Lifetime of making plants resistant to insects

Harpenden, United Kingdom, March 9 – ICARDA scientist Mustapha El Bouhssini received a lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Plant Resistance to Insects. The prestigious award is given every two years to recognize those who have made significant contributions in the areas of host plant resistance to insect pests.

El Bouhssini’s contribution includes the development of resistant varieties to Hessian fly in Morocco, as well as other germplasm carrying resistance to Russian wheat aphid, chickpea leaf miner, and sunn pest. The germplasm have been shared widely with collaborators and breeders in order to develop cultivars resistant to insect pests.

Since joining ICARDA in 1996, El Bouhssini has led the organization’s integrated pest management work. The lifetime achievement award is his 14th award.