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Name: Dr. Malka Saba
Designation: Assistant Professor
Department: Plant Sciences


Qualifications: Ph.D. (Botany), University of the Punjab, Lahore.
M.Phil. (Botany), University of the Punjab, Lahore.
M.Sc. (Botany), University of the Punjab, Lahore.

Foreign Fellowships:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
ETH University, Zurich, Switzerland.


Phone: +92-51 9064-4221
Email: msaba@qau.edu.pk
Status: On Job
Other Weblink:

View Resume

Research Interests Publications Conferences Research Projects

Field: Mycology

Research interests include:
Diversification, systematics, phylogeny and taxonomy of
1. Mushroom-forming fungi, 
2. Ectomycorrhizal fungi
3. Plant pathogenic fungi
  1. Saba, M., Khalid, A. N. & Sarwar, S. 2023. New species of Mallocybe (Agaricales, inocybaceae) from Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Mycokeys, 99: 171–186.
  2. Crous, P. W., Osieck, E. R., Shivas, R. G., Tan, Y. P. et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478–1549. Persoonia, 50: 158‒310. 
  3. Kamal, A., Saba, M., Kamal, A., Batool, M., Asif, M., Al-Mohaimeed, A. M., Al Farraj, D. A., Habib, D., Ahmad, S. 2023. Bioinspired Green Synthesis of Bimetallic Iron and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Mushroom Extract and Use against Aspergillus niger; The Most Devastating Fungi of the Green World. Catalysts, 13, 400. 
  4. Kamal, A., Saba, M., Ullah, K., Almutairi, S. M., AlMunqedhi, B. M., Ragab abdelGawwad, M. 2023. Mycosynthesis, Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, and Its Assessment in Various Biological Activities. Crystals, 13: 171. 
  5. Ullah, T., Ullah, K., Saba, M., & Shah, F. H. 2023. Conocybe karakensis sp. nov. (Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales) from Pakistan. Phytotaxa, 584(3): 135-148. 
  6. Sarwar, S., Saba, M., Hanif, M., Abrar, A., Ulfat, M. & Khalil, H. 2023. Utilization of fruit peels to inhibit aflatoxins synthesis by Aspergillus species: A biotreatment of two pulses Cicer arietinum and Vigna radiata for safe long -term storage. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55(2), 799-805. 
  7. Kamal, A. Saba, M. & Farooq, M. 2022. Biocompatible formulations based on mycosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles: Fabrication, characterization, and biological investigation. Journal of Basic Microbiology, 1–12. 
  8. Tedersoo, L. Mikryukov, V. Zizka A. et al. 2022. Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi. Global Change Biology, 28 (22): 6696‒6710. 
  9. Razzaq, F., Saba, M., Niazi, A. R. & Khalid, A. N. 2022. Two New Records of Genus Lepiota (Agaricaceae) from Pakistan. Biology Bulletin, 49: 458–465. 
  10. Ullah, T., Saba, M. & Syed M. F. 2022. Coprinopsis afrocinerea (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae): First record from Asia (Pakistan). Microscopy Research and Technique, 84:955–966. 
  11. Alam, A., Shaheen, S., Sarwar, S., Jaffer, M., Saba, M., Hanif, M., Sajjad, S. & Khan, F. 2021. Pollen morphological assessment of specific selected species of district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan under LM and SEM. Microscopy Research and Technique, 84:955–966. 
  12. Tedersoo, L., Mikryukov, V., Anslan, S. et al. 2021. The Global Soil Mycobiome consortium dataset for boosting fungal diversity research. Fungal Diversity, 111, 573–588. 
  13. Khan, M.B., Ishaq, M. & Faiz, M. 2021. A new record of Pluteaceae (Agaricales) from Pakistan. Studies in Fungi, 6(1): 514–518. Saba, M., Khalid, A. N., Haelewaters, D. & Pfister, D. H. 2020. New species of Pseudosperma (Agaricales, Inocybaceae) from Pakistan revealed by morphology and multi-locus phylogenetic reconstruction. Mycokeys, 69: 1‒31. 
  14. Saba, M., Khan, J., Sarwar, S., Sher, H. & Khalid, A. N. 2020. Gymnopus barbipes and G. dysodes, new records for Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 135: 203‒212. 
  15. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2020. Mallocybe velutina (Agaricales, Inocybaceae), a new species from Pakistan. Mycoscience, 61: 348‒352. 
  16. Sarwar, S., Aziz, T., Hanif, M., Ilyas, S., Saba, M., Khalid, S. & Fiaz, M. 2020. Plectological and molecular identification of economically important wild russulales mushrooms from Pakistan and and their antifungal potential against food pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxonomy, 27(1): 67‒77.
  17. Saba, M., Haelewaters, D., Fiaz, M., Khalid, A. N. & Pfister, D. H. 2019. Amanita mansehraensis, a new species in section Vaginatae from Pakistan. Phytotaxa, 409(4): 189‒201. 
  18. Adamcik, S., Looney, B., Cabon, M. et al. 2019. The quest for a globally comprehensible Russula language. Fungal Diversity, 1: 5.
  19. Saba, M. Haelewaters, D. Iturriaga, T. et al. 2019. Geopora ahmadii sp. nov. from Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 134: 377‒389. 
  20. Caboň, M., Li, G. J., Saba, M. et al. 2019. Phylogenetic study documents different speciation mechanisms within the Russula globispora lineage in boreal and arctic environments of the Northern Hemisphere. IMA Fungus, 99: 369‒449. 
  21. Sarwar, S., Saba, M., Khalid, A. N. & Dentinger, B. M. 2018. Suillus himalayensis (Boletales: Basidiomycota: Fungi) and its symbiotic association with roots of Pinus wallichiana, first report from coniferous forests of Pakistan. The Journal of Animal and Plant sciences, 28(2): 576‒583. 
  22. Crous, P. W., Wingfield, M. J. Burgess, T. I. et al. 2018. Fungal Planet description sheets. Persoonia, 40: 240‒393. 
  23. Saba, M., Khalid, A. N. Sharif, S. & Iqbal, M. S. 2018. The Heterobasidion insulare complex from Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 133: 261‒270. 
  24. Zhao, C. L., Saba, M., Khalid A. N., Song, J. & Pfister, D. H. 2017. Heterobasidion amyloideopsis sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Russulales) evidenced by morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. Phytotaxa, 317(3): 199‒210. 
  25. Saba, M., Khalid, A. N., Jabeen, S. & Dima, B. 2017. Cortinarius longistipitatus, a new species in subgenus Telamonia, section Cinnabarini, from Pakistan. Phytotaxa, 328(3): 257‒266. 
  26. Adamčík, S., Caboň, M., Eberhardt, U., Saba, M., Hampe, F., Slovák, M., Kleine, J., Marxmüller, H., Jančovičová, S., Pfister, D. H., Khalid, A. N., Kolařík, M., Marhold, K. & Verbeken, A. 2016. A molecular analysis reveals hidden species diversity within the current concept of Russula maculata (Russulaceae, Basidiomycota). Phytotaxa, 270(2): 071‒088. 
  27. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2015. Russula sichuanensis and its ectomycorrhizae from Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 130: 629‒639. 
  28. Saba, M., Ahmad, I. & Khalid, A. N. 2015. New reports of Inocybe from pine forests in Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 130: 671‒681. 
  29. Jabeen, S., Fiaz, M., Saba, M., Ahmad, H. and Khalid, A. N. 2015. Molecular phylogeny and morphological characterization of Russula livescens and its ectomycorrhiza from mixed coniferous forests of Pakistan. Austrian Journal of Mycology, 24: 145‒154. 
  30. Sarwar, S., Saba, M., Khalid, A. N., Dentinger, B. M. 2015. Suillus marginielevatus, a new species and S. triacicularis, a new record from western Himalaya, Pakistan. Phytotaxa, 203(2): 169‒177.
  31. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2014. New reports of Gymnopus from Pakistan based on ITS sequences. Mycotaxon, 129(1): 63‒72. 
  32. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2014. First report of Callistosporium luteoolivaceum from Western Himalaya, Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 129(1): 73‒77. 
  33. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2014. New record of Melanoleuca cinereifolia in Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 129(2): 317‒327. 
  34. Saba, M. Niazi, A. R. & Khalid, A. N. 2013. New records of Uredinales (Basidiomycota) from Azad Jammu & Kashmir and adjacent Northern Areas of Pakistan. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 15: 878‒884. 
  35. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2013. New rust species and hosts from Northern Areas of Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 123: 147‒155. 
  36. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2013. Species diversity of genus Puccinia (Basidiomycota; Uredinales) parasitizing Poaceous hosts in Pakistan. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 15: 580–584. 
  37. Saba, M., Berndt, R. & Khalid, A. N. 2012. Hyalopsora nodispora is the new holomorph name for Uredo capilli-veneris (Uredinales; Pucciniastraceae) from Pakistan. Mycological Progress, 11: 967–969. 
  38. Saba, M. & Khalid, A. N. 2011. New records of rust fungi on some sedges (Cyperaceae) from Pakistan. Mycotaxon, 117: 115-122.
  39. Khalid, A. N. & Saba, M. 2011. Puccinia cortusae (Basidiomycota; Uredinales) on Cortusa brotheri (Primulaceae) new to south Asia (Fairy Meadows, Pakistan). Mycotaxon, 117: 317-320. Saba, M., Khaid, A. N. & Afshan, N. S. 2011. 
  40. Species of the genus Uromyces (Basidiomycota; Pucciniales) from Leepa valley, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(73): 16480-16483.

