Hamidreza Balouchi | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr.  Hamidreza Balouchi |  Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

Yasouj university, Iran

Dr. Hamidreza Balouchi (b. 1979, Shiraz, Iran) is a Professor at Yasouj University, specializing in Seed Science and Technology, Crop Physiology, Ecophysiology, and the impact of abiotic stress on crops. He earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy (Crop Physiology) from Tarbiat Modares University in 2008, following earlier degrees from Shiraz and Tarbiat Modares Universities.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. in Agronomy (Crop Physiology), Tarbiat Modares University (2008)

  • M.Sc. in Agronomy, Tarbiat Modares University (2003)

  • B.Sc. in Agronomy & Plant Breeding, Shiraz University (2001)

🌱 Research Interests:

  • Seed Science & Technology

  • Crop Physiology & Plant Growth Regulation

  • Ecophysiology & Abiotic Stress (Drought, Salinity, Heavy Metals)

  • Application of Microbial Materials and Phytohormones

🧪 Scientific Contributions & Roles:

  • Director of Research & Graduate Studies, Yasouj University (2020–Present)

  • Editor-in-Chief, Iranian Journal of Seed Research

  • Scientific Committee Member for major Iranian seed conferences (2022–2024)

  • Extensive teaching experience in Agronomy, Botany, and Seed Technology

🏆 Achievements & Awards:

  • 🎓 First Rank in B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. Entrance Exams in Iran

  • 🎖 Best Selected Student, Shiraz University (2000)

  • 🧑‍🏫 Head of multiple academic and student associations

  • 💼 Leadership roles at Yasouj University including department head and training center director

💻 Technical Skills:

  • Statistical and analysis tools: MSTATC, SAS, R

  • Microsoft Office, Adobe tools

📊 Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 1,911

  • Citations Since 2020: 1,286

  • h-index: 21

  • h-index Since 2020: 17

  • i10-index: 46

  • i10-index Since 2020: 30

Publication Top Notes:

  1. Study of water stress effects in different growth stages on yield and yield components of different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

  2. Screening wheat parents of mapping population for heat and drought tolerance, detection of wheat genetic variation

  3. Microbial seed coating: An attractive tool for sustainable agriculture

  4. Effect of micronutrients foliar application on grain qualitative characteristics and some physiological traits of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drought stress

  5. Effect of temperature and water potential on Carthamus tinctorius L. seed germination: Quantification of the cardinal temperatures and modeling using hydrothermal time

  6. Growth and nutrient content of Echinacea purpurea as affected by the combination of phosphorus with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and Pseudomonas florescent bacterium under water deficit stress

  7. Improving yield, oil content and water productivity of dryland canola by supplementary irrigation and selenium spraying

  8. Improvement of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seed performance under drought stress by seed coating and biopriming

  9. Improving growth and phenolic compounds of Echinacea purpurea root by integrating biological and chemical resources of phosphorus under water deficit stress

  10. Electromagnetic field impact on annual medics and dodder seed germination

  11. Effect of gibberellic acid, prechilling, sulfuric acid and potassium nitrate on seed germination and dormancy of annual medics

  12. Effect of Chemical (Urea), Organic (Vermicompost) and Biological (Nitroxin) Fertilizers on Quantity and Quality Yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

  13. UV radiation, elevated CO2 and water stress effect on growth and photosynthetic characteristics in durum wheat

  14. Study of water stress effects in different growth stages on yield and yield components of different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (conference paper)

  15. Improve wheat (Triticum aestivum) performance by brassinolide application under different irrigation regimes

  16. Roles of methyl jasmonate in improving growth and yield of two varieties of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different irrigation regimes

  17. Improvement of Echinacea purpurea performance by integration of phosphorus with soil microorganisms under different irrigation regimes

  18. Effect of seed priming on antioxidant enzymes and lipids peroxidation of cell membrane in Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seedling under salinity and drought stress

  19. Efficacy of biological agents and fillers seed coating in improving drought stress in anise

  20. Evaluation of photosynthesis parameters, chlorophyll content and fluorescence of safflower cultivars under saline condition

 

Avtar Singh Bimbraw | Conservation Agriculture | Excellence in Research

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Dr. Avtar Singh Bimbraw | Conservation Agriculture | Excellence in Research

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Dr. Avtar Singh Bimbraw served as a Senior Agronomist at the Punjab Agricultural University, contributing significantly to the field of agronomy through research, teaching, and extension activities. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, he played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable agricultural practices in Punjab. His expertise and dedication have left a lasting impact on the agrarian community and academic fraternity alike.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana (1985) – OGPA 3.28/4.00

  • M.Sc. Dairying (Forage Production), NDRI, Karnal (1980) – 68.29%

  • B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.), PAU, Ludhiana (1977) – OGPA 2.52/4.00

