Dr. Charles Powell is an Emeritus Professor at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center. Retiring in 2016, Dr. Powell maintains a presence at IRREC with his research interests. Upon his retirement, he had served as a research professor, and as an associate director.

Current research is focused on control of HLB, or citrus greening. Recent research has involved work with efficacy and infertility of Madeira mealybug on plants prepared for shipping.

Honored Scientist of RF, Member-correspondent of Academy of Natural Science of Russia.Education in Chemistry: Ural State, Dr.'s Degree in Chemistry in Ural State University, Dr. Sc. Degree in Chemistry in Moscow State University, Professor in Chemistry. From 1968 till now she works for Ural State Economic University in Yekaterinburg (RF).

Her research interests are: Electrochemical sensors, Stripping Voltammetry, Environmental Monitoring, Nanostructured materials Electrochemical Characterization, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Activity investigations. She published in Russian and International Journals more than 500 papers and abstracts and 5 books in Stripping Analysis in "Chemistry" Moscow (three of them in 1972, 1982, 1988) and by "Willey & Sons", USA (two of them in 1974 and 1993). She has 15 Russian Patents

Greeson has traveled extensively internationally, exploring remote regions, collecting specimens and teaming with researchers in efforts to discover novel compounds. Specimen collections have come from some of the most bio-diverse regions of Planet Earth and from areas which often have no documentation of the flora or fauna, or the medicinal use of plants.Significant research findings to date have been in the areas of cancer, inflammation and pain, the natural activation of stem cells, skin care and malaria.

A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, she presently serves as an Alumni Board Member of the UNCCH Eshelman School of Pharmacy. As an integrative pharmacist, Greeson's work in remote bio diverse countries with indigenous people, searching for novel medical treatments, has attracted interviews with NPR on several occasions, Australian Public Radio, and numerous articles and other press. Her book, And The Silent Spoke, will be released in 2018, while Expedition Congo, a documentary based on the 2016 expedition to the Congo, is slated to debut in early 2018.

Elena Ermilova is a full professor and head of laboratory at Saint-Petersburg State University. She has her expertise in nitrogen metabolism and PII signal transduction in green and red algae, and land plants. Prof. E. Ermilova also has extensively studied the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and identified new functions associated with stress acclimation. She also studies the regulation of sulfur metabolism.

nitrogen metabolism and PII signal transduction in green and red algae, and land plants

His main research interest is the development and application of interactomics technology in Plant Research to study the regulation of plant growth at the molecular and biochemical level. De Jaeger’s research team obtained high international visibility with their state of the art AP-MS platform that maps protein interaction networks in plants. In the passed 5 years this technology generated data for 42 TIER 25% manuscripts, holding 12 TIER 1%, and 33 TIER 5% manuscripts. He currently authored 82 A1 publications with more than 3200 life time citations, a H-index of 33, and he holds 7 patents.

Plant Research to study the regulation of plant growth

Main Research Field : Biology

Related Research Fields :Environmental science / Agricultural sciences

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

Medicinal Plants

Synan AbuQamar completed his Ph.D from Purdue University/Department of Botany & Plant Pathology in 2007 and his postdoctoral studies from the same university in the area of Molecular Genetics of Plant Immunity. In August 2008, Dr. AbuQamar joined the Department of Biology at the United Arab Emirates University as an Assistant Professor. Currently, he is an Associate Professor. Dr. AbuQamar's current research interest is in the area of Plant Molecular Genetics/Plant Biotechnology. He has co-authored a number of publications in peer-reviewed international journals and serves as an editorial board member in reputed journals.

Plant Pathology, Plant Molecular Genetics,Plant Biotechnology

Dr. Grace Chen obtained her Ph.D from University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did her postdoctoral studies from University of California ̶ Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression

Nurul Faridi has completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, 1988 and worked at the International Rice Research Institute and Intl. Maize and Wheat Research Institute, Mexico from 1989 to 1994, and then worked in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University until 2003 before joining with the USDA Forest Service. He has been working in conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics for the last 25 years and published about 70 papers in reputed journals.

Forest science

Leon Daniel van Rensburg is a soil physicist lecturing soil and water management at the University of the Free State, South Africa. He established and maintained a vibrate post-graduate research team, which currently consisted of 2 post-doctoral fellows, 4 doctoral students and 8 master students. The team focus mainly on soil and water management off dryland, irrigation as well as natural field and they published in the last 6 years about 45 scientific articles. He is leading two projects of national importance for South Africa, viz. (i) Management guidelines for technology transfer to reduce salinisation of irrigated land with precision agriculture funded by the Water Research Commission and (ii) the soil water balance of the Ghaap Platue as influenced by open cast mining funded by Sishen Iron Ore Company (Anglo American Kolomela). Both projects are scheduled for five years.

Agriculture Science

Petronia Carillo is an associate professor of plant physiology at the University of Campania, Italy. She has a strong theoretical and practical background in plant physiology, plant molecular biology, enzymology and metabolite profiling. Her research interests are centered on the interactions between nitrogen assimilation and carbon metabolism, and their short-term and long-term control mechanisms in photosynthetic organisms (unicellular algae and plants). At present, her main focus is the metabolite profiling of crop plants and plant model systems for the comprehension of the fundamental plant molecular and physiological responses to salinity, instrumental for developing new strategies to improve salt tolerance in agricultural crops. Since 2001, she collaborates with researchers of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany, for developing new high-throughput methods to measure enzyme activities and metabolites in plants. She is also interested in the valorization and reuse of agricultural residues in a bio-economy perspective

plant physiology, plant molecular biology, enzymology and metabolite profiling

Vanderlan da S. Bolzani is full professor at Sao Paulo State University (UNESP). Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), member of the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC) and São Paulo Academy of Science (ACIESP) and TWAS, is CNPq Fellow level 1A, and has received several awards, highlighting: 2015 ABIQUIM Award on research innovation; 2014 CAPES-Elsevier Award for the contributions to science in Brazil, Distinguished Woman in Science Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, conceived by ACS & IUPAC (2011); Simão Mathias Medal, the highest honor conferred by Brazilian Chemical Society (2011). With Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, under guidance of Prof. Otto R. Gottlieb, at University of São Paulo, in 1990 she was awarded with a fellowship from DAAD for a short training at University of Hannover. After a post-doctorate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPISU-USA) under guidance of Prof. David Kingston, she joined to the UNESP, and since 2003, is member of the Biota-FAPESP Program Coordination. Her field of interest is plant science, and has been involved in the isolation, bioactivity and function of secondary metabolites and peptides from plants, and recently has been involved on metabolomics and medicinal chemistry. Has published > 270 papers, 7 patents, and 5 book chapter (ih = 39). Since 2011 is member of the Scientific Advisory Board of L’Oréal in Paris.

bioactivity and function of secondary metabolites and peptides from plants

Caroline Janitz is the manager of the Next-Generation Sequencing Facility at Western Sydney University, Australia. Along with supervising her team, Caroline is responsible for both the development and implementation of technological improvements in the NGS pipeline. Caroline acquired her PhD in molecular genetics from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Hans Lehrach, the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. Her PhD thesis focused on an investigation of the molecular mechanism of renal damage in the course of rat hypertension using laser microdissection and Affymetrix gene expression profiling.

Molecular Genetics, Geneexpression

Taoufik Ksiksi is an Associate Professor (Plant Ecology) working at the UAE University. He deals with the impact of environmental factors/stresses on eco-physiological parameters of desert plants. Karthishwaran Kandhan is Post-Doctoral fellow at the UAEU. His expertise relates to the assessment of phytochemicals on plants species.

Plant Ecology

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

medicinal plants

Nabil Killiny is Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology & Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, University of Florida. The French Society of Phytopathology, awarded with student fellow travel Award, 2004 Synergistic Activities: Ad Hoc Manuscript Review: Plant Pathology, Phytopathology, Journal of Bacteriology, PLoS One, Journal of Insect Physiology, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions,Current Microbiology, Electron Microscope Techniques, Biomedicine and Biotechnology, European Journal of Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology, Phytopathology

A.A. Ivlev has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from Chemical Technology University of D.I. Mendeleev. and got his 2-nd PhD from Institute of Chemical Physics of RAS. In 2005 he has discovered a link between carbon isotope distribution and temporal organization of cell processes and was awarded with medal “To Author of Scientific Discovery” by Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Since 1995 he is Professor of Russian State Agrarian University of K,A. Timiryazev. He has published 66 papers in reputed journals and 4 monographs. The field of his scientific interests includes isotope fractionation in metabolism, photosynthesis, plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

Rajinder Singh is currently a Principal Research Officer at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Rajinder has been with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for the last 19 years. He holds a PhD in Plant Genetics and is currently the Head of Genomics Unit of the Advanced Biotechnology & Breeding Centre, at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Rajinder has authored and co-authored more than 32 refereed publications

Plant Genetics

Dr Milan S. Stankovic has received his PhD in University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Republic of Serbia during the period of 2007-2012. Currently, he is working as assistant professor an the same University. His research has included Plant biology and ecology. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Plants, Advanced Crop Science, Research in Plant Science. He has authored 45 scientific papers published in international journals, 8 scientific papers published in national journals, 36 International conference proceedings and 46 national conference proceedings

Plant biology and ecology

After completion of his postdoctoral training at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Prof. Gautam Sethi joined Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

The focus of his research over the past few years has been to elucidate the mechanism (s) of activation of oncogenic transcription factors such as NF-kB/STAT3 by carcinogens and inflammatory agents and the identification of novel inhibitors of these proteins for prevention of and therapy for cancer.

