Wasiu Akande Ahmed | Plant Pathology | Excellence in Research Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Assist. Prof. Dr. Wasiu Akande Ahmed | Plant Pathology | Excellence in Research Award

Hangzhou International Innovation Institute of Beihang University | China

Dr. Ahmed Wasiu Akande is an Assistant Professor at the Hangzhou International Innovation Institute of Beihang University, China, specializing in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and satellite communication. He holds a PhD and MSc in GNSS from Beihang University and advanced degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Nigeria. His academic experience includes international teaching, supervision, and extensive high-impact publications. His research interests span GNSS signal processing, UAV applications in precision agriculture, GNSS reflectometry, AI-based error mitigation, and climate-smart farming technologies. He is a recipient of multiple academic distinctions, and his work continues to advance satellite-enabled solutions for agriculture, environmental monitoring, and sustainable development.

                             Citation Metrics (Scopus)

40

30

20

10

5

0

 

Citations
32
Documents
15
h-index
3

Citations

Documents

h-index

View Scopus Profile   View Orcid Profile

Featured Publications

Erick Ochoa-Chaparro | Plant Physiology | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Dr. Erick Ochoa-Chaparro | Plant Physiology | Young Scientist Award

CIAD | Mexico

An Electronics Engineer and Master’s graduate in Agribusiness Management, he is a full-time professor in Mechatronics with strong experience in precision agriculture, IoT systems, and industrial processes. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Science, researching the effects of zinc nanoparticles on germination, photosynthesis, and nitrogen assimilation in Capsicum annuum L. His professional background includes academic leadership, process engineering in the beverage industry, and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector. Recognized for academic excellence at undergraduate and master’s levels, his work integrates engineering and agricultural sciences to promote innovation, sustainability, and long-term collaboration within stable, technology-driven organizations.

                     Citation Metrics (Google Scholar)

25

20

15

10

5

0

 

Citations
22
Documents
18
h-index
3

Citations

Documents

h-index

View Google Scholar Profile

Featured Publications

Marina Lopez Pozo | Plant Stress Physiology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Dr. Marina Lopez Pozo | Plant Stress Physiology | Research Excellence Award

University of Colorado, Boulder | Spain

Dr. Marina López-Pozo is a plant ecophysiologist with a PhD in Environmental Agrobiology and over a decade of international research experience spanning Europe, the United States, and extreme environments including Antarctica. Her work integrates plant stress physiology, photosynthesis, controlled-environment agriculture, and space crop science, with leadership roles in NASA- and DOE-funded projects. She has contributed to innovative research on duckweed, plant–microbe interactions, and sustainable food systems for space and Earth. Dr. López-Pozo is an accomplished author in high-impact journals, an expert evaluator and editor, a dedicated mentor, and a recognized contributor to advancing resilient, future-ready agriculture.

                         Citation Metrics (Google Scholar)

1000

800

600

400

200

0

 

Citations
761
Documents
29
h-index
15

Citations

Documents

h-index

View Google Scholar Profile

Featured Publications

Shoaib Zawar | Plant Stress Physiology | Innovations in Plant Physiology

Published on by Plant Scientist

Mr. Shoaib Zawar | Plant Stress Physiology | Innovations in Plant Physiology

Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan | Pakistan

Shoaib Zawar is a motivated agronomy researcher with a strong academic background in crop science and sustainable agriculture. He completed his higher education in Agronomy with a specialization in crop physiology at Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan, where his research focused on enhancing drought tolerance through seed priming and micronutrient management. Shoaib has gained hands-on research and field experience through internships at agronomic research stations and agricultural extension departments, along with advanced laboratory training in analytical techniques such as spectrophotometry, chromatography, and soil–plant analysis tools. His research interests include drought and heat stress physiology, seed priming, nutrient management, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable soil management, and yield optimization in cereal and pulse crops. He has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in reputed agricultural journals, addressing crop productivity, stress mitigation, and sustainable farming practices. Shoaib has actively participated in international conferences and technical workshops related to climate resilience and modern agronomy. His academic excellence has been recognized through competitive scholarships and national-level awards. With a strong commitment to research, innovation, and sustainable food systems, he aims to contribute meaningfully to agricultural development and climate-resilient crop production at both national and global levels.