  • Matriculation, Punjab School Education Board (1970) – 61.1%

🛠️ Additional Training (India, 1–14 days):

Participated in 8 specialized trainings, including:

  • Seed production technologies

  • Agroforestry evaluation

  • Sugarcane seed certification

  • Global Positioning System (GPS) applications in agriculture

📅 Service Record at PAU:

  • Joined University Service: November 29, 1985 (Senior Research Fellow)

  • Assistant Professor: 1986–1992

  • Agronomist: 1992–2000

  • Senior Agronomist: 2000–2014

🏛️ Administrative Experience:

  • Director, RRS, Kheri (1992–1998)

  • Section Head, Forage Section (2001–2011)

  • Section Head, Tillage Schemes (2005–2008)

  • Section Head, Conservation Agriculture (2009 onward)

👨‍🏫 Teaching Contributions:

  • Taught diverse undergraduate and postgraduate agronomy courses (e.g., Agron.101, 201, 424, 521, 530, 603)

  • Supervised 7 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D. students

  • Conducted practical courses under “Earn While You Learn” scheme

  • Served as external examiner for 5 universities

  • Participated in selection committees for various state and national appointments

🔬 Research Highlights:

  • Led multiple projects (8 total), with significant outcomes including:

    • Inclusion of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) in Punjab’s Rabi Package of Practices

    • Intercropping systems with sugarcane (moong, mash, cabbage, mentha)

    • Direct Seeded Rice and Zero/No-Tillage cultivation technologies

    • Evaluation of varieties: sugarcane, cotton, gram, berseem, moong

    • Nutrient management and sowing window studies for legumes and cereals

🌱 Seed Production Achievements (1992–2001):

  • Produced and certified ~29,565 quintals of quality seeds (e.g., sugarcane, wheat, maize, pulses)

  • Strengthened farm infrastructure for seed production (e.g., seed grader, tractors)

  • Contributed significantly to PAU’s farm income and seed supply chain

📢 Extension & Outreach:

  • Participated in Kisan Melas, Divas, field days, camps, and radio/TV talks

  • Acted as resource person in refresher courses, summer schools, and district-level workshops

  • Regularly disseminated improved crop production technologies to farming communities

🏆 Notable Recognitions:

  • Subject Expert, Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship selection panel (2013)

  • Member, selection committees for various agricultural appointments and programs

Publication:

  • Response of Fodder Maize to Different Levels of Nitrogen Under Various Establishment Methods

Chao Huang | Rice Plant | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr Chao Huang | Rice Plant |  Best Researcher Award

Hunan Agricultural University,  China

Prof. Dr. Chao Huang is a distinguished agricultural researcher at Hunan Agricultural University, specializing in the regulation of chloroplast gene expression. He completed his studies at Shanghai Normal University (2009-2012) and East China Normal University (2012-2016) in Shanghai, China. Over the past five years, Dr. Huang has led or participated in 2 national and 8 provincial research projects, contributing significantly to the field with over 15 publications in SCI-indexed journals. In addition to his research, he serves as a reviewer for multiple SCI journals and is an active council member of the Hunan Botanical Society. Dr. Huang regularly presents his findings at national and international conferences, advancing knowledge and collaboration within the agricultural sciences.

Publication Profile

Academic Background:

Dr. Chao Huang completed his studies at Shanghai Normal University (2009-2012) and pursued further research at East China Normal University (2012-2016) in Shanghai, China.

Research Focus:

Dr. Huang specializes in the regulation of chloroplast gene expression. Over the past five years, he has contributed to 2 national and 8 provincial research projects and published over 15 articles in leading SCI-indexed journals. His work plays a significant role in understanding plant gene expression, with potential applications for enhancing crop resilience.

Professional Contributions:

In addition to his research, Dr. Huang serves as a reviewer for multiple SCI journals and holds a council membership with the Hunan Botanical Society. He has actively participated in national and international conferences, sharing his expertise with the broader scientific community.

Citations:

  • Citations: 483 (from 372 documents)
  • Publications: 25
  • h-index: 14

Publication Top Notes

  • “YUCCA2 (YUC2)-Mediated 3-Indoleacetic Acid (IAA) Biosynthesis Regulates Chloroplast RNA Editing by Relieving the Auxin Response Factor 1 (ARF1)-Dependent Inhibition of Editing Factors in Arabidopsis thaliana”
    Authors: Li, Z.-A., Li, Y., Liu, D., … Huang, C., Xiao, L.-T.
    Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023, 24(23), 16988
    Citations: 2
  • “The DYW Domain of RARE1 Plays an Indispensable Role in Regulating accD-C794 RNA Editing in Arabidopsis thaliana”
    Authors: Liu, D., Li, Z.-A., Li, Y., Molloy, D.P., Huang, C.
    Journal: Plant Science, 2023, 334, 111751
    Citations: 0
  • “Air-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and Enantioselective Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Quantification of Methyl Jasmonate Stereoisomers in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)”
    Authors: Luo, Z., Zhu, X., Li, H., … Wang, R., Xiao, L.
    Journal: Reproduction and Breeding, 2023, 3(1), pp. 17–25
    Citations: 1
  • “The PPR Protein RARE1-Mediated Editing of Chloroplast accD Transcripts Is Required for Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Heat Tolerance in Arabidopsis”
    Authors: Huang, C., Liu, D., Li, Z.-A., … Wang, R.-Z., Xiao, L.-T.
    Journal: Plant Communications, 2023, 4(1), 100461
    Citations: 16
  • “Auxin Inhibits Chlorophyll Accumulation through ARF7-IAA14-Mediated Repression of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Genes in Arabidopsis”
    Authors: Luo, W.-G., Liang, Q.-W., Su, Y., … Yu, Y., Xiao, L.-T.
    Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023, 14, 1172059
    Citations: 16
  • “Dynamic Formation and Transcriptional Regulation Mediated by Phytohormones during Chalkiness Formation in Rice”
    Authors: Xie, Q., Xu, J., Huang, K., … Lin, W., Xiao, L.
    Journal: BMC Plant Biology, 2021, 21(1), pp. 308
    Citations: 10
  • “Optimizing Adsorption of 17α-Ethinylestradiol from Water by Magnetic MXene Using Response Surface Methodology and Adsorption Kinetics, Isotherm, and Thermodynamics Studies”
    Authors: Xu, M., Huang, C., Lu, J., … Xiao, L., Luo, Z.
    Journal: Molecules, 2021, 26(11), 3150
    Citations: 12
  • “The Copy Number Variation of OsMTD1 Regulates Rice Plant Architecture”
    Authors: Liu, Q., Xu, J., Zhu, Y., … Liu, C.-M., Xiao, L.
    Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021, 11, 620282
    Citations: 4
  • “Regulation of Stress on Chloroplast RNA Editing in Rice during De-Etiolation”
    Authors: Liu, D., Huang, C., Xiao, L.
    Journal: Zhiwu Shengli Xuebao/Plant Physiology Journal, 2020, 56(11), pp. 2428–2438
    Citations: 2

 

 

Donald Manigat | Crop | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Donald Manigat |  Crop |  Best Researcher Award

Pesquisador at  Universidade Federal do Amapá – UNIFAP, Brazil

Dr. Donald Manigat holds a PhD in Entomology and a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy. As a dedicated scientific researcher, his expertise spans insect bioecology, biological control, and plant resistance against arthropod pests. He specializes in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Plant-Insect interactions. His ongoing research includes bioactive natural insecticides for Spodoptera frugiperda and past projects on detoxification in Plutella xylostella. Dr. Manigat collaborates with prominent institutions such as Embrapa and has published in journals like MDPI. His work contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural practices through ecological pest management.

Publication profile:

🎓 Academic and Professional Background:

Dr. Donald Manigat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy and a PhD in Entomology. He is a dedicated researcher with expertise in insect bioecology, biological control, resistant plants against arthropod pests, and plant-insect interaction. His work focuses on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to promote sustainable agriculture.

🔬 Research and Innovations:

  • 🐛 Ongoing: Identification and characterization of bioactive compounds in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
  • 🦋 Completed: Research on the detoxification and immunity in Plutella xylostella.
  • 🌱 Completed: Ecological pest control using essential oil-based formulations and resistance management.

🏆 Contributions and Impact:

Dr. Manigat has made significant contributions to entomology, particularly in biological control and pest resistance management. His innovative research on natural insecticides and plant-insect interactions is vital to promoting sustainable agricultural practices. He collaborates with notable institutions such as Embrapa and CENTELHA-MCTI and has published in leading journals like MDPI.

🧪 Collaborations and Memberships:

Dr. Manigat collaborates with Revista Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira and Embrapa. He is also actively involved in scientific and industry projects related to vector control, water quality, and waste management.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Associational Resistance Using Wild and Commercial Tomato Genotypes Employed in the Management of Tomato Virus Vectors
    Agriculture, 2024-01-04 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14010098
    ISSN: 2077-0472
    Contributors: Donald Manigat, Karolayne Campos, Joyce S. dos Santos, Catiane Oliveira Souza, Jorge Braz Torres, Fabio Suinaga, Cristina S. Bastos
  • Post Marked Field Monitoring and Evolution of Occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Bt Maize in Brazil
    13th International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (ISBGMO13), 2014-11-09 | Conference paper
    AGR: Knowledge Center Biotech Updates, March 19, 2014 Issue
    Contributors: Donald Manigat