Saad Tayyab completed his PhD in 1987. At present he is working as a Professor of Biochemistry in the University of Malaya, Malaysia. He is having 34 years of research experience in the field of biochemistry. He has published 1 book and more than 115 Research papers in various National and International Journals. He is serving as an Editorial Board Member and Reviewer of National and international journals.

Drug-protein interaction; Protein: Structure & function; Protein denaturation & stability

MB. Rezaee, has extended his valuable service as an professor in Research Institute Forests and Rangelands-Tehran- IRAN. MB. Rezaee international experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study. His research interests as a professor reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals.

Photochemistry of Medicinal, Aromatic, Poisonous plants

M Oliur Rahman is currently working as a Professor at the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has received his PhD from Hiroshima University, Japan. Previously, he has served for Bangladesh National Herbarium as Senior Scientific Officer. His research interests focus on plant taxonomy, biodiversity, molecular phylogentics and medicinal plants. His research also concentrates on bioprospecting and investigation of the biological activities of medicinal plants including anti-cancerous and anti-diabetic plants of Bangladesh. He has over 70 publications in different peer reviewed prestigious international and national journals including some books. He currently serves as an Editor for Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy, member of several professional organizations and Reviewer for several national and international journals.

His research interests concentrates on bioprospecting and investigation of the biological activities of medicinal plants including anti-cancerous and anti-diabetic plants.

Dr. Sharada Mallubhotla Potukuchi is a Plant Biotechnologist is currently working as a Professor at Department of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, J&K. Her area of Specialization is Plant Tissue Culture for Secondary Metabolite Production and Genetic Engineering. She has authored two Books, published 25 research papers in National and International journals and presented 60 papers in National & International Conferences. She is also one of the Councillors for The Orchid Society of India, Punjab University, Chandigarh and Honorary Secretary for J&K Society of Biologists.

Her research interests include production and manipulations of bioactive phytochemical metabolites from cell and organ cultures, micropropagation, medicinal plant conservation Biotechnology, Genetic engineering of medicinal plant species and Orchid Biotechnology. Currently she is working on application of bioreactor systems as Future Technology for production of plant bioactives, value additions through biotic and abiotic elicitation, precursor feeding and production of therapeutic bioactive proteins from plant cultures.

Noor Hasima Binti A K Nagoor Pitchai is working as a professor in Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Malaysia. She completed her PhD from Edinburgh University, United Kingdom. She has more than 12 publications in International Journals. She has various National and International Awards and Recognitions.

ImmunogeneticsMedical And Health Sciences (Cancer)

Dr. Siti Zaiton Binti Mat So ad is working as a professor at Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia. She completed her PhD in Natural Product Chemistry from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She has more than 12 publications in International Journals. She has various National and International Awards and Recognitions.

Medicinal Plants and Natural drugs research

Grace Chen has obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin at Madison and her Postdoctoral studies from University of California, Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals and she is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression Center

Dr. Yinghua Huang is a Research Geneticist for U.S. Department of Agriculture and serves as the Lead Scientist for the Plant Genetics Program. Before that, he served as faculty member for Oklahoma State University for ten years and now remains an Adj. Professor at the university. He is a member of editorial boards for several scientific journals. He earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University. His scientific background is in plant genetics and molecular biology, and he has considerable research experience in plant biotechnology, genomics and crop improvement. During his early career, Dr. Huang made a breakthrough in developing a reliable system for producing transgenic larch plant, which represents the first record of genetically engineered conifer tree, carrying the important traits such as resistance to insects and herbicide. Another example of his recent research accomplishments is the systematic evaluation of the US sorghum germplasm collection (> 42,000 accessions), leading to the discovery of important new sources of resistance to greenbug and sugarcane aphids, the most important insects of field crops, including barley, sorghum and wheat, then incorporation of the new resistance into crop breeding programs. Furthermore, using the cutting-edge microarray, RNA-seq and the next-generation sequencing technologies, his lab has generated the differential expression profiles which resulted in the identification of the key genes and the networks that regulate the host defense against insect pests, crop yield traits, and bioenergy quality in sorghum

Plant Genetics, Molecular biology and Microbiology

Dr. Arron Carter is the O.A. Vogel Endowed Chair in Winter Wheat Breeding and Director of the winter wheat breeding and genetics program at Washington State University. His research focuses in on developing winter wheat cultivars with high yield potential, excellent end-use quality, and genetic resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. To research these goals, he implements the most recent technology available, including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, and other direct and indirect selection methods. His cultivars make up roughly 35% of the production in the Pacific Northwest and Dr. Carter works closely with his stakeholders to ensure his varieties help fit into current cropping systems and lead to high economic return and sustainable agricultural systems.

Plant Breeding

Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics, Purdue University, 1999 Master of Science in Horticulture, Clemson University, 1994 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India, 1991

Identifying and characterizing plant genes in nonhost disease resistance Omics approach to understand the disease resistance and susceptibility to cotton root rot fungus (Phymatotrichopsis onmivora) Optimizing or improving virus-induced gene silencing in crops such as sorghum and cassava Identifying and characterizing plant genes involved in Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation Translational research to confer biotic and abiotic stress (drought) tolerance in crop plants. Tnt1 insertion mutagenesis in Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon

John Salmeron is the Director of PlantSciences at Precision BioSciences, Inc. in Durham NC, USA, and has worked in the field of plant biotechnology for over 20 years. Prior to joining Precision, he held positions in business development and led the agricultural R&D team at Intrexon Corporation, a leader in synthetic biology. John was a research portfolio manager at Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., and held leadership roles directing teams in trait development and genomics. He is the founder of eiiConsulting, an early-stage biotechnology consulting firm, has an A.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. from Duke University.

Plant sciences, Genome editing

W. P. is an Assoc. Prof. of Organic Chem. at Kasetsart University at Kamphaengsaen, Thailand. He obtained BS from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand and MS and PhD from Chiang Mai University in Thailand and post-doct (Natural Products chemistry) at NIES in Japan. His research interest has two main intersecting themes. The first involves the development of methods for the synthesis of novel bioactive compounds and the study of their spectroscopic, chemical and pharmacological properties. Mechanistic aspects of these and associated syntheses are also of interest. New synthetic methods for antibiotic compounds are also being investigated

His research interest has two main intersecting themes. The first involves the development of methods for the synthesis of novel bioactive compounds and the study of their spectroscopic, chemical and pharmacological properties

Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Novi Sad. Honorary Member for International Sunflower Association.

Agricultural engineering , genetic plant

S YANG has completed her PhD from Charles Stuart University, Australia. She has been an Associate Professor at Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China until 2009. Currently she is a Research officer at School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia. Her major research work on the germplasm evaluation, grain legume crops breeding and molecular marker, herbicide selection and genomic study. She have published with Colleagues in two book chapters; 30 refereed journal papers.

Agriculture

Prof. Gad Galili Department of Plant Sciences Weizmann Institute of Science

Genetic, metabolic engineering, metabolomics, genomics and bioinformatics tools to study the operation of amino acid metabolism in plants within the context of the entire system including transcriptional, metabolic and physiological networks. We show that besides the importance of lysine metabolism in protein synthesis, under stress conditions, lysine metabolism also cross interacts with stress-associated gene expression and also with metabolic programs associated with cellular energy

Department of Plant and Environmental Science,Associate Professor University of Copenhagen

PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY

Parwinder Kaur is working as a Research Scientist with a focus on the Plant Molecular Genetics & Genomics at the Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding (PGB) at the University of Western Australia. Dr Kaur has received the Science and Innovation Award for young people in Agriculture, Fisheries

genome scaffold for subterranean clover using the de-novo sequencing pipelines anchored to a high resolution genetic map and BioNano optical maps for trait mapping. She has been working with a team of researchers across various disciplines to develop methodologies to enable breeders to identify environmentally friendly pasture legume to tackle future challenges for Australian livestock industries.

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Clive Lo received his PhD at Purdue University. He is currently an Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong. His laboratory has been working on the biosynthesis pathways of flavonoids in the cereal crops rice and sorghum.

They have recently identified a number of phylogenetically conserved enzymes for biosynthesis of flavones which are prevalent in vegetative tissues of grasses. They represent good targets to engineer flavones in edible tissues which do not normally synthesize these health-beneficial phytochemicals.

