Master’s Degree Awarded to Mr. Younis Ahmed Hameed in Horticulture and Its Techniques

Mr. Younis Ahmed Hassan Yahya Hameed was awarded a Master’s degree for his thesis titled “Edaphic-Climatic Factors, Morphological Features of Yemeni Thyme (Thymus laevigatus) and Effect of its Extracts on Stored Potato,” which was submitted to the Department of Horticulture and Its Techniques, Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Saturday, Muharram 10, 1447 Hijri, corresponding to July 5, 2025.

The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:

#	Committee Members	Designation	University	Position
1	Prof. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Eid	External examiner	Ibb University	Chair
2	Dr. Ahmed Khalid Yahya Al-Hadwani	Internal Examiner	Sana’a University	Member
3	Dr. Adel Sultan Salman Al-Qadasi	Main supervisor	Sana’a University	Member

The thesis aimed to:

Analyze the environmental factors influencing the growth of Yemeni thyme.
Evaluate the effectiveness of Yemeni thyme extracts in preserving potatoes.

Key Findings:

Natural Habitat of Yemeni Thyme: The plant thrives in semi-arid mountainous regions (2174–2737 m altitude) with balanced, alkaline sandy-loam soil.
Morphological Traits and Diversity: The study highlighted distinct leaf characteristics compared to other species and provided initial documentation of two flower pigmentation patterns (white and pale pink).
Application in Potato Preservation: Aqueous extracts demonstrated effectiveness in extending potato storage periods and reducing moisture loss.

Recommendations:

The research concluded with several recommendations for future work and application:

Conservation and Sustainability: Establishing nature reserves, wild nurseries, and seed banks.
Domestication and Integration: Further research into domesticating thyme and integrating it into agricultural systems.
Distribution and Diversity Studies: Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and conducting integrated morphological analyses.
Practical Applications: Advocating for the adoption of thyme extracts as a natural alternative to germination inhibitors, studying their efficacy for other crops, determining their chemical composition, and evaluating their impact on sensory properties.

The thesis was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, postgraduate students, and interested individuals.