Assaf Eybishitz | Crop Science & Breeding | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Dr. Assaf Eybishitz | Crop Science & Breeding | Outstanding Scientist Award

Senior Scientist | World Vegetable Center | Taiwan

Dr. Assaf Eybishitz is a plant scientist specializing in tomato breeding and genetic improvement, with a strong focus on developing resilient, high-performing vegetable crops. His research centers on disease resistance breeding, quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification, and stress tolerance, particularly heat stress and multi-disease resistance using advanced genetic resources and MAGIC populations. Currently, he serves as Senior Scientist – Tomato Breeding at the World Vegetable Center, where he leads and contributes to strategic breeding programs aimed at enhancing yield stability and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Dr. Eybishitz has made significant contributions through molecular screening of wild and cultivated germplasm, identification of key resistance loci, and development of tomato lines with improved resistance to viruses and insect-transmitted diseases. His impact vision emphasizes strengthening global food security, accelerating climate-resilient crop innovation, and translating genetic research into scalable solutions for sustainable agriculture worldwide.


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Featured Publications

 

Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi | Plant Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi | Plant Science | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer | University of Zululand | South Africa

Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi is a dedicated Plant Scientist and Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Zululand, South Africa, where he specializes in Plant Sciences and supervises both Honours and Master’s students. He obtained his PhD and MSc in Botany, as well as a BSc in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the University of Zululand, supported by additional training in DNA sequencing, PCR, and data science through institutions including DNABiotec and Harvard University. His research focuses on plant diversity, indigenous crop variation, metabolomics, molecular genetics, and nutritional profiling, with a strong emphasis on conserving and utilizing indigenous genetic resources for sustainable food security. Dr. Buthelezi has authored and co-authored several impactful publications in high-ranking journals such as Biodiversitas, Plants, Food Chemistry: X, and the Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, highlighting genetic, nutritional, and phytochemical variations in crops like Lagenaria siceraria. He has also contributed as a peer reviewer for international journals including South African Journal of Botany, Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, and BMC Plant Biology. His academic career is marked by innovative teaching methods, curriculum development, and significant student mentorship, ensuring high pass rates even during the challenges of remote learning. Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Buthelezi has been actively engaged in community projects, knowledge exchange on indigenous plants, and collaborations with the Agricultural Research Council and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He has served on the Department of Agriculture Research Committee and the University of Zululand Human Research Ethics Committee, where he provides expert guidance on research and ethics in science. Recognized for his scholarly contributions, leadership in academia, and dedication to advancing plant sciences, Dr. Buthelezi continues to strengthen the link between indigenous knowledge systems, modern biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture.

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Publications

1. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., & Ntuli, N. R. (2019). Morphological variation and heritability studies of Lagenaria siceraria landraces from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity.

2. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., & Ntuli, N. R. (2023). Variation in shoot, peduncle and fruit growth of Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Plants.

3. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2024). Phytochemical composition of Lagenaria siceraria fruits from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, South Africa. Food Chemistry: X.

4. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2024). Nutritional variation on sequentially harvested shoots and fruits of Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Plants

5. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2023). Diversity in fruit phytochemical composition among Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Preprints.

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Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi | Plant Science | Young Researcher Award

Published on by Agri Scientist

Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi | Plant Science | Young Researcher Award

Lecturer | University of Zululand | South Africa

Dr. Lungelo Given Buthelezi is a dedicated Plant Scientist and Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Zululand, South Africa, where he specializes in Plant Sciences and supervises both Honours and Master’s students. He obtained his PhD and MSc in Botany, as well as a BSc in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the University of Zululand, supported by additional training in DNA sequencing, PCR, and data science through institutions including DNABiotec and Harvard University. His research focuses on plant diversity, indigenous crop variation, metabolomics, molecular genetics, and nutritional profiling, with a strong emphasis on conserving and utilizing indigenous genetic resources for sustainable food security. Dr. Buthelezi has authored and co-authored several impactful publications in high-ranking journals such as Biodiversitas, Plants, Food Chemistry: X, and the Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, highlighting genetic, nutritional, and phytochemical variations in crops like Lagenaria siceraria. He has also contributed as a peer reviewer for international journals including South African Journal of Botany, Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, and BMC Plant Biology. His academic career is marked by innovative teaching methods, curriculum development, and significant student mentorship, ensuring high pass rates even during the challenges of remote learning. Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Buthelezi has been actively engaged in community projects, knowledge exchange on indigenous plants, and collaborations with the Agricultural Research Council and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He has served on the Department of Agriculture Research Committee and the University of Zululand Human Research Ethics Committee, where he provides expert guidance on research and ethics in science. Recognized for his scholarly contributions, leadership in academia, and dedication to advancing plant sciences, Dr. Buthelezi continues to strengthen the link between indigenous knowledge systems, modern biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture. He has 21 citations from  across 11 publications, with an h-index of 2.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., & Ntuli, N. R. (2019). Morphological variation and heritability studies of Lagenaria siceraria landraces from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity.

2. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., & Ntuli, N. R. (2023). Variation in shoot, peduncle and fruit growth of Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Plants.

3. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2024). Phytochemical composition of Lagenaria siceraria fruits from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, South Africa. Food Chemistry: X.

4. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2024). Nutritional variation on sequentially harvested shoots and fruits of Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Plants

5. Buthelezi, L. G., Mavengahama, S., Sibiya, J., Mchunu, C. N., & Ntuli, N. R. (2023). Diversity in fruit phytochemical composition among Lagenaria siceraria landraces. Preprints.

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