Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Tayseer Al-Sanhani in Fruits

Ms. Tayseer Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sanhani was awarded a Master’s degree in Fruits ‎with an average of (Excellent) for her thesis titled: Phenotypic Characterization of Some Local Yemeni Grape Cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.), which was submitted to the Department of Horticulture and Its Technologies at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

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

#	Committee Members	Designation	University	Position
1	Assoc. Prof. Fatehi Ahmed Al-Shawish	External Examiner	Thamar University	Chair
2	Dr. Mansour Abdulhalim Al-Dhabhani	Internal Examiner	Sana’a University	Member
3	Prof. Hassan Abduljabbar Aldubai	Main Supervisor	Sana’a University	Member

The research aimed to:

Establish a methodological framework for the morphological description of Yemeni grape Cultivars ‎as a foundation for future breeding programs.
Characterize the phenotypic features of two major Yemeni grape Cultivars—Al-Asmi and Al-Razqi—in accordance with international standards set by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), the International Union for the Protection of New Cultivars of Plants (UPOV), and the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV).
Track the phenological stages of Al-Asmi and Al-Razqi grape Cultivars to determine environmental factors influencing their growth cycles.

The research yielded a number of key Findings, including:

Phenological Stages: Growth phases were documented when 50% of buds, fruits, or clusters reached the respective stage under field conditions.
Ampelographic Description: A detailed analysis of the Al-Asmi and Al-Razqi Cultivars ‎ was conducted, covering shoots, leaves, clusters, fruits, and seeds.

The Researcher provided the following recommendations:

Conduct further advanced scientific studies.
Develop genetic fingerprints for the studied Cultivars.
Promote interest in local grape Cultivars.
Undertake comprehensive profiling of other local Cultivars.
Protect grape cultivation in Yemen.
Preserve Yemeni agricultural and cultural identity.

The defense was attended by members of the academic faculty, researchers, graduate students, as well as the researcher’s colleagues and family members.