Dr. Arif’s group uses ‘omics’ technologies to understand the disease epidemiology to support sustainable disease management. Currently, his group is working on numerous projects: “Interactions and genomics of EPS producing and non-producing virulent Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis”, “Phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Xanthomonas, Dickeya, Pectobacterium and Rathayibacter”, “Development of novel isothermal detection methods for numerous bacterial pathogens” and “comparative genomics of Dickeya, Pectobacterium, Clavibacter and Rathayibacter”.

Dr. Arif’s group is studying microbial communities and their interactions in local ornamental, food, and vegetable crops that will benefit the Hawaiian agriculture and the people. His research covers the interactions of microbial communities with ornamental, food and vegetable crops.