Abdurakhmonov received his B.S. degree in biotechnology from the National University of Uzbekistan in 1997, and received M.S. Degree in plant breeding from Texas A&M University, Texas, USA in 2001. He received his PhD degree (2002) and Doctor of Sciences degree (2008) in molecular genetics from the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Academy of Uzbek Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Currently, he is a project leader of genomics investigations and the acting head of Center of Genomic Technologies, Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Academy of Uzbek Sciences. His research areas include cotton germplasm characterization, genetic mapping and population genetics, evolution of cotton genomes, characterization of cotton/plant genes including small and microRNAs, plant cell culture and genetic engineering, and development of marker-assisted selection programs for important crops. He has received many awards for his scientific contributions such as 2010 TWAS prize in agriculture and government award “Mark of Uzbekistan” in 2010.

The main goal of my lab is to develop molecular and candidate gene markers, mapping of important QTLs such as fiber quality, flowering, earliness, natural leaf defoliation and resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses in cotton using molecular markers, and localization of mapped QTLs on the chromosome. Furthermore, we are exploring Uzbek cotton germplasm collection with molecular markers to exploit the genetic and agronomic diversity existed in the collection using LD-based association mapping strategy. These all are to facilitate marker-assisted breeding programs in cotton. DNA barcoding of commercialized varieties of Uzbekistan are being performed using “molecular marker technology” to protect intellectual property rights of Uzbek breeders and cotton germplasm collection. We are characterizing the flowering genes in cotton and studying their functions using RNAi gene-knockout technology in cotton tissue culture via somatic embryogenesis. We also are working on cloning and annotating of micro-RNAs from various cotton tissues, including, roots, ovules, and pathogen infected ones. Molecular mapping and characterization of disease resistance (nematode and wilt) genes of cotton is another ongoing research field and interest in my lab. Beyond genomics research, we also are conducting cotton proteomics research to profile a major proteome of cotton with agronomic importance.