growth potential of Trichoderma in the bean by molecular improvement

The most important research projects conducted:

•    Collecting rice sheath blight disease (sheath blight) and isolation and purification of R.solani ,agent of disease.

•    Identification of anastomosis group (AG-1) R.solani , agent of rice sheath blight.

•    Production of R.solani gene bank and draw of its distribution  in the rice fields . 

•    Study the genetic diversity of the (AG-1) R. solani using pectic zymogrm marker.

•    Determination of  R. solani haplotypes using PCR and RAPD -PCR and SSR

•    R. solani introduced fungal pathotypes and determine resistance to sheath blight bioassy method of cultivars.

•    Collection, separation, determination and identification of bacteria antagonist pathotypes of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA the causal agent of rice sheath blight 

• Collection and isolation of Trichoderma strains from rice fields 

•    Evaluation of the fungus Trichoderma isolates antagonistic properties against pathotypes of the fungus R. solani AGI-IA (the causal agent of rice sheath blight) to achieve superior strains.

• molecular and morphological Identification of native isolates of Trichoderma spp.

• The effects of different strains of Trichoderma harzianum on silymarin content of hairy root and milk thistle (Silybum marianum).

•    The effect of different strains of Trichoderma (Trichoderma harzianum) on plant growth and production of secondary metabolites Fenugreek in greenhouse conditions.

• G.R.Balali and M Kowsari.Pectic zymogram variation and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 bean (phaseolus vulgaris) isolates in Isfahan, Iran. 2004 .Mycopathologia 158:377-384.
• Kowsari, M. Bagheri, O. Balali  G. R.  and Salati M. 2008. Intraspecific  zymography of AG1-1A  isolates of Rhizoctonia solani the causal agent of rice sheath blight in Golestan province. Iranian journal of plant pathology 44, 1 (173): 22 - 36.

• Balali GR., RahimianM. And Kowsari M. 2008. Study of genetic variation of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1A isolated from rice using pectic zymogram technique. Iranian Journal of Biology (IJB). 21(1). 17-23.

• Hasanloo T., Kowsari M., Mohajeri Naraghi S. and Bagheri O., 2009, Study of Different Trichoderma Strains on Growth Characteristics and Silymarin Accumulation of Milk Thistle Plant.Journal of Plant Interactions. 5(1):45-49.
• M. Mousivand, G. Salehi jouzani, M. Monazah and M. Kowsari , 2012. Characterization And Antagonistic Potential Of Some Native Biofilm Forming And Surfactant Producing Bacillus Subtilis Strains Against Six Pathotypes Of Rhizoctonia solani . Jouranal of plant pathology. 94 (1).171-80.
• Kowsari, M. Zamani, M. R. Motallebi M. and E Jourabchi. 2013. Transformation Of Trichoderma harzianum T8 With Gfp Gene To  Facilitate Its Monitoring In Soil And Use Of SEM To Study Interaction Of T. harzianum With Rhizoctonia solani Sclerotia. Iranian journal of plant pathology. 49 (4): 425-437.
• Kowsari  Mojegan, Mostafa Motallebi ,Mohammad Reza Zamani .Protein engineering of chit42 towards improvement of chitinase and antifungal activities Current Microbiology. 2014. 68: 495-502.
• Kowsari, M., Zamani M. R.,  Motallebi. M.,  2014. Improvement of Trichoderma harzianum antagonistic activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by overexpression of chit42. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology.12 (2): 26-31.
• Kowsari, M., Motallebi, M. Zamani, M. R.  2014. Construction of new GFP-tagged fusants for Trichoderma harzianum with enhanced biocontrol activity. The Journal of Plant Protection Research. 54 (2):122-131.
• Tahereh  Hasanloo, sahar  eskandari, Kowsari  Mojgan. 2015. Trichoderma strains- Silybum marianum hairy root cultures interactions. Research Journal of  Pharmacognosy (RJP) 2(2), 33-46
• Mohammad Vahedi, Jalal Barzin, Mojegan kowsari. 2015. Fabrication of symmetric membrane based polyethersulfone by applying pause stage in coagulation. Iran. J. Polym. Sci. Technol. 28( 5) 421.
• Mohammad Khorsand-Ghayeni, Jalal Barzin , Mojgan Zandi1 ,Mojegan Kowsari. 2016. Fabrication of asymmetric and symmetric membranes based on PES/PEG/DMAc. Polym. Bull.1-17.
• M. Kowsari, M. R. Zamani and  M. Motallebi. 2016. Overexpression of chimeric chitinase42 enhances the antifungal activity of Trichoderma harzianum against Fusarium graminearum. Mycologia Iranica 3(1): 15 – 23
• Hosseini, Z., Hasanloo, T., Kowsari, M., Majidian, M .2017. Enhanced trigonellin content in Trichoderma treated Fenugreek. Journal of Plant Interactions. In press 
• Mahmoodian, S., Zamani M. R., Kowsari M., and  Motallebi M. 2017. Molecular improved Trichoderma isolates and their ability to controll of Rhizoctonia disease on Phasaeolus vulgaris. BioControl in Plant Protection .In press 
• Maryam Heshmati, Mojegan Kowsari, Hassan Feizi . Masoud Alipanah. 2017. The effect of titanium dioxcid nanoparticles on germination and growth indices oak acorns under drought stress. Journal of Plant Ecosystem Conservation. in review
• Amin Alidadi, Mojegan Kowsari, Mohammad Javan Nikkhah, Sadi Karami. 2017. Study on the fungi associated with oak decline in Ilam province. Botanical Journal of Iran. in review

• Isolation and identification of 900 native strains of fungi and bacteria with applicability in various sectors of agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers, enzyme) and plant pathogens

• Record more than 70 genes in the NCBI gene bank

• Registration of new fungai for Iran flora include:

            Deniquelata sp، I. eucalypti، M. alpina، N. samarorum، Petriella sordida، Pleospora  halimiones and S. pezizoides

      • Submit the following gene for the first time in the world as Oak pathogen:

            D. glomerata T. angustata ، I. eucalypti، N. dimidiatum and S. pezizoides

Patent:

•  Horizontal electrophoresis apparatus equipped with a cooling system
•  Manufacturing filtration membranes have asymmetric structures as well as a combination of symmetric and asymmetric

Achievements transferred to the private sector:

• Technology transfer to private sector: strains of Trichoderma and technical knowledge relevant to biocontrol and biofertilizer potential.

Responsible:

• Member of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran
• Member of Public Affairs Committee
• Member of Equipment Committee
• Editor of the periodical journal of Biotechnology Committee on Ministry of Agriculture Jihad
• Responsible for the company's research institutes and centers Department of Agriculture Jihad Biotechnology Festival
• The Secretariat of the Biotechnology Committee of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad
• Head of the Laboratory of microorganisms and Biosafety in ABRII
• Processing and Orders Committee in ABRII
• Member of Council Press in ABRII
• Member of biology association
• Plant genetic association of Iran
• Member of Biotechnology association of Iran
• Member of plant diseases of Iran
• Member of Mycology Society of Iran
• Member of Bioinformatics Society of Iran