Hao Cheng, director of National Center for Tea Improvement, TRICAAS, China has his expertise in tea breeding. He is especially interested in several important traits in tea plants, such as flavonoid biosynthesis, nitrogen uptake and self-incompatibility

Tea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TRICAAS)

Permanent position as scientific researcher at the National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (formerly Institute of Plant Genetics) Portici, Italy.

Agricultural Sciences

2008 is Assistant Professor at the Department of Arboreal Crops,2011 is Confirmed Researcher at the Department of Arboreal Crops,Þ currently with the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Department of Arboreal crops merged.

Agricultural Sciences.

Dr. Zhanyuan J. Zhang was born in China. He got his bachelor and master degrees in the area of Plant Protection in China. He came to USA and started his Ph.D. program in the area of plant genetic engineering in January 1993 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. His dissertation work focused on genetic transformation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and development of a novel approach for plant bacterial resistance. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1996. From 1996 to 1998 he worked as a post-doctoral research associate in the same University with emphasis on soybean transformation and down-regulation of soybean vegetative storage protein genes.

Progress in Three Areas of Transgenic Technologies

Dr. Shivendra Sahi is working as professor in Western Kentucky University. He Completed Ph. D in North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, He Completed his M.S. in Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada, and B.S in Gorakhpur University, India

• Medicinal application of plant metabolites • Synthesis of nanoparticles in plants • Genetic transformation of plants to improve quality • Environmental management and gene expression in plants in response to pollutants

Roohaida Othman received her PhD in Biochemistry from University of Southampton, and joined Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as a lecturer immediately afterwards in 1995. She is currently the Head of Biochemistry Programme at the School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM. Her research interest is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of commercially important metabolites in plants and algae. Her research group has employed tools of molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology as well as genomics and transgenics technology platforms to study the enzymes involved in these pathways. They have also developed protocols for higher plant and algae RNA extraction methods and overexpression of recombinant proteins in bacterial systems. She has been Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology since 2010 and has been reviewer for several journals including International Journal of Food Properties.

Her research interest is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of commercially important metabolites in plants and algae. Her research group has employed tools of molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology as well as genomics and transgenics technology platforms to study the enzymes involved in these pathways. They have also developed protocols for higher plant and algae RNA extraction methods and overexpression of recombinant proteins in bacterial systems.

In the last 10 years, my research focus has been the desert truffle Terfezia boudieri that forms mycorrhizal association with its host plant Helianthemum sessiliflorum. I am studying the fungus at several levels including physiology, ecology and molecular biology. I participate in a comprehensive project to sequence the entire genomes of 23 fungi including our two desert truffle species, in the frame of The European Community Sequencing Program entitled "Exploring the Genome Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi to Understand the Evolution and Functioning of Symbiosis in Woody Shrubs and Trees" I also study secondary metabolite biosynthesis in plants, with emphasis on aroma volatiles biosynthesis. This is carried mainly in fruits at both the biochemical and molecular levels. We use tomato as a model system to identify genes and important traits. Metabolic engineering offers a solution for improving the taste and aroma of tomato.

Exploring the Genome Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi to Understand the Evolution and Functioning of Symbiosis in Woody Shrubs and Trees

Jeff Bennetzen received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington, did postdoctoral work for one year in a shared project between the Freeling and Walbot laboratories and joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University as an Assistant Professor in 1983, rising to the position of Umbarger Professor in 1999. Since 2003, he has been the Giles Professor of Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics in the Department of Genetics at the University of Georgia. In 2012, he set up a second laboratory at the Kunming Institute of Botany in Yunnan, China, and he set up a second lab at the Anhui Agricultural University in 2016. Dr. Bennetzen was elected a member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2004 and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2005. He was the founder or co-founder of the International Grass Genome Initiative, the Maize Genetics Executive Committee and the McClintock Prize. His laboratory has published more than 200 manuscripts and is best known for its work investigating transposable elements and the very dynamic processes that determine the structure, function and evolution of plant genomes.

Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics

He completed his Ph.D., in the year 1999,at H.N.B. Garhwal University and He completed his M.Sc.,in the year 1993 H.N.B. Garhwal University

Cross-cultural ethnobotany and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Nilgiris, Western Ghats: A case study

Milan S. Stanković is the assistant professor of Biology and Ecology department.Currently he is the editorial Board Member of “Research in Plant Sciences” and “Advanced Crop Science” Journal.

Biology Plant science

Dr. Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Cellular and Structure Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Dr. Reiter has received three honorary M.D. degrees and one honorary D.Sc. degree. He has received numerous awards for his research including the A. Ross McIntyre Gold Metal (USA), the US Senior Scientist Award (Germany), Lizoni Lincee Award (Italy), the Inaugural Aaron B. Lerner Pioneer Award (FASEB, USA), etc. His scientific publications have been cited in the scientific literature more than 83,000 times; his h-index is 140. Thomson’s Institute lists Dr. Reiter as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds-2014 and he is listed in the top 100 scientists in the world in terms of frequency of citation in the fields of Cell Biology and Biochemistry. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pineal Research (2013 impact factor = 7.81) and is or has been on the Editorial/Advisory Board of 26 other journals.

Plant Physiology

Dr. Eloy Rodiguez is the James A. Perkins endowed chair in Environmental Studies and Chemical Biology at Cornell University in New York. He has published over 170 research articles on the chemistry, evolutionary biology and ecology of secondary metabolites and their medicinal and agricultural uses. He is a AAAS fellow, founding member of SACNAS and has lectured throughout the US, Europe, China and South America on the chemistry, physiological role and medicinal use of plant secondary metabolites. Dr. Rodriguez' research has been funded by NSF, NIH and private institutions.

medicinal use of plant secondary metabolites and agricultural science

Nigel G. Halford obtained first degree in Genetics from the University of Liverpool in 1983 and a Masters degree in Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from University College London in 1984. I studied the genes encoding a family of wheat seed proteins called the high molecular weight subunits of glutenin for my PhD while at Rothamsted in the 1980s, then spent 11 years at Long Ashton Research Station near Bristol before returning to Rothamsted in 2002. I am a Visiting Professor at Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences and was awarded The Magnolia Silver Award by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 2012. I am also Special Professor at the University of Nottingham, Council Member and Programme Secretary for the Association of Applied Biologists, Fellow of the Society of Biology and former member of the UK’s Advisory Committee for Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF).

metabolic and stress signalling pathways in plants

Nurul Faridi has completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, 1988 and worked at the International Rice Research Institute and Intl. Maize and Wheat Research Institute, Mexico from 1989 to 1994, and then worked in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University until 2003 before joining with the USDA Forest Service. He has been working in conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics for the last 25 years and published about 70 papers in reputed journals

molecular plant cytogenetics

NASIR S. A. MALIK has 40 years of agricultural research experience, including 16 years in an industrial environment. He has written over 50 research articles, one patent, (publication list attached), numerous industrial reports, pesticide registration reports for EPA, intellectual property disclosures, and attracted $2 million in extramural funding from industrial clients and over $700K in competitive research grants as PI &Co-PI. He received numerous invitations for seminars, writing reviews, chapters to edit books.

plant molecular biology, plant-microbe interactions (bacterial & fungal), plant insect interactions, pesticide metabolism, pesticide formulations, isolation of bio-pesticides, grafting and propagation methods in fruit trees and vegetable crops, organic farming, and soil science

A.A. Ivlev has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from Chemical Technology University of D.I. Mendeleev. and got his 2-nd PhD from Institute of Chemical Physics of RAS. In 2005 he has discovered a link between carbon isotope distribution and temporal organization of cell processes and was awarded with medal “To Author of Scientific Discovery” by Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Since 1995 he is Professor of Russian State Agrarian University of K,A. Timiryazev. He has published 66 papers in reputed journals and 4 monographs. The field of his scientific interests includes isotope fractionation in metabolism, photosynthesis, plant physiology, cell mechanisms, evolution, climatology.

cell processes;

Dr. Rajasekaran is a senior Research Biologist with the USDA-ARS. He obtained his B.S and M.S. from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India. After receiving his Ph.D. from The University of Sydney, Dr. Rajasekaran has continuously worked on the application of recombinant DNA technology towards genetic improvement of food, feed and fiber crops. He has published 135 full length publications plus 12 U.S. patents, >50 international patents, and 168 national/international conference abstracts. He serves as an Adjunct Professor in five universities. Currently his research focus at USDA-ARS is on effective control or elimination of preharvest aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus spp through biotechnological means in cotton and maize .

recombinant DNA technology,

Dr. Grace Chen obtained her Ph.D from University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did her postdoctoral studies from University of California ̶ Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression

Prof. Ilan Chet completed his Ph.D. in microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has published more than 390 articles, edited five books and holds 38 patents. Prof. Chet served as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Vice President of the Hebrew University and was President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He was visiting professor at Harvard, Colorado State, Cornell and Rutgers Universities. Prof. Chet was awarded with the Max-Planck, the Israel Prize, the Wolf Prize and more. He is nowadays Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

plant pathology and soil microbiology

Gunnar Wingsle has completed his PhD at the age of 34 years from Department of Forest Genetics & Plant Physiology. He has published more than 60 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a PI of the proteomic masspectrometry facility at Chemical Biological Centre at Umeå University and SLU since 2000.

