Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Docs » Abdul-Baki
Abdul-Baki
headline bar

AREF A. ABDUL-BAKI
Research Plant Physiologist
USDA, ARS, ANRI, SASL
BLDG 001, Room 119, BARC-West
Beltsville, MD 20705

Phone: 301-504-5057; FAX: 301-504-6491
Abdul- BA@ba.ars.usda.gov


Education:

 Ph.D., Plant Physiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 1964.
M.S., Horticulture, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 1961.
Ingenieur Agronom., American University of Beirut, Lebanon. 1956.
B.S., General Agriculture, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. 1956.

Post-graduate Employment History

  • 2000-Present, Research Plant Physiologist, Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD
  • 1988-2000, Research Plant Physiologist, Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
  • 1987-1988, Research Plant Physiologist, Plant Molecular Genetics Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
  • 1982-1987, Science Advisor, National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut, Lebanon.
  • 1981-1982, Technical Director of the OICD/Saudi Arabian Joint Research Program on Agriculture and Water. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • 1975-1980, Supervisory Plant Physiologist, Head, Seed Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
  • 1972-1975, Research Plant Physiologist, Post-harvest Physiology Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
  • 1967-1972, Research Plant Physiologist, Seed Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
  • 1966-1967, Research Associate, Biology Dept., Univ. Of California, Santa Cruz, CA.
  • 1965-1966, Research Associate, Botany Dept., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • 1964-1965, Assistant Professor in Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.
  • 1956-1960, Education Advisor to the Libyan Government under the U.S. Foreign Aid Program to Libya.


Society Offices Held

American Society of Plant Physiologists: Member, President, Vice President, and Secretary of Washington Area Chapter

American Society of Horticultural Science: Member, 1967-present

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture: Member, 1990-present

Maryland Organic Farmers Association: Member, 1990-Present

New Jersey Vegetable Growers Association: Member, 1990-Present

Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Workers Association: Member, 1990-present


Editorial Board Appointments

Associate Editor, 1990-1993. HortScience.
Associate Editor, 1990-1994. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

Advisory Appointments

  • Representative of the U.S. Government and Designated Authority for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Scheme, 1979-1980.
  • Vice President of the Advisory Board, OECD Seed Scheme, 1980.
  • Member of the Advisory Board, Association of Official Seed Certification Agencies in the U.S. and Canada, 1979-1980.
  • Chairman and Committee member of the AID/BARD Panel, 1989-present.
  • Coordinator of the horticultural project, Sustainable Agricultural Program at BARC, 1993- present.
  • Advisor to the office of the Prime Minister, Government of Lebanon, on Agricultural and Environmental Research and Policy, 1982-1987.
  • Consultant to the United National Development Program on Preparing a National Seed Production Scheme and drafting National Seed Law for the Syrian Arab Republic, 1977-1978.
  • Consultant to the Food and Agricultural Organization/UN on training programs for seed production and certification in the Yemen Arab Republic, 1986.
  • Consultant to the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas on training specialists in 11 countries in the Middle Eastern Region on seed production, certification, testing, storage, and marketing, 1982-1987.


Honors and Awards

Recipient, Honorary Citizenship of the State of Tennessee in recognition of pioneering studies on the influence of fallout radiation on plant and animal life. 1965.

Recipient, the Annual Award of the American Canners Association for the best publication in 1971 in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

Recipient of the Silver Medal Award presented annually to the author of the second-best publication that appeared in the Middle East Agriculture Journal for the year 1987.

Recipient of the American Society for Horticultural Science award for his contribution as an Associate Editor for the Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science (1990-1994) and an Associate Editor for HortScience (1990-1993).

Elected Vice President of the Advisory Board of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes. 1980.

Recognized by the Secretariat of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) for the outstanding accomplishment of translating into Arabic the 1985 ISTA Rules and Annexes Book and the "Handbook on Seed Testing." The request was made by FAO/UN.

First recipient of the 1994 "Friend of the Small Farm Award". This award was initiated as an annual award in 1994 by the Growing for Market Magazine and the Fairplain Publications in recognition of the incumbent's research and named after him.

Recipient of the "1994 ARS Technology Transfer Award for Outstanding Effectiveness in Transferring Technology to Farmers for Production of Vegetables with a Reduced Input System Developed Through His Research".

