Idrissou Ahoudou | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Idrissou Ahoudou | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Genetics, Biotechnology, and Seed Sciences Unit, University of Abomey-Calavi | Benin

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🌟 IDRISSOU AHOUDOU: A LEADING RESEARCHER IN GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Idrissou Ahoudou is a distinguished researcher in Genetics and Plant Breeding, with a strong academic background and extensive experience in plant genetics, biotechnology, and crop improvement. His research contributions have significantly advanced the understanding of genetic diversity and crop resilience, particularly in Africa.

📚 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Ahoudou’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Production from the National School of Agricultural Sciences and Techniques of Djougou, University of Parakou, Benin, in 2014. He later pursued a Master of Science in Biotechnology and Plant Breeding at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, completing his studies in 2018. Currently, he is set to defend his PhD at the University of Abomey-Calavi on March 19, 2025.

🧪 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Dr. Ahoudou has served in multiple research capacities, notably as a Research Assistant from 2019 to 2022 in the “Improved Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Value Chains for Food and Nutrition Security in Benin, Niger, and Nigeria” project. His responsibilities included:

  • Study Design and Implementation – Conceptualizing and executing baseline studies.
  • Germplasm Conservation – Preserving sweet potato genetic diversity.
  • Cultivar Evaluation – Identifying high-yield sweet potato cultivars.
  • Capacity Building – Training farmers in sustainable agricultural practices.

🔬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS ON Plant Genetics

Dr. Ahoudou specializes in plant genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and crop breeding. His research encompasses:

  • Participatory Breeding Approaches – Engaging farmers in cultivar evaluation.
  • Genetic Improvement of Crops – Enhancing yield and stress resistance.
  • Bioinformatics Applications – Utilizing computational tools for genetic analysis.
  • Climate Change Adaptation – Developing resilient crop varieties.

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Ahoudou’s work has had a profound impact on food security and sustainable agriculture in West Africa. His research in genetic improvement of sweet potatoes and tomatoes has contributed to better yield stability and nutritional value, benefiting local farmers and agricultural stakeholders.

📈 ACADEMIC CITATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Ahoudou has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including:

  1. Ahoudou, I., et al. (2023). Farmers’ selection criteria for sweet potato varieties in Benin: An application of Best-Worst Scaling, Experimental Agriculture, 59, p. e25. [DOI: 10.1017/S0014479723000224]
  2. Ahoudou, I., et al. (2025). Multi-environmental traits selection and farmer’s participatory assessment of mean performance and stability of orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes in Benin, Heliyon, 11(2), p. e41685. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41685]

🏅 HONORS & AWARDS

  • 2018 – Letter of Congratulations from the Director of the Genetics, Horticulture, and Seed Science Laboratory for securing an African Union Research Grant.
  • 2011 – Benin Government Scholarship for Bachelor studies.

🌐 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

With his dedication to plant genetics and breeding, Dr. Ahoudou aims to:

  • Develop new resilient crop varieties.
  • Enhance bioinformatics integration in genetic studies.
  • Strengthen collaborations between research institutions and farmers.

🌠 FINAL NOTE

Dr. Ahoudou continues to be a trailblazer in genetics and plant breeding, focusing on improving food security and sustainable agricultural practices. His research and fieldwork have positioned him as an influential figure in crop genetics and biotechnology.

📑 NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS 

Multi-environmental traits selection and farmer’s participatory assessment of mean performance and stability of orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes in Benin

  • Authors: I. Ahoudou, V.N. Fassinou Hotegni, D.E.O. Sogbohossou, I. Moumouni-Moussa, E.G. Achigan-Dako

  • Journal: Heliyon

  • Year: 2025

 

Fei Chen | Horticultural Science | Young Scientist Award

Prof. Fei Chen | Horticultural Science | Young Scientist Award

Hainan University | China

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🌟 DR. FEI CHEN: PIONEERING BIOINFORMATICS & SMART BREEDING IN AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Fei Chen (陈飞) is a distinguished professor, Ph.D. supervisor, and a leading figure in bioinformatics and smart breeding. Currently based at Hainan University, Dr. Chen has made significant contributions to tropical crop bio-breeding, multi-omics data analysis, and artificial intelligence in agriculture. As a member of the Communist Party of China, he has played a crucial role in advancing precision breeding technologies and computational biology.

