About

Our Story

Petra Seeds was founded in 2019. 

Our founder Dr. Nabil Ahmad has over 30 years of experience in breeding vegetable crops, specialising in cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini. 

After graduating from the University of Sydney in 2005, Nabil worked for the university as a researcher in horticultural crops. 

He has published more than 32 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, such as “Pollen: A Potential Explant for Genetic Transformation in Wheat.” 

He has also been interviewed by various media outlets, including Sydney Morning Herald and ABC News.

“The fruit has the most developed flavours when picked ripe. All the commercial farms pick before the ripening stage, and in some cases ripening occurs in storage” – Dr Nabil Ahmad told The Sydney Morning Herald

Read all about tomatoes

In the Sydney Morning Herald article, Dr Nabil explains the three main factors that create the flavour differences between commercial and heirloom tomato varieties. These include genetics, growing conditions and agricultural factors.

You can read about this here

In the ABC news article, Dr Nabil talks about the journey to creating better tasting tomatoes, and a special variety called a ‘strawberry tomato.’

You can read about this here

Why 'Petra Seeds'?

Dr. Nabil Ahmad named the business after one of the Seven New Wonders of the World ‘Petra,’ an ancient city in southern Jordan. 

Petra is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water-conduit system. It was also the filming location for ‘Indiana Jones.’

Dr Nabil grew up in Jordan and wanted to integrate the historic landmark into his business. 

Publications

1. Ahmad, N.; Chamas, A.; Trethowan, R. (2023) Reproductive Biology of Solanum orbiculatum ssp. orbiculatum, an Australian Endemic Bush Tomato. Agronomy 2023, 13, 2701. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112701 

2. Hayamanesh, S.; Trethowan, R.; Mahmood, T.; Ahmad, N.; Keitel, C. (2023) Physiological and Molecular Screening of High Temperature Tolerance in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)Moench]. Horticulturae 2023, 9,722. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060722 

3. Kanwal, M.; Gogoi, N.; Jones, B.; Bariana, H.; Bansal, U.; Ahmad, N. (2022) Pollen: A Potential Explant for Genetic Transformation in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Agronomy 2022, 12, 2009. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092009

4. Kanwal,  M.; Bariana, H.; Ahmad, N.; Bansal, U. (2022) Wheat pollen uptake of CRISPR/Cas9 RNP-PDMAEMA nanoassemblies results in targeted loss of gene function in progeny. Submitted to Science Advances (Manuscript Number: add1441). 

5. Al-Najm, A.; Brauer, S.; Trethowan, R.; Merchant, A.; Ahmad, N.  (2021) Optimisation of in vitro pollen germination and viability testing of some Australian selections of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and their xenic and metaxenic effects on the tissue culture-derived female cultivar “Barhee”. Accepted for publication in the journal “In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant”. 57; 771-785

6. Muktadir, A.; Adhikari N., K.; Ahmad, N.; Merchant, A. (2020) Chemical composition and reproductive functionality of contrasting faba bean genotypes in response to water deficit. Physiologia Plantarum, 1-12. 

7. Alsamir, M.; Ahmad, N.; Mahmood, T.; Trethowan, R (2019) Phenotypic diversity and marker-trait association studies under stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Australian Journal of Crop Science, 13(3). 

8. Al-Najm, A.; Brauer, S.; Trethowan, R.;  Ahmad, N. (2018) Optimisation of in vitro micropropagation of several date palm cultivars. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 12(12), 1937-1949. 

9. Ahmad, N. & Martin, P. (2017) Pollen morphology and physiology of Poa labillardieri (Poaceae). The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 9(2), 139-147. 

10. Al-Najm, A.; Luo, S.; Ahmad, N.; Pourkheirandish, M. & Trethowan, R. (2017) Molecular variability and population structure of a core collection of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars from Australia and the Middle East. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 11(9), 1106-1115. 

11. Muhammed Alsamir, Nabil. M. Ahmad, Tariq Mahmood, Richard Trethowan (2017) Morpho-physological traits linked to high temperature stress tolerance in tomato (S. lycopersicum L.). American Journal of Plant Sciences, 8, 2681-2694. 

12. Muhammed Alsamir, Tariq Mahmood, Nabil. M. Ahmad, Richard Trethowan (2017) Distribution of organic metabolites after Fusarium wilt incidence in tomato (Solanum esculentum L.). Australian Journal of Crop Science, 11(9), 1123-1129. 

13. Alsamir, M.; Ahmad, N.; Mahmood, T.; Trethowan, R. (2017) Impact of heat stress on Fusarium wilt (F. solani) incidence in cultivated tomato and related species. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 11(8), 997-1004. 

14. Alsamir, M.; Ahmad, N.; Keitel, C.; Mahmood, T.; Trethowan, R. (2017) Identification of high-temperature tolerant and agronomically viable tomato (S. lycopersicum) genotypes from a diverse germplasm collection, Advances in Crop Science and Technology, 5(4) 299 

15. S. Hayamanesh, C. Keitel, N. Ahmad, T. Mahmood and R. Trethowan (2017) Physiological, Biochemical and Morphological Response of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. (Moench) to High Temperature Stress at Different Stages of Development. Acta Horticulturae. 

