Paloma Moncalean | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Research

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Dr. Paloma Moncalean | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Research

NEIKER | Spain

Dr. Paloma Moncaleán Guillén is a leading plant biotechnologist specializing in in vitro tissue culture, somatic embryogenesis, and forest biotechnology, with an extensive research career at NEIKER-BRTA, where she currently serves as Principal Investigator. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (Premio Extraordinario, 2000) from the University of Oviedo, where she also obtained her Licenciatura in Biological Sciences. Dr. Moncaleán pioneered the in vitro culture and plant physiology research line at NEIKER, developing advanced protocols for somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Pinus species, alongside molecular, physiological, and morphological marker applications in juvenile and mature tissues. Her current work focuses on epigenetic modulation under abiotic stress to enhance stress tolerance in somatic plants. She has accumulating an estimated h-index of 22, over 1421 citations, and more than 73 research documents. Dr. Moncaleán has led competitive national and international projects, contributed to major technology-transfer initiatives in Spain, Chile, and Argentina, and serves on editorial boards of top journals including Frontiers in Plant Science, PLANTS, FORESTS, and Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. Recognized for her leadership, she coordinates the IUFRO Unit 2.09.02 and continues advancing forest biotechnology for sustainable and resilient forestry systems.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Hurtado, M., Suarez-Álvarez, S., Castander-Olarieta, A., Montalbán, I. A., Goicoechea, P. G., López de Heredia, U., Marino, D., & Moncaleán, P. (2025). Physiological and molecular response to drought in somatic plants from Pinus radiata embryonal masses induced at high temperatures. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Ochatt, S. J., Akin, M., Chan, M. T., Dolgov, S. V., Eimert, K., Flachowsky, H., Guo, W. W., Jiménez, V. M., Lambardi, M., Moncaleán, P., et al. (2025). Research is rendering the recalcitrant woody plants amenable to biotechnological approaches. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture.

Montalbán, I. A., Castander-Olarieta, A., Marques do Nascimento, A. M., Suárez-Álvarez, S., Herrán, A., Polesi, L. G., Back, F., Steiner, N., Guerra, M. P., & Moncaleán, P. (2024). Genetic stability, amino acid, and polyamine profile analyses in radiata pine somatic embryos maturated at high temperatures. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture.

Montalbán, I. A., Castander-Olarieta, A., Marques do Nascimento, A. M., Suárez-Álvarez, S., Herrán, A., Polesi, L. G., Steiner, N., Guerra, M. P., & Moncaleán, P. (2023). Genetic stability, amino acid and polyamine profile analyses in radiata pine somatic embryos maturated at high temperatures.

Ayala, L. P. E., Luna, C. V., Brugnoli, E. A., Espasandin, F. D., Duarte, M. J., González, A. M., Gauchat, M. E., Moncaleán Guillén, P., & Sansberro, P. A. (2023). Cryopreservation of mature zygotic embryos, shoot bud regeneration, and field establishment of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis in vitro-derived plants. Trees.

Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

University of Ebolowa | Cameroon

Dr. Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram is a distinguished researcher in Genetics and Plant Breeding at the University of Ebolowa, Cameroon. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding and has demonstrated strong expertise in the application of advanced statistical tools such as DIAL 98 and GEST 98 for diallel crosses and genotype-by-environment interaction studies. His research primarily focuses on the genetic improvement of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), emphasizing the development of high-yielding and nutritionally enriched varieties with significant biochemical compounds to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security. Dr. Ibram’s scientific contributions are reflected in his publications in reputed journals such as Springer’s Journal of Applied Genetics and Vegetos, where his studies on genetic variability and combining ability have been well recognized. He also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Genetics and Genomics. His research collaborations with the Institute for Agricultural Research and Development further underscore his commitment to enhancing crop productivity through innovative breeding strategies. Dr. Ibram was honored as the Best Researcher in the category of Multivariate Analysis, showcasing his excellence and dedication to advancing plant genetic research.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram. (2025). Genetic analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for root traits, yield components and seed yield. Journal of Applied Genetics.

Sanjay Kumar Katiyar | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar Katiyar | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

CGIAR- AfricaRice | Côte d’Ivoire

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Katiyar is an accomplished geneticist and global agricultural research leader with over three decades of expertise in crop breeding, genetics, and agricultural innovation. He earned his Ph.D. in Genetics from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and completed postdoctoral research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Currently serving as Program Leader for Genetic Diversity & Improvement at CGIAR-AfricaRice, Director of the CGIAR Global Rice Breeding Platform (AfricaRice, IRRI, and CIAT), and Co-Lead of CGIAR’s Breeding for Tomorrow—Accelerated Breeding, he provides strategic and scientific leadership across global breeding initiatives. Dr. Katiyar’s career spans leading roles in CGIAR centers (IRRI, CIMMYT, AfricaRice), multinational seed industries (ADVANTA, BIOSEEDS), and public research institutions (IGKV). His research focuses on accelerated and predictive breeding, genomic selection, gene editing, and data-driven crop improvement for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. He has secured over $50 million in competitive research grants. Recognized for his leadership and capacity building, Dr. Katiyar has trained over 1,000 scientists and supervised 80 postgraduate researchers, contributing significantly to global food security and the modernization of plant breeding programs across Asia and Africa.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Juma, R. U., Bartholomé, J., Thathapalli Prakash, P., Hussain, W., Platten, J. D., Katiyar, S. K., … (2021). Identification of an elite core panel as a key breeding resource to accelerate the rate of genetic improvement for irrigated rice. Rice.

