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.

Profile: Google Scholar

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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Mariana Petkova | Plant Biology | Women Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr Mariana Petkova |  Plant Biology |  Women Researcher Award

Microbiology and Molecular biology at  Agriculture University-Plovdiv,  Bulgaria

Mariana Krasimirova Petkova, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria, within the Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecological Biotechnology. She earned her Master’s degree in Plant Protection from the Agricultural University in 1996 and completed her PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Kobe, Japan, in 2002.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Master of Plant Protection – Agricultural University, Plovdiv, 1996
  • PhD in Molecular Biology – University of Kobe, Japan, 2002

💼 Academic Positions:

  • 2010 – 2014: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agronomy, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural University – Plovdiv
  • 2014 – Present: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecological Biotechnology, Agricultural University – Plovdiv

🔬 Research Interests:

Main Areas:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression
  • Microbiology

Additional Areas:

  • Antimicrobials
  • Lactic Acid Bacteria & Yeast in Sourdoughs
  • Functional Foods

🌍 International Collaborations & Specializations:

  • JSPS Fellowship (2006-2009) – University of Osaka, Japan
  • HPLC Training (2011) – Budapest, Hungary
  • Borlaug Fellowship (2012) – North Dakota State University, USA
  • Food Traceability Course (2013) – Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Analytical Approaches Workshop (2016) – University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv

🏆 Awards & Memberships:

  • Member: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria (since 2011)

📊 Scientific Impact:

  • Citations: 154 (by 140 documents)
  • Publications: 23
  • h-index: 8

Publication Top Notes:

  • “Plant Growth-Promoting and Biocontrol Characteristics of Four Bacillus Strains and Evaluation of Their Effects on Wheat (Tr. aestivum L.)”
    International Journal of Plant Biology, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/ijpb16010001

  • “Positive Effect of Camelina Intercropping with Legumes on Soil Microbial Diversity by Applying NGS Analysis and Mobile Fluorescence Spectroscopy”
    Applied Sciences, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/app14199046

  • “Biological Control of Lettuce Drop (Sclerotinia minor Jagger) Using Antagonistic Bacillus Species”
    Applied Microbiology, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol4030088

  • “Isolation and Selection of Sauerkraut Lactic Acid Bacteria Producing Exopolysaccharides”
    BIO Web of Conferences, 2023.
    DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/20235802001

  • “Metagenomic Approach Unravelling Bacterial Diversity in Combined Composting and Vermicomposting Technology of Agricultural Wastes”
    Ecologia Balkanica, 2023.

  • “Mutagenesis as a Tool for Enhancement of Fatty Acid Composition of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)”
    Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 2023.

  • “On the Molecular Selection of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Indigenous Fermented Plant-Based Foods and Further Fine Chemical Characterization”
    Foods, 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/foods12183346

  • “Plant Traits of Tilia tomentosa Moench, Fraxinus excelsior L., and Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold as a Proxy of Urbanization”
    Forests, 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/f14040800

  • “Revealing Fungal Diversity in Mesophilic and Thermophilic Habitats of Sewage Sludge Composting by Next-Generation Sequencing”
    Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/app13095546