                      Citation Metrics (Google Scholar)

25

20

15

10

5

0

 

Citations
20
Documents
7
h-index
3

Citations

Documents

h-index

View Google Scholar Profile

Featured Publications

Linchao Li | Sustainable Agriculture | Young Innovator Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Dr. Linchao Li | Sustainable Agriculture | Young Innovator Award

Inner Mongolia Agricultural University | China

Linchao Li is an agricultural and environmental scientist specializing in climate change impacts on crop systems, extreme weather analysis, and data-driven yield prediction. He is currently an Associate Professor at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University and previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University, with international research experience as a joint PhD student at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia. Dr. Li earned his PhD in Agricultural Resources and Environment from Northwest A&F University, following a master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Water Conservation Engineering. His research integrates machine learning, crop modeling, and multi-source environmental data to improve projections of crop yield, drought risk, precipitation extremes, and greenhouse gas emissions under climate change. He has published extensively in leading journals such as One Earth, Nature Food, Global Change Biology, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, and Communications Earth & Environment. His work contributes to reducing uncertainty in agricultural climate impact assessments and supporting climate-resilient farming systems. Dr. Li has participated in nationally and internationally funded research projects related to climate adaptation, drought evolution, and sustainable agriculture. With strong expertise in R, MATLAB, GIS, APSIM, AquaCrop, and hydrological models, he continues to advance interdisciplinary research bridging climate science, agronomy, and decision-support systems.

Citation Metrics (Scopus)

1400
1000
600
200
0

Citations
1117

Documents
40

h-index
20


View Scopus Profile
    View Orcid Profile

Featured Publications

 

Mehdi Minbashi Moeini | Weed Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Prof. Mehdi Minbashi Moeini | Weed Science | Best Researcher Award

Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection | Iran

Prof. Mehdi Minbashi Moeini is a leading weed scientist and agronomist whose academic career is built on a B.Sc. in Agronomy & Plant Breeding from Shiraz University, an M.Sc. in Agronomy from Isfahan University of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Weed Science from the University of Tehran, where he focused on pioneering GIS applications for weed management in wheat and canola crops. With over two decades of service at the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP), he has advanced from Research Instructor to Research Professor, while holding key leadership roles including Deputy for Research & Technology, Secretary of the Agronomy Taskforce at AREEO, and Head of the Weed Research Department. His scholarly contributions include 10 documented publications, which have achieved 83 citations with an h-index of 5, underlining his scientific impact in the field. His research interests span weed biology, integrated weed management, herbicide physiology, parasitic weeds such as broomrape, and precision agriculture using GIS and remote sensing. He is also the author of notable scientific books including “Biology and Management of Water Hyacinth” and “Sunflower Plant Protection Handbook.” His work supports innovation in sustainable weed control and strengthens global agricultural productivity.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Moeini, M. M., Haghighi, A., Kootiani, M. S., & Samadani, B. (2023). Evaluation of Bentazon + Dichlorprop for control of noxious broadleaf weeds in wheat fields of Iran. Gesunde Pflanzen.

Moeini, M. M., Mamnoie, E., Karaminejad, M. R., Aliverdi, A., & Moeini, M. M. (2022). Application efficacy of newly released pre-mixed herbicide in winter wheat: Joystick®. Journal of Agricultural Science, Estonian Academic Agricultural Society.

Veisi, M., Moeini, M. M., Jahedi, A., Mansoori, M. S., & Sabeti, P. (2022). Weed control efficacy: Response of chickpea to pre- and post-emergence herbicides. Gesunde Pflanzen.

Moeini, M. M., Hadizadeh, M. H., Karaminejad, M. R., Zangeneh, H. S., Jamali, M., & Haghighi, A. A. (2022). Efficacy of fluroxypyr compared with common broadleaf herbicides in the wheat fields. Journal of Iranian Plant Protection Research.

Moeini, M. M. (2021). Germination biology and phenological development stages of false jagged-chickweed (Lepyrodiclis holosteoides). Journal of Plant Protection Research.

Jianglong Li | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Mr. Jianglong Li | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University | China

Li Jianglong is a promising early-career researcher currently completing his B.Eng. in Facility Agriculture Science and Engineering at South China Agricultural University. His academic training emphasizes greenhouse cultivation, soilless cultivation, plant physiology, and environmental control technologies in horticulture. He has already published one first-author peer-reviewed paper in the journal Horticulturae, titled “Light-Nutrient Optimization Enhances Cherry Tomato Yield and Quality in Greenhouses”; to date (December 2025). His research interests focus on nutrient optimization strategies, precision hydroponic management, greenhouse seedling production, and sustainable facility agriculture for high-quality horticultural crops. Beyond the lab, he led a provincially funded undergraduate innovation project exploring bioactive compounds in colorful cherry tomatoes and their precise nutrient-solution management, and he captained a “Maker Cup” innovation competition project on multi-target regulation of cherry-tomato sub-health ecosystems. He has earned multiple awards in provincial English writing contests, university-level competitions, and national scholarships, demonstrating both academic versatility and communication skills. Committed, hardworking, and team-oriented, he aspires to contribute to sustainable horticultural production and crop quality improvement through integrated greenhouse technologies.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Li, J., Xie, Z., Zhao, T., Li, H., Chen, R., Song, S., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Light–nutrient optimization enhances cherry tomato yield and quality in greenhouses. Horticulturae,

Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Plant Scientist

Prof. Dr. Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC) | Spain

Dr. José Luis González Andújar is a leading researcher in weed science and agroecology, currently serving as a senior scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and has built an outstanding academic career. His scientific impact is reflected in an approximate, including the Weed Science Group and the Weed Agroecology Research Group (AGR-271), and has held major administrative roles such as Scientific Director of the International Laboratory on Global Change. His research focuses on weed ecology, population modelling, integrated weed management, decision-support tools, and climate-change impacts on agroecosystems. He has supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses, taught in more than 30 international courses, and served as guest or visiting professor across Europe and the Americas. Recognized widely for his contributions, he has received prestigious honors including the WSSA Honorary Member Award, OECD Fellowship, and several national research merit distinctions.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Kattge, J., Bönisch, G., Díaz, S., Lavorel, S., Prentice, I. C., Leadley, P., … González-Andújar, J. L. (2020). TRY plant trait database–enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Fernández-Quintanilla, C. (1991). Modelling the population dynamics of Avena sterilis under dry-land cereal cropping systems. Journal of Applied Ecology.

Dorado, J., Sousa, E., Calha, I. M., González-Andújar, J. L., … (2009). Predicting weed emergence in maize crops under two contrasting climatic conditions. Weed Research.

Perry, J. N., & González-Andujar, J. L. (1993). Dispersal in a metapopulation neighbourhood model of an annual plant with a seedbank. Journal of Ecology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Saavedra, M. (2003). Spatial distribution of annual grass weed populations in winter cereals. Crop Protection,

Sanjay Kumar Katiyar | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

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,

Leila Ma’mani | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Assist. Prof. Dr. Leila Ma’mani | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

ABRII | Iran

Dr. Leila Ma’mani is a distinguished Assistant Professor at the Department of Nanotechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII). She obtained her B.Sc. from Bu-Ali Sina University, M.Sc. from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Tarbiat Modares University. She completed postdoctoral research in nanomaterials and nano-drug delivery at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. At ABRII, she has served as Head of the Department of Nanotechnology and Secretary of the Nanotechnology Committee of Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture. Dr. Ma’mani has supervised numerous Ph.D. and M.Sc. students and continues to guide emerging researchers in the field. Her research focuses on the design and synthesis of nanoporous and organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite delivery systems, targeted and slow release of bioactive compounds, nano-pesticides, nutrient nanocarriers, enzyme and RNA stabilization, and magnetic nanomaterials. She has authored many high-impact publications, book chapters, and patents, with an h-index of 28 and 2272 citations and 76 Documentation. Her innovative contributions to agricultural nanotechnology have advanced sustainable, biocompatible solutions for controlled-release systems and green agricultural technologies.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Eigharlou, M., Javidpoor, S., Mohammadi, A., Khelghatibana, F., Nami, Y., Ma’mani, L., & Sadeghi, A. (2024). Evaluation of herbicidal potential of siderophores produced by Amycolatopsis lurida strain 407. Scientific Reports.

Parnian, J., Ma’mani, L., Bakhtiari, M. R., & Safavi, M. (2024). Inhibition of EGFR1 in triple negative breast cancer cells using siRNA loaded with Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles. BioNanoScience.

Najafzadeh Nansa, M., Jokarshoorijeh, F., Tavakoli Hasanaklou, N., Ghorbanloo, M., Hosseni, R., & Ma’mani, L. (2024). Nanoformulation: An efficient approach to natural insect repellent formulations. Journal of Water and Environmental Nanotechnology.

Ardali, T. R., Soleimanpour, L., Ma’mani, L., & Chorom, M. (2024). Opportunities and future perspective of nanofertilizers and controlled release nanofertilizers in agriculture. Journal of Water and Environmental Nanotechnology.

Shemshaki, N. S., Sharifi, K., Khodaparast, S. A., Mamani, L., & Mousanejad, S. (2024). The efficiency of mineral compounds for the control of strawberry blossom blight caused by Botrytis cinerea. European Journal of Plant Pathology.