Genetics & Plant Physiology

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

medicinal plants

Igor G. Loskutov has completed his PhD (Plant Breeding) at the age of 29 years from N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, St-Petersburg (Russia) and in 2003 his dissertation of Doctor of Science (D. Sc., Botany and Plant Breeding) from the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Now he is the head of department of Plant Genetic Resources Oat, Barley, Rye (VIR) and full professor of Biology Faculty of St-Petersburg State University. He has published more than 140 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of journals Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution since 2008, Advances in Plant Sciences Research since 2013.

Plant Genetic , Plant Breeding

Rajinder Singh is currently a Principal Research Officer at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Rajinder has been with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for the last 19 years. He holds a PhD in Plant Genetics and is currently the Head of Genomics Unit of the Advanced Biotechnology & Breeding Centre, at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Rajinder has authored and co-authored more than 32 refereed publications

Plant Genetics

Dr Milan S. Stankovic has received his PhD in University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Republic of Serbia during the period of 2007-2012. Currently, he is working as assistant professor an the same University. His research has included Plant biology and ecology. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Plants, Advanced Crop Science, Research in Plant Science. He has authored 45 scientific papers published in international journals, 8 scientific papers published in national journals, 36 International conference proceedings and 46 national conference proceedings.

Plant biology and ecology

Professor Gresshoff is Professor of Botany at UQ. He is also Director of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Integrative Legume Research. He received his PhD in Genetics from ANU (Canberra) in 1974 and DSc in Molecular Genetics (also ANU) in 1988. In his 40 year career in plant science he has developed deep interests in plant development and its genetic control. He has focused his interests on legume plants, and especially the process of root nodulation which is a prerequisite for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. He has published over 300 research papers, edited 10 books, and is co-inventor listed on 12 patents. He is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is member of numerous international editorial boards as well as expert advisor to the IAEA, the European Union, Qantas, and other biotechnology interests. He is a dedicated teacher and researcher and feels that the understanding of biological processes is essential for industrial development of an idea.

plant Genomics, Agriculture, plant science

John Salmeron is the Director of PlantSciences at Precision BioSciences, Inc. in Durham NC, USA, and has worked in the field of plant biotechnology for over 20 years. Prior to joining Precision, he held positions in business development and led the agricultural R&D team at Intrexon Corporation, a leader in synthetic biology. John was a research portfolio manager at Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., and held leadership roles directing teams in trait development and genomics. He is the founder of eiiConsulting, an early-stage biotechnology consulting firm, has an A.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. from Duke University.

Plant sciences, Genome editing

Distinguished Professor Dr. Digvir Jayas was educated at the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, India; the University of Manitoba, and the University of Saskatchewan. Before assuming the position of Vice-President (Research and International), he held the position of Vice-President (Research) for two years and Associate Vice-President (Research) for eight years. Prior to his appointment as Associate Vice-President (Research), he was Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Department Head of Biosystems Engineering, and Interim Director of the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and a Registered Professional Agrologist. Dr. Jayas held a Canada Research Chair in Stored-Grain Ecosystems for seven years. He conducts research related to drying, handling and storing grains and oilseeds and digital image processing for grading and processing operations in the Agri-Food industry. He has authored or co-authored over 800 technical articles in scientific journals, conference proceedings and books dealing with issues of storing, drying, handling and quality monitoring of grains. He has collaborated with researchers in several countries but has had significant impact on development of efficient grain storage, handling and drying systems in Canada, China, India, Ukraine and USA.Dr. Jayas has received awards from several organizations in recognition of his research and professional contributions. He is the recipient of the 2008 Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, as well as the 2008 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Brockhouse Canada Prize. In 2009, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has received professional awards from Agriculture Institute of Canada, Applied Zoologists Research Association (India), American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba, Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Canadian Society for Bioengineering, Engineers Canada, Engineering Institute of Canada, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (India), National Academy of Sciences (India) and Sigma Xi.Dr. Jayas serves on the boards of many organizations including: NSERC, ArcticNet, Composite Innovation Centre, Engineers Canada, ISIS Resource Centre, Genome Prairie, International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID), MabNet, Research Manitoba, Cancer Care Manitoba Projects Grants and Awards Committee, TRIUMF, and TRTech. He is also chair of the board of directors of RESOLVE, a prairie research network on family violence, and of the advisory board of the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, a research centre dedicated to the discussion, discovery, and development of functional foods. He has served as President of Agriculture Institute of Canada, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba, Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Canadian Society for Bioengineering, and Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. Currently he is serving as President of Engineers Canada, the national organization of the 12 provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada and license the country's 280,000 professional engineers.

Plant Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology

Did her P.hD

Plant Genetics,Bioinformatics

Dr. Yinghua Huang is a Research Geneticist for U.S. Department of Agriculture and serves as the Lead Scientist for the Plant Genetics Program. Before that, he served as faculty member for Oklahoma State University for ten years and now remains an Adj. Professor at the university. He is a member of editorial boards for several scientific journals. He earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University. His scientific background is in plant genetics and molecular biology, and he has considerable research experience in plant biotechnology, genomics and crop improvement. During his early career, Dr. Huang made a breakthrough in developing a reliable system for producing transgenic larch plant, which represents the first record of genetically engineered conifer tree, carrying the important traits such as resistance to insects and herbicide. Another example of his recent research accomplishments is the systematic evaluation of the US sorghum germplasm collection (> 42,000 accessions), leading to the discovery of important new sources of resistance to greenbug and sugarcane aphids, the most important insects of field crops, including barley, sorghum and wheat, then incorporation of the new resistance into crop breeding programs. Furthermore, using the cutting-edge microarray, RNA-seq and the next-generation sequencing technologies, his lab has generated the differential expression profiles which resulted in the identification of the key genes and the networks that regulate the host defense against insect pests, crop yield traits, and bioenergy quality in sorghum. In summary, the overall goals of his research are to conduct basic studies to enhance our understanding of biological processes in plants, to apply newly developing genomics and biotechnologies to facilitate genetic improvement of crop plants, and finally to improve the production system for a better utilization of agricultural and natural resources.

Plant Genetics, Molecular biology and Microbiology

Dr. Huaan Yang is a plant pathologist by training with B.Sc. in1982 and M.Sc. in1985. He complted PhD from University of Western Australia in1992. He became a molecular geneticist following his development of a DNA fingerprinting technology called “MFLP” in 2001. His lab has been the only lab for large-scale application molecular markers on MAS in plant breeding on legume grain crops in Australia since 2004. Since 2011, his lab has been fully switch into NGS and genome sequencing based approaches for pre-breeding in lupin.

Plant Pathology

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Dr Meixue Zhou has been involved in plant research for more than 30 years which includes more than 10 years of experience in China. His major research areas include physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. He is serving as a review panel member for ARC of Australia and the Natural Science Foundation of China. He is the co-director of Australia China Research Centre of Plant Stress Biology. In last 10 years more than 100 papers were published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of editorial board of several journals.

Grace Chen has obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin at Madison and her Postdoctoral studies from University of California, Plant Gene Expression Center. She has published more than 44 papers in reputed journals and she is globally recognized as an expert on oilseed biotechnology.

Plant Gene Expression Center

Kulvinder S. Gill has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from Kansas State University followed by postdoctoral studies at the same university for about 3 years. He is the professor and director of the Feed the Future Innovation lab: Climate Resilient Wheat. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals. His research program focuses on understanding and utilizing chromosome pairing control in polyploids, developing alternate dwarfing gene systems for wheat, and on using modern tools and technologies for crop improvement

Plant Biotechnology

André Luis de Alcantara Guimarães has completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy from UFRJ. He is an associate professor of Faculty of Pharmacy from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, especially with galls and their metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants.

Plant Molecular Biology

Dr. Liao completed his PhD in 1994 from Aachen University of Technology, Germany and postdoctoral studies in 1996 from this university. He is the director of Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of International and National Journals.

Molecular Biotechnology

Andrzej Wasiak is working as a Assoc Prof in Bialystok University of Technology located in Poland.International experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study and interests reflect in wide range of publications in various national and international journals

Experimental studies and mathematical modelling of transitions occurring in technological processes: like energy demand, material’s structure formation, etc.

Dr. Ajay Parida is a Plant molecular biologist with Ph.D. degree from University of Delhi in 1992. He has made outstanding contribution in the area of Coastal Ecosystem management using modern biotechnological tools. Dr. Parida has over 100 research papers in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Parida is Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agriculture Sciences and National Academy of Sciences of India. He is recipient of many awards such as Prof. Umakant Sinha Memorial Award, B. M. Birla Prize and National Biosciences Award. He was also awarded Padmashri (a civilian award) by Govt. of India for his scientific contribution.