Nguyen, V. H., Morantte, R. I. Z., Lopena, V., Verdeprado, H., Murori, R., Katiyar, S. K., … (2023). Multi-environment genomic selection in rice elite breeding lines. Rice.

Subbaiyan, G. K., Waters, D. L. E., Katiyar, S. K., Sadananda, A. R., Vaddadi, S., … (2012). Genome‐wide DNA polymorphisms in elite indica rice inbreds discovered by whole‐genome sequencing. Plant Biotechnology Journa.

Katiyar, S. K., Tan, Y., Huang, B., Chandel, G., Xu, Y., Zhang, Y., Xie, Z., & Bennett, J. (2001). Molecular mapping of gene Gm-6 (t) which confers resistance against four biotypes of Asian rice gall midge in China. Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

Kottapalli, P., Gaur, P. M., Katiyar, S. K., Crouch, J. H., Buhariwalla, H. K., Pande, S., … (2009). Mapping and validation of QTLs for resistance to an Indian isolate of Ascochyta blight pathogen in chickpea. Euphytica,

Vera Pavese | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Vera Pavese | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Università di Torino | Italy

Dr. Vera Pavese is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Turin, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Italy. She earned her PhD in Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Roberto Botta, following her Master’s in Plant Biotechnology (2017) and Bachelor’s in Natural Sciences (2015) from the same institution. Her research focuses on developing biotechnological tools to enhance the resilience of woody crops, integrating in vitro culture, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, LED-based priming, and RNA-based gene silencing (SIGS). She has pioneered transgene-free genome editing systems and demonstrated the biostimulant potential of LEDs in woody plant micropropagation. Dr. Pavese has authored 24 peer-reviewed papers, accumulating 237 citations and an h-index of 10. Her achievements have earned her four national Best Oral Presentation Awards, invitations as a keynote speaker at international symposia, and recognition as Session Chair at major conferences. A recipient of the RILO Young Researchers Grant (2024), she actively promotes Open Science and serves as Guest Editor for Plants and Agronomy. Her work advances sustainable crop improvement and genetic innovation, positioning her as a rising leader in woody plant biotechnology and genome engineering.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Marino, L. A., Ruffa, P., Mozzanini, E., Patono, D. L., Sereno, A., & Pavese, V. (2025). LEDs in plant tissue culture: Boosting micropropagation of Castanea sativa cultivars. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation.

Marino, L. A., Pavese, V., Ruffa, P., Ferrero, M., Acquadro, A., Barchi, L., Botta, R., & Torello Marinoni, D. (2024). Guardians of quality: Advancing Castanea sativa traceability using DNA analysis from seed to processed food. Scientia Horticulturae.

Pavese, V., Moglia, A., Acquadro, A., Barchi, L., Portis, E., Torello Marinoni, D., Valentini, N., Milani, A. M., Abbà, S., Silvestri, C., et al. (2023). Development of biotechnological tools for hazelnut breeding. Acta Horticulturae.

Ferrucci, A., Lupo, M., Turco, S., Pavese, V., Torello Marinoni, D., Botta, R., Cristofori, V., Mazzaglia, A., & Silvestri, C. (2023). A roadmap of tissue culture and biotechnology in European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Nerva, L., Dalla Costa, L., Ciacciulli, A., Sabbadini, S., Pavese, V., Dondini, L., Vendramin, E., Caboni, E., Perrone, I., Moglia, A., et al. (2023). The role of Italy in the use of advanced plant genomic techniques on fruit trees: State of the art and future perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Shabeer Ahmad Dar | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Dar | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

CSIR-IIIM | India

Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Dar is an accomplished plant biotechnologist with a Ph.D. in Plant Tissue Culture and Mutagenesis from the University of Kashmir, India, and currently serves as a Research Associate focusing on tissue culture, mutagenesis, and genetic transformation for improving medicinal and ornamental plants. With experience as a contractual lecturer and assistant professor, he has led and contributed to multiple projects in micropropagation, in vitro mutagenesis, secondary metabolite production, and plant conservation biology. His work has resulted in several high-impact journal publications, including studies on Atropa acuminata (In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant), callus induction, antioxidant profiling, and ethnomedicinal surveys. He has accumulated about 58 citations and holds an h-index of 3. He earned a Young Scientist Award in Plant Sciences in 2022. His research interests lie at the interface of plant biotechnology, synthetic biology, stress physiology, mutagenesis, and conservation of endangered medicinal germplasm. He also mentors junior researchers and promotes collaborative, interdisciplinary research. In future, he aims to expand transgenic approaches, metabolic engineering, and sustainable production of bioactive compounds while continuing efforts in plant conservation and capacity building in biotechnology.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2022). In vitro culture and biochemical and antioxidant potential of the critically endangered medicinal plant Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl of Kashmir Himalaya. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant.

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2021). Effect of plant growth regulators on in vitro induction and maintenance of callus from leaf and root explants of Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl. Biotechnology Reports, 31, e00688.

Dar, S. A., Gulzar, N., Lone, I. M., & Mohammad, H. B. (2020). Ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal community of district Pulwama with special reference to Tehsil Tral, Jammu and Kashmir–India. International Research Journal of Plant Sciences, 11(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.14303/irjps.2020.005

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2021). An updated overview of Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl: A critically endangered medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalaya. Research and Reviews: Journal of Botanical Sciences.

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2020). Plant cell cultures: Important methods for production of secondary metabolites. Journal of Research and Development.