·       International workshop and exhibition on “Research commercialization: Challenges and opportunities” organized by COMSTECH–14 to 15 June, 2022.

·       Fourth International conference on Biosciences (ICBS-2021) organized by Biological Society of Pakistan at Pakistan Academy of Sciences–15 June, 2021.        

·       2nd International conference on Plant Sciences (ICPS-2018), as keynote speaker, organized by Department of Botany, GC University, Lahore–5 to 7 December, 2018.

·       Three days hands on skills workshop of SPSS organized by Department of Statistics, UOG, Gujrat–6 to 8 February, 2018.

·       BOTANY 2017 organized by Botanical Society of America in Fort Worth, Texas, USA– 24 to 28 July, 2017.

·       MSA 2017 Annual meeting organized by Mycological Society of America in Athens, Georgia, USA– 15 to 19 July, 2017.

·       1st International conference on Plants: Their Chemical and Biological applications for today and tomorrow organized by Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat –2017. 

·       5th International and 14th National conference of Botany, organized by Pakistan Botanical Society – 2016.

·       4th International and 13th National conference of Botany, organized by Pakistan Botanical Society – 2014.

·       3rd International and 12th National conference of Botany, organized by Pakistan Botanical Society – 2012. 

·       2nd International conference of Plant Scientists and 11th National conference of Plant Scientists, organized by Pakistan Botanical Society – 2011. 

Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
Tel: +92-51 9064 0000, Email:webmaster@qau.edu.pk