Plant Genomics, Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics

Dr Wu is currently working as a professor of the University of Science and Technology of China. The main research directions are wheat and energy plants to create a mutant form of cloning and molecular breeding , and utilization of industrial research and development of energy plants . In academic journals such as "Nature", "Plant Physiology", "Genes and Development" and other publications published more than 40 papers , she presided over the CAS STS project , the CAS Knowledge Innovation Project directional project , the forestry sector projects, the National Natural Science fund projects. Apply for more than 30 domestic and international patents , four new appraisal results, participate in the completion of achievements in industry 3 . Relying on the State Forestry Administration Team Energy Research Center Lin , academician workstation , CAS Key Laboratory of other platforms , there are several well-known scholars to make the team a visiting professor

cloning and molecular breeding

Ana Claudia Macedo Vieira has completed his PhD at the age of 36 years from University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and coordinates the pharmacobotany Laboratory, which conducts research with galls on sandbank environment, control of drugs and medicinal plants. Develops university extension projects with rational use of medicinal plants and unconventional food plants to farmers. She has published papers in reputed journals of Plant Science, Especially with galls and metabolical changes on host plants, and research with medicinal plants,

Plant Genetics

Dr Shashi Kumar is a Team Leader, ICGEB, New Delhi, India. Graduated in Genetics from the University of Delhi, 1998. Postdoctoral research at University of Virginia, University of Central Florida, University of California Berkeley. Scientist at Yulex Inc., USA and USDA, Albany, CA. USA. Participated in establishing the “Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research” supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. His current focuses are on metabolic engineering for drug biosynthesis, metabolic engineering of rubber plant for hypoallergenic latex, DNA barcoding, development of sustainable algal biofuel technology and genetic engineering of marine algae for higher lipid and biomass.

Genetics

Mahendar Thudi obtained his PhD in Plant Sciences from University of Hyderabad, India. Seminal contribution of Mahendar Thudi includes genome sequences of chickpea, molecular breeding products in chickpea, genetic resources like TILLING populations (in chickpea and pearl millet) and genomic resources like SSR markers, genetic maps (in chickpea and pearl millet) and high-throughput DNA fingerprinting, genome diversity analysis, marker-trait associations and chickpea physical map. His research articles (>40) are published in high-impact factor journals including, Nature Biotechnology (1), Scientific Reports (1), PLoS ONE (3), Theoretical and Applied Genetics (1), etc. that are widely read and cited.

Plant Biotechnology

He completed my Masters in Genetics and Plant breeding from University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India and later pursued his Doctoral degree in the department of Plant biotechnology. Worked extensively on genomics & transcriptomics plant improvement for his doctoral studies. Later joined University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur as Assistant Professor of Biotechnology in the year 2011.He was nominated as head of the newly opened department of Molecular biology and Agricultural biotechnology in University of agricultural sciences, Raichur on 2014 and continuing till now. He is guiding three postdoctoral student and advisory member for five doctoral student. Published more than 25 research papers and abstracts.

Plant Genetics and Plant Breeding

Kiran Mysore is a Professor at the Plant Biology Division at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. He also holds Adjunct Professorship at Oklahoma State University. He received his Bachelor’s at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (India), Master’s at Clemson University and Ph. D. at Purdue University in 1999. He did his postdoctoral training at Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University. His research interests center on molecular plant-microbe interactions. He has published over 100 papers on this and related topics in international journals.

Plant Genomics

Arie Altman received his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture and is Professor of Horticulture and Plant Biotechnology (Ret.), Founding Director of Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture. He was President of the International Association of Plant Biotechnology, former Director of the Otto Warburg Center of Biotechnology in Agriculture, member of Israel National Committee for Biotechnology and Committee for Transgenic Plants. His research interests include molecular control of plant response to drought and salinity, agricultural biotechnology, forest tree biotechnology and plant tissue culture. He published over 180 research publications and served as Editor of 5 biotechnology books. He is (past and present) Editor and Editorial Board member of Plant Physiology, Annual Review of Plant Biotechnology and Applied Genetics, In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, Plant Cell Reports, and others. Prof Altman was Invited Professor and Scientist at: Amsterdam Free University, INRA Versailles and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris and Orsay, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, N.J., USA, Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Botany Dept., University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK, and others.

Molecular regulation of plant response to drought and salinity, Forestry biotechnology , Plant tissue culture and propagation

Michael Orzolekis is Professor Emeritus of Vegetable Crops department of Pennsylvania State University, US. He was the Program Leader of Integrated Crop Management Systems for Vegetables and Berries.

Environmental modification - Use of High Tunnels, plastic mulches, row covers and drip irrigation on the growth and yield of vegetable/horticultural crops. Culture and Management - Effects of cultural techniques and management systems on growth, development and yield of vegetable crops. Specialty crop and germplasm evaluation related to production, marketing and utilization.

Desh Pal S. Verma is a full professor at the Ohio State University, USA. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in biology and chemistry, and M.Sc. degree in botany from Agra University, India, and his Ph.D. degree in plant physiology and biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences, Italy. His pioneering research work includes the identification and characterization of nudulins and phragmoplastin, and genes responsible for proline and callose biosynthesis in plants. He has served on the editorial boards for several international journals, edited eleven scholarly books, and published over 160 original research papers.

Statistical Genetics, Human Microbiome, Statistical Analysis, Computational Statistics, Applied Statistics, and Molecular Genetics

Dr. Nirmal Joshee is an Associate Professor of Plant Science in the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology at the Fort Valley State University (FVSU, Fort Valley, GA). Currently, he is serving as the Coordinator, Graduate Program in Biotechnology. Dr Joshee earned his Ph.D. in the year 1987 from North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India on the reproductive biology of glycoalkaloid yielding solanums. He has conducted post-doctoral research work in Japan (Biotechnology Institute, Akita) on ‘Molecular Biology of Water Stress Induced Genes in Rice’ and the USA (University of Nebraska Medical Ctr., Omaha, NE) on ‘Human Gene Therapy’ before joining Fort Valley State University in 2001. Dr. Joshee is one of the founding members of American Council of Medicinally Active Plants, a society of professionals dedicated to the medicinal plant research. Dr. Joshee has been actively involved in research for the past twenty five years in the field of plant tissue culture and conservation, validation of medicinal plants used in traditional medical systems, molecular biology of stress induced genes in plants, gene transfer strategies for plant transformation, and sustainable use of fast growing tree Paulownia for Bioenergy. Graduate students conduct their thesis research on antitumor medicinal plant Scutellaria and lignocellulosic bioenergy crop Paulownia in my lab.

Ongoing Research Grants: 1. 2013-2016. Capacity building USDA NIFA. Title: Developing a sustainable bioenergy system: Paulownia production for fuel, chemicals, and materials. P.I.: Nirmal Joshee 2. 2011-2014. Capacity building USDA NIFA. Title: Germplasm conservation, Anti-adipocytic and anticancer activity and metabolic engineering in the genus Scutellaria. P.I.: Nirmal Joshee As Co- Investigator: 3. ($143,000) J. H. Lee, T. H. Terrill, N. Joshee. 2013. Strengthening instrumental analytical techniques of undergraduate and graduate students in food and agricultural sciences. USDA/NIFA-1890 CBG.

Meira Ziv is a Professor in the Robert H Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel). Her research interests are in the physiology and morphogenesis of plant organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in large scale liquid cultures; shoot-malformation, hyperhydricity and the role of oxidative stress in the control of plant development in bioreactor cultures for efficient acclimatization and survival ex vitro; bulb and corm development in geophytes cultured in liquid cultures in relation to carbohydrate metabolism.

Plant morphology and physiology in tissue culture plants. Biotechnology aspects of various plants propagated in large scale pre-sterilized disposable bioreactors and their in vitro acclimatization. Physiological aspects of bud and root regeneration, control of hyper-hydricity and malformation in plants regenerated liquid cultures. Enhanced hardening in vitro, using growth retardants and silicon Developmental physiology of corms, tubers and bulbs storage organs produced in vitro.

Dr. Rubin is the Rachel and Jacob Liss Emeritus Professor of Agronomy and Weed Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. His areas of research include biochemical pathways, herbicide resistance, and weed management. Dr. Rubin is very active in service to international academic and research institutions and is a member of several International Weed Society organizations including the Israel, European, Japan, and American societies. His research has led to being awarded three patents for herbicide activity and formulations development.

Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of herbicide action in crops and weeds. Herbicide resistance in weeds, mechanisms and environmental implications. Safe use of herbicide- resistant transgenic crops. Fate and behavior of herbicides in agro-ecosystem. Environmentally safe and new herbicide formulations. Weed biology and ecology. Weed management and control in major crops.