📚 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Fei Chen embarked on his academic journey at Nanjing Agricultural University, where he pursued his undergraduate and doctoral studies from 2007 to 2016. His research excellence led him to the University of Tennessee, USA, as a joint Ph.D. student, further expanding his expertise in bioinformatics and genomics. His rigorous academic training laid the foundation for his pioneering work in computational breeding.

🧪 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

After earning his doctorate, Dr. Chen dedicated his career to research and education. His professional journey includes:

  • 2016-2021: Faculty member at the College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University
  • 2016-2019: Faculty member at the Straits Joint Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
  • 2021-Present: Professor at Hainan University, affiliated with the Tropical Crop Bio-Breeding National Key Laboratory & Sanya Nanfan Research Institute

Dr. Chen teaches multiple courses, including Bioinformatics, Cell Biology, and Genomics, mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge biological sciences.

🔬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS ON Horticultural Science

Dr. Chen’s research focuses on three primary areas:

1. SMART BREEDING

  • Development of high-throughput data storage algorithms and computational tools for breeding.
  • Integration of gene editing, molecular markers, synthetic biology, and AI for multi-dimensional smart breeding design.

2. BIOINFORMATICS

  • Creation of bioinformatics cloud platforms, novel software, and algorithms for multi-omics research.
  • Advanced data mining techniques to interpret complex biological datasets.

3. CROP BIOLOGY

  • Analysis of genomic traits, molecular foundations, and regulatory networks of superior crop traits.
  • Evolutionary studies on polyploidy origins and their biological significance

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Chen’s contributions extend beyond research and academia. He serves as:

  • Executive Editor of Tropical Plants
  • Associate Editor of Horticulture Research & Ornamental Plant Research
  • Editorial Board Member for Horticultural Plant Journal & BMC Genomics
  • Reviewer for National Natural Science Foundation of China & Hainan Provincial Science Foundation

His leadership in these roles has influenced agricultural research and innovation at both national and international levels.

📈 ACADEMIC CITATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Chen has published over 80 SCI-indexed papers in prestigious journals such as Nature, Cell, New Phytologist, and Horticulture Research. His work has been cited over 3,500 times, demonstrating its global impact.

🏅 HONORS & AWARDS

Dr. Chen’s groundbreaking work has earned him multiple prestigious awards:

  • 2023: Fujian Provincial Natural Science First Prize (co-awarded with Zhang Liangsheng, Qin Yuan, and Zhang Xingtan)
  • 2023: Hainan University May Fourth Youth Medal
  • 2019: Zhejiang Province Science & Technology Award (Second Prize) for contributions to forestry development

🌐 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

As a trailblazer in computational biology and smart breeding, Dr. Chen’s future contributions will likely revolutionize agriculture through:

  • Further AI-driven breeding advancements
  • Developing next-generation genomic tools
  • Expanding global collaboration in bioinformatics and crop improvement

His research and mentorship will inspire future scientists, ensuring a more sustainable and technologically advanced agricultural future.

🌠 FINAL NOTE

Dr. Fei Chen’s journey from a passionate student to a globally recognized expert in bioinformatics and smart breeding exemplifies dedication and innovation. His contributions to genomic research, AI-driven agriculture, and crop bioinformatics continue to shape the future of sustainable food production and precision breeding.

📑 NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS 

Transcriptome Profiling Implicates Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Flowering and Floral Organ Development in Water Lily
  • Authors: Hongbin Zhang, Chengjun Zhao, Fei Chen
  • Journal: Horticulturae
  • Year: 2024
Evolutionary Insights and Expression Dynamics of the Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) Gene Family in Water Lily (Nymphaea colorata) in Response to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
  • Authors: Wasi Ullah Khan, Latif Ullah Khan, Noor Muhammad Khan, Wenquan Wang, Fei Chen
  • Journal: Plant Stress
  • Year: 2024
CentIER: Accurate Centromere Identification for Plant Genomes
  • Authors: Dong Xu, Jinbao Yang, Huaming Wen, Fei Chen, Weihua Pan
  • Journal: Plant Communications
  • Year: 2024
HortDB V1.0: A Genomic Database of Horticultural Plants
  • Authors: Zhidong Li, Chong Wang, Shenghao Wang, Wenquan Wang, Fei Chen
  • Journal: Horticulture Research
  • Year: 2024
The Evolutionary Significance of Whole Genome Duplications in Oil Biosynthesis of Oil Crops
  • Authors: Jingjing Wu, Linjing Zhang, Xiaohui Ma, Jianquan Liu, Shengdan Wu
  • Journal: Horticulture Research
  • Year: 2024