Recipient of the "1995 Federal Laboratories Consortium Award" for effective transfer of technology to farmers.

Recipient of the 1997 USDA National Award for enviromental protection.

Recipient of the Beltsville Area Fellowship Award for 1997.

Member of the Honorary Societies Sigma Xi, Phi Sigma, and Gamma Sigma Delta since 1963.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
  • Abdul-Baki, A., Bryan, H. H., Klassen, W., Wang, Q. R., Li, Y. and Codallo, M. 2003. Cover as alternatives to methyl bromide in fresh-market tomato production in south Florida. Approved for publicaton.

  • Teasdale, J. R., Abdul-Baki, A., Mills, D. and Thorpe, K. 2003. Enhanced pest management with cover crop mulches. Acta Horticulturae. (In Press)

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Bryan, H. H., Klassen, W., Carrera, L., Li, W. C. and Wang, Q. R. 2003. Low production cost alternative systems are the avenue for future sustainability of vegetable growers in the U.S. Acta Horticulturae. (In Press)

  • Wang, Q., Bryan, H. H., Klassen, W., Yoncong, L., Codallo, M. and Abdul-Baki, A. 2002. Improved tomato production with summer cover crops and reduced irrigation rates. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 115:2002-2007.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Bryan, H. H., Klassen, W. and Codallo, M. 2002. Propagation and establishment of perennial peanuts for ground covers along roadsides and highway ramps. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 115:267-272.

  • Mattoo, A., Cassol, T., Mahta, R., Ali, N., Abdul-Baki, A. and Handa, A. 2002. Genetic engineering of tomato fruit for sustained accumulation of polyamines during ripening to study their physiological role(s). Acta Horticulturae. 575:157-161.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Aslan, S., Carrera, L. and Linderman, R. 2002. Management practices for early harvest of table grape vineyards in the Coachella Valley. Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District. 32 p. (Bulletin).

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Aslan, S., Linderman, R., Cobb, S. and Davis, A. 2002. Soil, water and nutritional management of date orchards in the Coachella Valley and BARD. California Date Commission, Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District. (Bulletin)

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Kotlinski, S. and Kotlinska, T. 2002. Vegetable production systems. Vegetable Crops Research Bulletin No. 57. Research Institute of Vegetable Crops. Skierniewice, Poland. Vol. 57:11-21.

  • Kotlinski, S. and Abdul-Baki, A. 2002. The influence of winter cover crops in tomato production on damage caused by Phytophthora infestans. Progress in Plant Protection 40:895-898.

  • Mills, D. J., Coffman, C. B., Teasdale, J. R., Everts, K. E., Abdul-Baki, A. and Anderson, J. D. 2002. Fresh-market tomato production under soil mulch and fungicide schedules. (In Press)

  • Rice, P. J., McConnell, L. L., Heighton, L. P., Sadeghi, A. M., Isensee, A. M., Teasdale, J. R., Abdul-Baki, A., Harman-Fetcho, J. A. and Hapeman, C. J. 2002. Comparison of copper levels in run off from fresh-market vegetable production suing polyethylene mulch or vegetable mulch. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 21:24-30.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Wilson, A, Carrera, L. M., Aslan, S., Cobb, S., Burke, T. and Brown Jr., E. 2002. Browning and dieback of distal parts of fruit-bearing strands in date palms. HortScience. (In Press)

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Teasdale, J. R., Goth, R. W. and Haynes, K. G. 2002. Marketable yields of fresh-market tomatoes grown in plastic and hairy vetch mulches. HortScience. (In Press).

  • Bryan, H. H., Abdul-Baki, A., Reeves, J. B. III, Carrera, L. M., Klassen, W., Zanati, G. and Codallo, M. 2001. Perennial arachis spp. as a multipurpose living mulch, ground cover and forage. J. Veg. Crop Prod. 7:113-136.