Dr. Ilan Sela is a Co-Founder of Beeologics, LLC and serves as its Chief Scientist. Dr. Sela has over 15 years of experience in Fiber Optics. He contributes more than five decades of accumulated knowledge in virology, plant and insect pathology and RNAi technologies to specifically address the long-term well being of the bees. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Optichrom, which he Co-Founded. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of PetroMetrix, a manufacturer of analyzers for the petro-chemical industry, which was founded by him in 1992. From 1989 to 1992, he worked as a Researcher with the Los Alamos National Laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico, working in the Electronic Research Group on novel materials for IR detectors and Optical Switching. He is world renowned for his innovative work in virology and is credited with identifying, sequencing and naming the Israel Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) in 2002. As a Professor Emeritus of Virology and Molecular Biology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he sits on the Faculty of Agriculture at the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics (Virus Laboratory), and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Molecular Biology, Virology and Genetic Engineering. His current research is focused on bee viruses including Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the expression and silencing vectors for plants, and the integration of viral sequences into host genomes. Over the course of his career, he has authored more than 100 papers that have appeared in reviewed scientific journals. He has also supervised 106 graduate students theses. He is the author of over 30 publications in the field of Applied Spectroscopy. Dr. Sela earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Virology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

A universal platform (IL-60) for expression and silencing in plants. The use of the IL60 platform for protecting plants from viruses, bacteria (including phytoplasmas) and fungi. Innate immunity in plants. RNA silencing of plant and viral gene expression. Integration of viral RNA sequences into host genomes. Bee viruses. Exchange of genetic information between Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) and the bee genome and its relation to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). RNA silencing in bees as a tool to control IAPV (and CCD), and bee parasites (Varroa, Nosema).

Milan S. Stanković is the assistant professor of Biology and Ecology department.Currently he is the editorial Board Member of “Research in Plant Sciences” and “Advanced Crop Science” Journal.

Biology Plant science

Tianzhen Zhang, Professor of Genetics and Crop Breeding in Nanjing Agricultural University. He has completed his PhD at the age of 29 years from Nanjing Agricultural University and postdoctoral studies from Ruhr University at Bochum in Germany under the Marie-Curie Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Research. He is the directors of Cotton Hybrid R & D Engineering Center (the Ministry of Education) and Cotton Research Institute in NAU. He has published more than 150 papers in cotton genetics, genomics and molecular breeding in peer-reviewing reputed journals and co-authored 8 books, and has been serving as the Co-chair from 2011-2013 and Chair of Int Cotton Genome Initiate from 2013-2015, Int. Organizing Committee member for ICGI Research conference and editorial board member of PLoS ONE.

Genetics, Plant Genomics

ACADEMIC AWARDS 1983 BSc Lanzhou University,China 1986 Msc The Postgradute School, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China 1989 PhD University of East Anglia, UK ASSOCIATIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS 1987 University Studentship, University of East Anglia, UK 1987 Overseas Research Student Awards, University of East Anglia, UK 1995 K.C. Wang Fellowship, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 1990 Postdoc Fellow, John Innes Center and University of Oxford (with Prof. E. S. Coen, FRS 　　 and Prof. H. G. Dickinson), UK 1995 Research Scientist, The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Center, UK 1997 Principle Investigator, Institute of Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of 　　 Sciences, China 1999 Assistant Director, Institute of Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of 　　 Sciences,China 2000 Professor, Faculty of Life Sciences, The Postgraduate School, The Chinese Academy of 　　 Sciences, China 2001 Principle Investigator, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese 　　 Academy of Sciences, China 2001 Associate Director, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese 　　 Academy of Sciences, China 2002 Adjunct Professor, College of Life Sciences, Beijing University, China 2004-2014 Director,Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology,The Chinese Academy of 　　 Sciences,China

Molecular control of self-incompatibility in Antirrhinum Molecular studies on pollination and fertilization in rice Identification of genes controlling cotton fiber formation

WenJun Zhang is the professor in Sun Yat-sen University and International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. He is the president of International Society of Computational Ecology and International Society of Network Biology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of international journals, Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (ISSN 2220-8860), Computational Ecology and Software (ISSN 2220-721X), Network Biology (ISSN 2220-8879), Arthropods (ISSN 2224-4255), and Environmental Skeptics and Critics (ISSN 2224-4263). He achieved his Ph.D. degree in epidemiology and modeling in Northwest A&M University. He has served as a postdoctoral fellow in epizootic modeling of vegetable insects in Sun Yat-sen University. He visited University of Arizona in 1996. He was a project scientist and postdoctoral fellow in mathematical ecology, working on ecological algorithms and computer programming, in International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) between 1997 and 2000. He has served as a senior research scientist, working on simulation model of insect-NPV-crop system in Wageningen University in 2002. Editor-in-Chief Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (ISSN 2220-8860) Computational Ecology and Software (ISSN 2220-721X) Network Biology (ISSN 2220-8879) Arthropods (ISSN 2224-4255) Environmental Skeptics and Critics (ISSN 2224-4263)

Network Biology; Biomathematics; Computational Science; Modelling; Ecology; Environmental Sciences; Agricultural Sciences.

ACADEMIC AWAREDS 1984 BSc Lanzhou University, China 1987 MSc Lanzhou University, China 1994 PhD Wageningen University, The Netherlands ASSOCIATIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS 1990 PhD Fellowship, European--China PhD Program 1994 Research Fellow, Wageningen University 1996 Research Fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA 1996 Research Fellow, The Institute of Molecular Agrobiology,Singapore Employment History 1987 Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, Lanzhou University,China 2000 Senior Scientist, The Institute of Molecular Agrobiology,Singapore 2002 Senior Scientist, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory,Singapore

Plant development generally Cell polarity and cell fate during gametogenesis Functional genomics Biotechnology

Indu Jaganath in the last 30 years has been attached to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. where she started off her research in the field of pollination biology and biodiversity of tropical crops. Her main achievement other than setting up a collection /germplasm of 300 species of medicinal plants at MARDI Serdang was to author a book entitled “The Green Pharmacy of Malaysia”. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at in the field of botany at University Malaya and Master of Science from the University of California, Riverside in the field of Plant Science. In 2005, she received her PhD at University of Glasgow in the field of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Her current research is focused on the discovery of chemically and biologically active natural products in tropical plants. She is using metabolomics approach to understand and delineate the metabolic pathways involved in the production of these biologically active compounds. With the incorporation of genomics tools, she is currently focusing on agricultural nutrigenomics, where high throughput screening techniques for the identification and validatation of health benefits of phytonutrients in herbs and fruits has been developed. She was recently awarded the best scientist award in 2014 by her organization.

Agricultural Plant Science, Food Science, Plant Fertilization, Animal and Human Nutrition.

He graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Biochemistry, School of Science in 1974. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, in 1981 and worked in the research staff for 27 years. He took his doctor’s degree at The Tohoku University in 1989. He continued his research into rice quality and processing, and was promoted to the head of the quality laboratory in 1990. He managed food research as a director of Food Science and Utilization Division at the National Food Research Institute from 2005 until 2008. He retired from MAFF and moved to Niigata University in 2008. He now majors in cereal science and processing, specializing in, quality assay and processing of rice grains. He is currently doing research into rice processing, for example, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake. He has published more than 260 papers on cereal science and utilization, and he got the prizes for outstanding papers on rice qualities, PCR technology of rice authentications, and the development of bio-functional rice bread, etc.

cereal science and processing, quality assay and processing of rice grains, bio-functional rice bread, rice noodles, and rice cake, PCR technology of rice authentications.

Currently a Professor in Postharvest Physiology and Technology at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Prof Asgar, is the founding director of the 'Centre of Excellence for Postharvest Biotechnology' at the University of Nottingham, a research group deemed for great success in its field and great impact beyond. With a range of postharvest students under his guidance and supervision, Prof Asgar has set the grounds for pioneering and innovative research in the field of edible coatings and films for postharvest biology. Additionally, he is constantly involved in the progress of science within postharvest biology as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences as well as the International Journal of Ecology, Environment and Conservation.

