Universität Hohenheim (340) | 70593 Stuttgart

Institut 340 / Abteilung 340 h+i

Fachgebiet: Ernährungsphysiologie
der Kulturpflanzen

Prof. Dr. Günter Neumann

T +49 711 459 24273

F +49 711 459 23295

E guenter.neumann@uni-hohenheim.de

Datum: 12.03.2016

Recommendation Letter
for

Mr. Aneesh Ahmed

Matrikel Nr.622912

This is to confirm that Mr.Aneesh Ahmed has just started his work in my working group on a master
thesis dealing with perspectives of bio-effectors to improve cold tolerance of tropical crops grown in
temerate climates.

I know Mr Aneesh Ahmed as a member of my master module „Rhizosphere, Nutrient Acquisition

and Stress Adaptations in Higher Plants“. He was a very engaged, interested and open-minded
student and therefore, I appreciated his request for a master thesis in my working group. His work is
integrated into the activities of a larger research project (BIOFECTOR) on application of microbial
and non-microbial bio-effectors to improve stress resistance and fertiliser use efficiency of crops.

Currently, he is involved in setting up a field experiment on improved cold tolerance of maize by

application of seaweed extracts, cold-tolerant plant growth-promoting microorganisms and
1I2
ANFAHRT Stadtbahn
UNIVERSITÄT HOHENHEIM BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERGISCHE BANK
U3, Plieningen (Universität Hohenheim)
Straße Hausnummer IBAN DE20 6005 0101 0002 5601 08
Bus
Adresszusatz BIC-Code SOLADEST600 70599 Stuttgart UST-ID
65, 70, 73,74, 75, 76, 79
DE 147 794 207 www.uni-hohenheim.de

micronutrients, to be consucted at the experimental station Ihinger Hof. To increase the probability
of meeting a cold stress period under field conditions, the sowing date is scheduked four weeks
earlier than conventoinal maize sowing. Mr Aneesh is involved in the experimental setup and plant
sampling during early growth, evaluating plant performance, and the expression of physiological
stress indicators. In parallel also a model experiment with controlled root-zone temperature will be
cnoducted under green house conditions to get deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms of
protective effects exerted by selected bio-effectors. Data acquisition and evaluation will be
completed after 4-5 months, followed by thesis writing and submission within six months.

I´m convinced that Mr Aneesh Ahmed can successfully finish his work programme within the
envisaged time period, provided that he can concentrate on his work schedule. Moreover, there are
good chances that his data will contribute to a joint publication in a peer reviewed journal which was
the case also for a master thesis conducted in the same research field in 2015 (see: Bradacova K ,
Weber NF, Morad-Talab N, Asim M, Imran M, Weinmann M, Neumann G (2016): Micronutrients
(Zn/Mn), seaweed extracts and plant growth-promoting bacteria as cold-stress protectants in maize.
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, accepted).

Therefore, I would strongly promote the application of Mr Aneesh, as a valuable support for rapid and
successful completion of his thesis.

Prof. Dr. Günter Neumann

2I2