  • Rice, P. J., McConnell, L. L., Heighton, L. P., Sadegi, A. M., Isensee, A. R., Teasdale, J. R., Abdul-Baki, A., Harman-Fetcho, J. A. and Hapeman, C. J. Runoff loss of pesticides and soil: A comparison between vegetative mulch and plastic mulch in vegetable production systems. J. Environ. Qual. 30:1808-1821.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Bryan, H. H., Zinati, G, Klassen, W., Codello, M. and Heckert, N. Biomass yield and flower production in sunn hemp: Effect of cutting the main stem. Journal of Vegetable Crop Production 7:83-104.

  • Kotlinski, S. J., Smolinska, U. and Abdul-Baki, A.A. The influence of organic mulch on soil microflora and cauliflower root attack by Hylemya brassicae Bche. Progress in Plant Protection 40:900-902. 2000. (In Polish with abstract in English).

  • Kotlinski, S. and Abdul-Baki-A. The influence of winter cover crops in tomato production on damage caused by Phytophthora infestans. Progress in Plant Protection 40:895-898. 2000. (In Polish with abstract in English).

  • Lu, Y. C., Watkins, K. B., Teasdale, J. R. and Abdul-Baki, A.A. Cover crops in sustainable food production. Food Reviews International. 16:121-157. 2000.

  • Tipping, P. W., Holco, C. A., Abdul-Baki, A. and Aldrich, J. R. Evaluating Edovum puttleri and Podisus maculiventris for augmentative biological control of Colorado potato beetle in tomatoes. Biological Control. 16:35-42. 1999.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Morese, R. D. and Teasdale, J. R. Tillage and mulch effects on yield and fruit fresh mass of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Journal of Vegetable Crop. 1999. 5:43-58, 1999.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Some options in soil management: Less tillage and more cover crops and crop rotations. Proc. Emerging Soil Management Options for Oregon Vegetable Production. pp. 1-7. 1999. (Symposium publication)

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Soil management: The key to sustainability. Proc. Emerging Soil Management Options for California. pp. 32-34. 1998. (Symposium publication)

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Cover crops and vegetable production. Proc. Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association, Pasco, WA. pp. 3-7. 1998. (Symposium publication)

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Aslan, S., Beardsley, E., Cobb, S. and Shannon. Soil, Water, and Nutritional Management of Date Orchards in Coachella Valley and BARC. A California date Commission Publication. pp. 46. 1998. (Technical Bulletin)

  • Teasdale, J. R. and Abdul-Baki, A. Comparisons of mixtures vs. monocultures of cover crops for fresh-market tomato production with and without herbicide. HortScience. 33:1163-1166. 1998.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Sustainable farming practices for vegetable production. Second Annual Beltsville Sustainable Agriculture Symposium. pp. 12-15. 1998. (Symposium publication)

  • Mitchell, J. Morese, R. D. and Abdul-Baki, A. No-tillage systems for transplant vegetables. Vegetable. 7:3-6. 1998.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Sustainable systems for vegetable production. Integrated Sustainable Vegetable Production Systems: Overview and Planning. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. p. 10-24. 1997.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Cover crop mulches for warm season vegetables. Proc. Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association. 109-113. 1997.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. Adapting cover crops to vegetable production systems. Proc. Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association. 46-50. 1997. (Symposium publication)

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Morse, R., Devine, T. E. and Teasdale, J. R. Nitrogen requirements of broccoli production in cover crop mulches and clean cultivation. Journal of Vegetable Crop Production. 3:85-99. 1997.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. and Teasdale, J. R. Sustainable production of fresh-market tomatoes and other summer vegetables with organic mulches. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Farmers' Bulletin No. 2279. Pp. 1-23. Revised August 1997 and May 1999. Also translated into Spanish in 1998.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Aslan, S., Cobb, S. and Aguiar, J. L. The Future of Date Production in the U. S. Chronica Horticulturae. 37:18-19. 1997.

  • Abdul-Baki, A. and Teasdale, J. R. Snap Bean Production in Conventional Tillage and in No-till Hairy Vetch Mulch. HortScience 32:1191-1193. 1997.

  • Teasdale, J. R. and Abdul-Baki, A. Growth Analysis of Tomatoes in Black Polyethylene and Hairy Vetch Production Systems. HortScience 32:659-663. 1997.

  • Abdul-Baki, A., Morse, R. D. and Teasdale, J. R. Broccoli production in forage soybean and foxtail millet cover crop mulches. HortScience 32:836-839. 1997.