Pre-harvest, Post-harvest, Control fruit quality and storage life, Phytochemical properties of exotic fruits and vegetables

EDUCATION, ACADEMIC ADVISORS and Positions held: Diplom: 1973 University of Hannover (Horticulture) Ph.D.: 1976 University Hannover, Soil Science (Advisor: Prof. Dr. Dr hc. K.H. Hartge ) Habilitation: 1981 Technical University Berlin, Soil Science (Advisor: Prof. Dr. Dr hc. H .P. Blume) 1982- 1987 Professor for Soil Science, University Bayreuth 1988- 1998 Professor for Soil Science and Soil Protection (C3), Christian Albrechts University Kiel since 1.Oct.1998 Professor for Soil Science (Chair C4) at the Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel AWARDS and FELLOWHIPS: Honorary Member: Soil Science Society of Romania ,Romanian Academy of agriculture and forestry science Fellow award 2005 of the American Soil Science Society, Fellow award 2006 of the American Society of Agronomy, Honary doctor of the University of Applied Sciences and environment, Iasi, Romania 2012 Honary Professor of the Polytechnical University Lublin, Poland 2014 RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, extended visits: in China, Chile, Australia, Poland, USA, Brasil MAJOR PROFESSIONALACTIVITIES: President of the German Soil Science Society (2008-2011) President of the International Union Soil Science (IUSS) (2014- 2016) Chief Editor: Soil and Tillage Research TEACHING AND RESEARCH SUPERVISION OF PHD AND POSTDOC STUDENTS: 51 finished PhD –Students ; 3 Habilitations MEMBERSHIPS: German Soil Science Society (since 1974) International Union Soil Sciences (since 1974) International Soil and Tillage Research Organization Soil Science Society America European Geophysical Union Publications: a) books and monographs, 22 b) papers in refereed international journals, >320 c) refereed book chapters and reviews, 106 d) refereed, published conference papers approx. 100 e) conference papers; >200

soil mechanics: stress strain effects in structured soils, soil structure effects, chemical as well as hydraulic processes in structured soils, coupled processes in structured unsaturated soils, waste deposit management capping systems, soil tillage effects on soil properties and functions, chemical and biological aspects of soil aggregates, carbon sequestration,

She completed a BSc (Agric.) (Hons.) in 1981 at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Thereafter she gained expertise in numerous agricultural enterprises such as Feedlot & extensive Beef Production, Dairy Production, Pig production and wildlife farming. In 2000 she was appointed as Animal Science Lecturer at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. She enrolled for a Master’s Degree in 2001. The research focussed on the replacement of corn with small grains such as barley and wheat. It also included in vitro digestion rate of roughages. She was later appointed as Program Coordinator for the Agricultural Program and have 8 years’ experience. She received numerous awards over the last 15 years such as the Faculty Emerging Researcher of the year 2006, Faculty Researcher of the year 2007, Faculty Teacher of the Year 2009, NMMU Teacher of the year 2009, and runner-up in an innovation technology competition (acidosis related) in 2013. She has presented research papers in Brazil (Porto Allegra), France (Grenoble) and the South African Society for Animal Scientists (SASAS) conferences. She has supervised post graduate students and am currently involved with a study on flocculation of UHT milk.

Dairy cow(ruminant) nutrition, Animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition and reproduction, Animal Production Science, livestock farming systems, sustainability and natural resource management

Lack of clean water to meet society’s needs is recognized as one of the major challenges of modern times by the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chaubey’s research is focused on improving water quality and watershed management by integrating field data collection and mathematical modeling, and developing simulation models and tools that will guide policy decision makers, watershed managers, conservation specialists and farmers. Dr. Chaubey is unique in his integration of simulation modeling and innovative field research to improve our understanding of various rainfall-runoff and pollutant transport processes at field, stream reach and watershed scales. Dr. Chaubey is leading efforts nationally and internationally in quantifying how land use changes due to recent demand for biofuel production, agricultural intensification, and urbanization will impact water availability, water quality, and ecosystem services. His research improves watershed management decisions so that resource allocations and resulting water quality improvements can be optimized. Dr. Chaubey has published more than 400 research articles, including 105 peer reviewed journal articles and more than 180 technical papers in various conferences, and has given 50 invited presentations at various regional, national, and international conferences. He has won numerous honors and awards including New Holland Young Researcher Award, ADS/Hancor Soil and Water Conservation Award, Purdue Agricultural Research Award, Purdue University Faculty Scholar, Seed for Success Award, and Outstanding Research Award.

Ecohydrology, Source Pollution Engineering, Future of Water Resources, Design in Biological Engineering, Natural Resources Engineering, Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, NPS Pollution Control and Modeling,

More than 30 years experience in the field of Agricultural Engineering and presently Dean, College of Agri. Engg. & Technology, Hisar (India). Completed research projects on watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation and greenhouse technology. Life member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and Fellow, Institution of Engineers (India) and Indian Water Resources Society. Attended International course on ‘Hydrometeorology’ at Israel. Participated in International conference at Belgium and Thailand and chaired a technical session. Served as Head, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering in Eritrea (Africa) and taught as Professor in Libya. Published more than 30 research papers and edited a book on ‘Post Harvest Management and Value Addition’. Received awards in Paper Presentation, Appreciation Certificates; National Fellows and Society Awards. Member of many national committees of Department of Science and Technology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Referee and Reviewer of national and International journals.

watershed management, hydrology, pressurized irrigation, greenhouse technology, Soil and Water Conservation Planning,

Benmeziane Dr Farida, teacher - researcher at the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life. University of El-Tarf, Algeria. She got my engineering degree in June 2005 at the University of Bejaia, Algeria. The Magister degree in 2008 issued by the same university. Currently I have my doctorate degree in Plant Biology, obtained in June 2015 at the University of Annaba, Algeria. I am a teacher at the University of El-Tarf since December 2009, She taught several modules such as Food Technology, Nutrition, Packaging, Food Toxicology, ... etc. She currently supervising 3 pairs Master 2 in product quality and food safety. She own 08 publications whose 07 in international journals 07 and 01 in a national journal. My Areas of interest: Food Technology, Biochemistry, especially natural antioxidants foods including polyphenols.

Food Technology, Biochemistry, Especially natural antioxidant foods Including polyphenols.

Prof Abbyssinia Mushunje is currently a Full Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University Of Fort Hare South Africa. He is also the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the same university. Prof Mushunje is the Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator of Economic Education in South Africa. He received his BSc Agricultural Economics (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe in 1991, before obtaining and MSC and PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2001 and 2005 respectively. His most recent research has been focussing on the following; land reform, farm efficiency, food security, climate change, ecotourism, food systems; etc. He has published about 40 papers in international peer reviewed journals. To date he has successfully supervised 25 Masters and 11 PhD students.

Agricultural Economics

Dr. S. S. Siwach, presently working as Director of Research at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar did his Doctoral in Plant Breeding with specialization in Plant Breeding and Genetics & Seed Technology in 1995. He also looked after the Extension activities as Director Extension Education. He has undergone trainings in the relevant field of his specialization. He contributed in the development of first GMS line and on the basis developed first GMS hybrid in the country in AAH-1 in Gossypium Arboreum L. as well as in the development of first GMS bases Gossypium hirsutum hybrid HHH 287. Dr. Siwach started seed production of the varieties as well as parents of hybrids at farmer’s field. He contributed in the development of newer varieties /hybrids of Cotton having better seed cotton yield with resistance/ tolerance to abiotic as well as biotic stress and better fibre quality. Dr. Siwach is also responsible for the screening and evaluation of recommended Bt. Cotton hybrids. Crop varieties and hybrids of CCS HAU has been registered with PPV & FR as well as with NBPGR. A number of MoUs with different seed companies and other commercial technologies have been signed during his tenure as Director of Research. He is planning, executing, monitoring and technically evaluating on-going research schemes of different constituent colleges/outreach Research Stations of CCS Haryana Agricultural University. Dr. Siwach has more than 100 research publications in National and International repute of journals. On behalf of the University, he has been nominated on various committees of Haryana Government, Central Government to represent CCS HAU.

Seed production, Hybrids of Cotton, Crop varieties and hybrids,

Dr. R.R. Sharma completed his post graduation from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during 1994 and qualified ARS-1995 examination with top position. He joined as Scientist in the Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, IARI, New Delhi in 1997 and worked on mango improvement, high-density planting and strawberry up to 2004 and then shifted to Division of Post Harvest technology, IARI, New Delhi. He has developed six mango hybrids and standardized several farmer-friendly fruit production and postharvest management technologies. He is a recipient of several awards and honors in India. He has also worked as International Mango Registrar (1999-2004) of International Society for Horticultural Science. He is a member, Editorial Board of Scientia Horticulture (The Netherlands), International Journal of Fruit Science (UK), American Journal of Plant Science (USA), Journal of Agriculture Science (USA) and Chief Editor of International Journal of Food processing and Technology (India). He has published about 40 articles in International Journals, 50 in Indian journal, 110 popular articles, 7 books, 5 farm bulletins and several pamphlets.

Major research interests of Dr.R.R. Sharma are, Postharvest physiology & pathology of horticultural crops especially temperate fruits Regulation of ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables, edible coatings, Safe approaches (bioagents, GRAS) for PHM of fruits and vegetable Pre-harvest management and its effects on PHM & quality of fruits and vegetables.

Dr Yeo Siok Koon possessed her PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia and is now a senior lecturer in Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Her passion in teaching is recognized where she obtained an award from her institution for excellence teaching and a national award. Before she joined as an academician in Taylor’s University, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Korea. Her research work focuses on probiotics and prebiotics. Her main research objective is to develop food products with enhanced functional properties. To date, she has published more than 20 indexed journals and book chapters. She has also genuinely shared her findings and knowledge in various national and international conferences.