16. Fraser, D.; Sharp, P.; Ahmad, N.; Trethowan, R. (2017) Abiotic stress tolerance of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) and some related grasses and potential of kikuyu for agricultural and urban environments. Crop and Pasture Science, 68, 285-296. 

17. F. Borna, S. Luo, N. M. Ahmad, V. Nazeri, M. Shokrpour, R. Trethowan (2017) Genetic diversity in populations of the medicinal plant Leonurus cardiaca L. revealed by inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 64(3), 479-492. 

18. Borna, F.; Ahmad, N.; Luo, S.; Trethowan, R.  (2016) Reproductive biology of a medicinally important plant Leonurus cardiaca (Lamiaceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 64, 342-358. 

19. Al-Najm, A., Luo, S., Ahmad, N., Trethowan, R. (2016) Molecular variability and genetic relationships of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars based on inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 10(5), 732-740. 

20. Mehmood, A., Luo, S., Ahmad, N., Dong, C., Mahmood, T., Sajjad, Y., Jaskani, M., Sharp, P. (2016) Molecular variability and phylogenetic relationships of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cultivars using inter-primer binding site (iPBS) and microsatellite (SSR) markers.Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution: an international journal, 63(8), 1345-1361. 

21. Luo, S., Goikoetxea Arango, A., Mehmood, A., Ahmad, N., Brown, G. (2015) Developing New Cordylines via Interspecific Hybridisation of the Australian Native Cordyline stricta with the New Zealand Natives C. australis and the Cultivar ‘Red Fountain’ (C. hybrida).Acta Horticulturae, 1097, 205-212. 

22. Mehmood, A., Jaskani, M., Khan, I., Ahmad, S., Ahmad, R., Luo, S., Ahmad, N. (2014) Genetic diversity of Pakistani guava (Psidium guajava L.) germplasm and its implications for conservation and breeding. Scientia Horticulturae, 172, 221-232. 

23. Oral presentation at the The University of Sydney International Gulf Forum, Food and Water Security, 5 September 2012, Sydney. Intensive, resource efficient vegetable production for peri-urban areas. 

24. Ahmad, N., Martin, P., Vella, J. (2014) Clonal propagation of Lomandra longifolia by somatic embryogenesis. Scientia Horticulturae, 180, 102-110. 

25. Ahmad, N., Martin, P.M. (2013) Flowering, Seed setting and Self-incompatibility in Poa Labillardieri (Poaceae). International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 5(1), 1-14. 

26. Australian Hydroponics and Greenhouse Association (AHGA) Conference 19–21 Jul (2009), Sydney. 

27. Ahmad, N., Martin, P.M. and Vella, J. (2009) Floral morphogenesis and proliferation in Poa labillardieri (Poaceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 57, 602-618. 

28. Ahmad, N., Martin, P.M. and Vella, J. (2008) Embryology of the dioecious Australian endemic Lomandra longifolia (Lomandraceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 56, 651-665.

29. Ahmad, N., Martin, P.M. and Vella J. (2008) Floral structure and development in the dioecious Australian endemic Lomandra longifolia (Lomandraceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 56, 666-683.

30. Oral presentation at the Wetland Education and Training Program, 10-11 Nov. (2005), Sydney Olympic Park “Biology of Sexual Reproduction in Lomandra longifolia”.

31. Ahmad N & Martin P.M. (2005) Floral development and embryology in Lomandra longifolia. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica 47 suppl. 1, 2005.

32. Ahmad, N.; Martin, P.M. and Vella J. (2002) Maximising seed germination of selected Australian native geasses and grass-like plants. AuSHS Conference 29th September – 2nd October, Sydney “Opportunities through Diversity”.

33. Oral presentation at the XII International Conference on Plant Embryology, (2005) Cracow, Poland. Floral development and embryology in Lomandra longifolia.

34. 6th Australian Wildflower Conference (2002) Sydney “The Wildflower Business: Keys to Progress and Profit”.

35. AuSHS Conference (2001) Sydney. Presented a poster titled “Development of F1 hybrid seed production systems in native grasses and grass-like plants”

View CV Here

Passions

Dr Nabil Ahmad has a passion for photography, microscopy and histology. He won the fifth prize in the Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility Micrograph of the Year Competition 2016 for his image on Floral embryology of the Australian tomato (Solanum centrale) at post-fertilisation stage (Image #D5 and Image #D4)

Image d4

Floral morphogenesis in Poa labillardieri Poaceae)

Initiation of primary and secondary branch primordia in the developing panicle. The image shows that secondary branch primordia arise on the primary branches.

Image d5

Floral embryology of the Australian tomato (Solanum centrale) at post-fertilisation stage.

This image shows a longitudinal section of the floral constituents at a post-fertilisation stage. Details show a style and many ovules within the ovary. Some ovules show the first zygotic division and early stages of endosperm development.