Mahendar Thudi | Plant Genetics | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Mahendar Thudi | Plant Genetics | Editorial Board Member

Fort Valley State university | United States

Mahendar Thudi, PhD, is a distinguished plant geneticist and genomics researcher currently serving as a Research Professional at Fort Valley State University, Georgia, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He previously worked as Associate Professor at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University and spent over a decade at ICRISAT contributing extensively to chickpea genomics and molecular breeding. Dr. Thudi holds a PhD in Plant Sciences (2010) from the University of Hyderabad, an MS in Plant Biotechnology, and a BS in Agriculture. His research spans genetics and plant breeding, genomics, multi-omics, biotic and abiotic stress biology, and crop improvement in chickpea, sorghum, pearl millet, lentils, peanut, and wheat. Dr. Thudi has received several honors, including the Fellow of Telangana Academy of Sciences and multiple Exceptional Scientific Article Awards. With active international collaborations and editorial roles in leading journals, he continues to advance genomics-based breeding and global food security.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Varshney, R. K., Song, C., Saxena, R. K., Azam, S., Yu, S., Sharpe, A. G., Cannon, S., … (2013). Draft genome sequence of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) provides a resource for trait improvement. Nature Biotechnology.

Varshney, R. K., Shi, C., Thudi, M., Mariac, C., Wallace, J., Qi, P., Zhang, H., Zhao, Y., … (2017). Pearl millet genome sequence provides a resource to improve agronomic traits in arid environments. Nature Biotechnology.

Varshney, R. K., Thudi, M., Nayak, S. N., Gaur, P. M., Kashiwagi, J., … (2014). Genetic dissection of drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

Varshney, R. K., Thudi, M., Roorkiwal, M., He, W., Upadhyaya, H. D., Yang, W., … (2019). Resequencing of 429 chickpea accessions from 45 countries provides insights into genome diversity, domestication and agronomic traits. Nature Genetics.

Thudi, M., Upadhyaya, H. D., Rathore, A., Gaur, P. M., Krishnamurthy, L., … (2014). Genetic dissection of drought and heat tolerance in chickpea through genome-wide and candidate gene-based association mapping approaches.

Mallesham Bulle | Plant Biotechnology | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Dr. Mallesham Bulle | Plant Biotechnology | Outstanding Scientist Award

Lousiana State University | United States

Dr. Mallesham Bulle, Ph.D., is a dedicated plant scientist with over a decade of experience in physiological, biochemical, and molecular investigations of abiotic stress tolerance in major crops, including chili pepper, rice, cotton, soybean, and maize. His research expertise spans plant transformation, CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing, phytohormone signaling, stress-response mechanisms, chloroplast and nuclear genome engineering, and omics-based approaches such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, and hormonomics. Dr. Bulle has led and contributed to multiple interdisciplinary projects, including climate-resilient rice and drought-tolerant legumes, securing significant research grants from USDA, NIFA, DBT, and United Soybean Board. He has developed robust plant regeneration and transformation systems, delivered novel transgenic and genome-edited crops, and mentored graduate and undergraduate researchers. His work demonstrates impactful contributions to crop improvement and abiotic stress resilience. His research interests include elucidating signaling pathways, deciphering fruit ripening mechanisms, exploring nitric oxide and phytohormone crosstalk, and discovering novel genes for crop stress tolerance. Dr. Bulle’s work has been recognized through patents for extending produce shelf-life and innovations in plant biotechnology. He continues to drive transformative research aimed at sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient crop development.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Bulle, M., Abbagani, S., & Raza, A. (2025). Genome blaze: Engineering chilli pepper chloroplasts for sustainable production of capsaicinoids through organellar genome editing. Plant Biology.

Bulle, M., Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. R., & Abbagani, S. (2025). Strategies to develop climate-resilient chili peppers: Transcription factor optimization through genome editing. Planta.

Rahman, M. M., Keya, S. S., Bulle, M., Ahsan, S. M., Rahman, M. A., Roni, M. S., Al Noor, M. M., & Hasan, M. (2025). Past trauma, better future: How stress memory shapes plant adaptation to drought. Functional Plant Biology.

Keya, S. S., Islam, M. R., Pham, H., Rahman, M. A., Bulle, M., Patwary, A., Kanika, M. M.-A.-R., Hemel, F. H., Ghosh, T. K., & Huda, N. (2025). Thirsty, soaked, and thriving: Maize morpho-physiological and biochemical responses to sequential drought, waterlogging, and re-drying. Plant Stress.

