Here is a polished and accurate English translation: Al-Zahraa University (peace be upon her) for Women continues to support rigorous scientific research. Recently, the College of Pharmacy added a new qualitative scientific achievement to its record through the publication of an international research paper by the University’s Scientific Assistant, Prof. Dr. Zuheir Muhammad Ali Al-Asadi, in the *Journal of Phytopathology*, which is indexed in Scopus and Clarivate databases and classified within the second quartile (Q2) of the global ranking of scientific journals.
The research paper was titled:
“First Report of Cotton Leaf Curl Gezira Alphasatellite and Okra Leaf Curl Alphasatellite Infecting Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in Iraq”
This is the first scientific documentation of the presence of cotton leaf curl virus Gezira and its alphasatellite and petastellite extensions in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants within Iraq, which is an important agricultural crop in the country.
This scientific achievement was made by the research team formed in cooperation with the College of Agriculture at the University of Karbala, headed by Professor Dr. Adnan Abdul Jalil Lahouf.
The study recorded, during the 2023 season, clear viral symptoms in the fields, with an infection rate reaching 30%, in addition to the widespread presence of the *Bemisia tabaci* insect. The researcher used advanced techniques in DNA extraction and next-generation sequencing (NGS), where bioinformatic analyses revealed the presence of the virus and its associated components, showing a sequence identity of 98–99% compared with regionally recorded isolates. PCR tests and viral transmission experiments further confirmed the extent of the infection and the urgent need to adopt preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
This achievement is an important addition to the university’s scientific record, and reflects its commitment to contributing to addressing agricultural and health challenges through specialized scientific research.