Bulle, M., Venkatapuram, A. K., Rahman, M. M., Attia, K. A., Mohammed, A. A., Abbagani, S., & Kirti, P. B. (2024). Enhancing drought tolerance in chilli pepper through AdDjSKI-mediated modulation of ABA sensitivity, photosynthetic preservation, and ROS scavenging. Physiologia Plantarum.

MUSLIM QADIR | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. MUSLIM QADIR | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

South China Agricultural University | China

Author Profile

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Orcid ID
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👨‍🔬 Summary:

Dr. Muslim Qadir is a dedicated researcher specializing in crop genetics and plant breeding with a strong focus on reproductive biology, stress physiology, and genome-editing technologies. He has advanced experience in GWAS, QTL mapping, transcriptomics, proteomics, and phytohormonal analysis. Currently affiliated with the College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University (SCAU), Guangzhou, China, Dr. Qadir actively contributes to translational research for sustainable agriculture and crop improvement.

🎓 Education:

He holds a Ph.D. in Crop Genetics and Breeding from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Wuhan (2019–2022), a Master’s in Biology (Plant Breeding and Genetics) from Southwest University of Science and Technology, Sichuan (2016–2018), and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from LUAWMS, Pakistan (2012–2016).

💼 Professional Experience:

Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at SCAU (2024–Present), he has also served as a Research Associate at UAE University (2023), working on transcriptomic profiling in date palm, and as a Research Assistant at various institutions including LUAWMS and RRI-China. His career spans physiological studies in cotton, wheat, and rice, to functional genomics in rapeseed.

📚 Academic Citations & Publications:

Dr. Qadir has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Frontiers in Plant Science, Genome Editing, BMC Plant Biology, and Environmental Chemistry & Ecotoxicology. His notable publications explore ovule development, CRISPR/Cas9, stress resilience, biocontrol mechanisms, and soil remediation strategies. His cumulative citations reflect a growing international academic impact.

🧪 Technical Skills:

He possesses expertise in GWAS, QTL mapping, bioinformatics, high-throughput phenotyping, phytohormone quantification, antioxidant assays, gene expression analysis, tissue culture, DNA/RNA extraction, and functional genomics tools like CRISPR. He is proficient in statistical and molecular software tools and has hands-on field and lab experience.

🎓 Teaching Experience:

Dr. Qadir has mentored students in experimental design, data interpretation, and thesis writing during his research tenure. He has actively engaged in research training workshops and collaborative scientific projects, both in China and the UAE.

🌱 Research Interests:

His core research areas include plant reproductive genetics, seed trait development, stress physiology, plant–environment interaction, genome editing for climate resilience, and integrated crop management. His research aims to enhance productivity and sustainability in oilseed, cereal, and fruit crops.

📖Publications

Genome-Wide Identification of Chitinase Gene Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare): Insights into Stress Response Mechanisms and Evolutionary Dynamics

    • Authors: Muslim Qadir Baloch; Irfan Ali Sabir; Farhan Nabi; Aamir Manzoor; Fazal Ullah; Muhammad Saeed; Abeer Hashem; Jawaher Alkahtani; Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah

    • Journal: BMC Plant Biology

    • Year: 2025

CRISPR/Cas9: a sustainable technology to enhance climate resilience in major Staple Crops

    • Authors: Navjot Kaur; Muslim Qadir; Dali V. Francis; Anshu Alok; Siddharth Tiwari; Zienab F. R. Ahmed

    • Journal: Frontiers in Genome Editing

    • Year: 2025

Dissection of the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of ovule number per ovary in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

    • Authors: Muslim Qadir Baloch; Xinyi Lin; Farhan Nabi; Kishore Kumar Ashok; Xue-Rong Zhou; Qingbin Sun; Peiman Shi; Xinfa Wang; Jiaqin Shi

    • Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science

    • Year: 2025

Enhancing crop resilience by harnessing the synergistic effects of biostimulants against abiotic stress

    • Authors: Anam Asif; Muslim Qadir; Maratab Ali; Rajmohan Karthikeyan; Zora Singh; Ravjit Khangura; Francesco Di Gioia; Zienab F. R. Ahmed

    • Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science

    • Year: 2023

 Genetic dissection of the natural variation of ovule number per ovary in oilseed rape germplasm (Brassica napus L.)

    • Authors: Muslim Qadir Baloch

    • Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science

    • Year: 2022