Development of probiotics and/or prebiotics dietary adjunct Determination of health beneficial properties of fermented food

Dr. Manjree Agarwal from last 14 years has been working in conducting basic and applied research for development of new technologies, non-chemical methods, innovative processes, new chemicals for stored and horticultural product insect management, with special emphasis on post-harvest plant biosecurity. Area of expertise includes: • Development of innovative, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools based on insect ecology and biology • Management of phosphine resistance insects in grain storage • Exploration of novel non chemical method for control of stored product insect pests • Development of biosecurity tools for potential new incursions of exotic organisms • The role of volatiles in understanding and manipulating plant/pest/microbe interactions with the aim to control incursions and resistance build up to chemicals • Alternatives to methyl bromide for quarantine treatment of grains and horticultural produce. Currently she is working as Post doctorate fellow in post-harvest plant biosecurity and food safety laboratory, Murdoch University, Western Australia. She is currently supervising 12PhD students and has successfully supervised two PhD students.

Developing new novel green and safe chemicals for protection of post-harvest commodity in storage, Looking for fumigants alternative to methyl bromide, Management of phosphine resistance stored grain pests, and Studying chemical ecology between host plant, healthy plant and pest.

Dr. Arun Kumar Pal (Born.01.08.1962) is Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya (State Agricultural University), Nadia, West Bengal, India where he has been since December, 1997. He received his Ph.D. in Horticulture in Floriculture and Landscaping from the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya in 1993. From 1988 to 1991 he worked at The Agri. Horticultural Society of India, Kolkata. He also served as Scientist (I.C.A.R.) at Ramkrishina Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra during 1995 to 1997. His research interests center on improving Agro-techniques of crops like Tuberose, Marigold, Annuals flower, Foliage plants. He has worked on Organic manure and bio-stimulants to those crops. He has given numerous invited talks on TV & Radio programme, Govt. of West Bengal, State Bank of India (Rural Sector), Director of Extention BCKV and others training programme. Professor Pal is co-author of book Varieties of Horticultural Crops (Agrobios, 2006) and writer of floriculture book chapter and is the author of over forty research papers on Floriculture. Professor Pal is an academic expert of different Indian University and Institutes like Calcutta University, Viswa Bharati, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bihar Agricultural University. He guided two Ph.D. and eight M.Sc. students. At present he has two PhD and three M.Sc. students. He visited different country like Thailand, Malaysia, Srilanka and Bangladesh. He participated twenty four national and international seminar & symposium(13-National and 11-International).He also participated five winter/summer school. His major contribution in the field of floriculture is to popularization of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L) variety Prajwal cultivation in the major flower growing area of West Bengal, India.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Crop science, Floriculture, Landscaping

Prof Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau completed a B.Sc Agric (Crop Science) at the University of Venda in 1996. He then registered M.Sc. in Horticulture at the University of Stellenbosch where he conducted research on citrus nutrition. He completed a PhD (Horticultural Sciences) at the University of Pretoria and he has done extensive research in herbal medicine. He has completed Masters in Business Leadership (MBL) at UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership. His previous working experience includes Vista University VUDEC, Campus (Now Incorporated to University of South Africa), University of Venda and University of Limpopo as a Lecturer. In 2006, he was seconded to establish a fully funded Research Centre as an Associate Professor and Centre Manager known as Limpopo Agro Food Technology Station (LATS) by Tshumisano Trust (Now Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). He then joined the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) under Food and Beverages (Now Agro-Industries) Strategic Business Unit (SBU); HealthCare and Education (SBU) as a Specialist

Prof Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau interests inclide project development and implementation in Agro Industries, Education and Healthcare sectors

R. R. Sharma after post-graduation from IARI, New Delhi, joined as Scientist there in 1997. He is Senior Scientist and associated with release of mango hybrids like Pusa Arunima, Pusa Surya, Pusa Lalima, Pusa Shresth, Pusa Pitamber etc. He has published 40 research articles in International journals, 60 in National journals, and authored 8 books. He is recipient of Dr. R.N. Singh award (twice), Dr Rajinder Prasad award (twice), and Himachal Shri Award. He has also served as International Mango Registrar for about 5 years (1999-2004). He is member, editorial board of Scientia Horticulturae, International Journal of Fruit Science (U.K.), American Journal of Plant Sciences (US), Journal of Food Processing and Technology (US), and Stewart Postharvest Reviews (UK), and Chief Editor of International Journal of Processing and Postharvest Technology, India.

Pre and Post harvest handling of temperate fruits, Food Science

Born in Haifa in 1939, Prof. Ilan Chet completed his doctoral work in microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was Dean and Vice President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prof. Chet received the Max-Planck Award (1994), the Israel Prize (1996), the Wolf Prize (1998), the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Germany (2001) and the French “Chevalier” Legion of Honor award (2014). From 2001 to 2006, Prof. Chet was nominated President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He has been a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities since 1998 and of the European Academy of Sciences since 2004. In 2014, he was elected a member of the Academia Europea. Prof. Chet is the Deputy Secretary General for Higher Education and Research in the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean since 2010.

Biological control of plant diseases, Induced resistance, Molecular biology of fungi, Sustainable agriculture, Food security

Upendra M Sainju is currently working on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, crop diversity, cropping intensity, and cultural practices on soil aggregation, organic matter concentration, microbial activities, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in dryland areas. He is also engaged in studying the effects of irrigation management, nitrogen fertilization rates, and cultural practices in nitrate-nitrogen movement in soil that affects water quality, soil organic matter level, and nitrogen mineralization in irrigated land. He is also involved in the development of methodology for determination of soil aggregation for dryland and irrigated areas and extraction method for determining ammonium and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the soils of various textures amended with or without plant residue.

Upendra M Sainju eight years working on the long-term effects of tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization on crop production, carbon sequestration in plant and soil, soil nitrogen fertility, microbial activities, and nitrogen leaching at Fort Valley State University, he developed a management practice consisting of conservation tillage, cover cropping, and nitrogen rate that sustains crop production, improves soil and water qualities, and reduces the rate of nitrogen fertilization as compared with the conventional practice.

Dr Johan van Rooyen is currently the director of “The Standard Bank Centre for Agri-leadership & Mentorship Development” and professor in Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University. He teaches Agri-business strategy, Agricultural and rural development and Business cases at the University of Stellenbosch and also lectures at the Universities of Free State, Pretoria, Antwerpen and the University of Ghent, Belgium. To-date he published more than 100 peer group refereed scientific papers, five academic books on Agri-business & Agri- development and presented over 100 papers at local and international events. He is a NRF rated scientist. Prof van Rooyen serves on a number of boards of agri-business companies and agencies, is currently a board member of IAMA (the International Agri-business and Food Industry Management Association) and serves on an expert panel of the “World Competitive Report”, University of Laussanne, Switzerland. He served on a number of committees, including the ‘Agricultural Sector Plan’ task team (2000-2001); served as ministerial appointment on the ‘Agri-BEE steering committee (2005-2008); managed the drafting of the ‘S.A. Wine Industry Transformation Charter and BEE Score Card’ (2003-2007); and served full terms on the boards of the S.A. Land and Agricultural Development Bank (2000-2004) and on the S.A. Agricultural Research Council (1996-2000). Previous employment includes: The Development Bank of Southern Africa (1984-1993) - Executive Group Manager, Agriculture and Rural Development; and Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis; Director of the Postgraduate School for Agricultural and Rural Development & Professor in the ABSA Chair of Agribusiness Management, University of Pretoria (1993-2002); CEO, Agri-business Chamber of S.A (1998-2002); CEO of the S.A. Wine Industry Council (2003-2008). His achievements include: Served On A Number Of Boards Of Agri-Business Companies And Agencies ( New Farmers Development Co, Aquaharvest, Sa Brandy Foundation, Winetech, Sawis, Wosa), President Of The Agricultural Economics Association Of South Africa, Chair Of The Agricultural Outlook Conference(Lanvokon) and Elected An Ifama Fellow In 2014, Co-Chair Ifama 2014 World Conference In Cape Town and Operate As Specialist Consultant In Agribusiness – Strategic Planning And Policy Development.

Agri-business, Agricultural and rural development, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economy

Professor Byoung Ryong Jeong has completed his PhD at the age of 31 years from Colorado State University, USA, and postdoctoral studies from University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, and Chiba University, Japan. He is a professor in Department of Horticulture and the Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea. He has published more than 250 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editor-in-chief of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology, and president of the Korean Society for Floricultural Science. (Up to 100 words)

Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Genetics, Climatology, Ornamental Horticulture, Plant Tissue culture and micropropagation

Dr. Ashok K Patra, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, India. He did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He was a Post Doctoral Researchers at ICRISAT, India; IGER, UK; INRA, France; and University of Notre Dame, USA. He was a Principal Soil Scientist (2006 to 2014) at IARI, New Delhi. He is a recipient of British Council TCT Award; Royal Society Award; DBT Overseas Associateship Award; Hooker Award of IARI; and he is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Soil Science and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India. His research area includes nitrogen cycling, soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration and nanoparticles. With more than 200 publications in his credit he is serving as a member of editorial board of reputed journals.

Nitrogen cycling, soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration and nanoparticle

Francis Lewu obtained BSc Agriculture in Plant Breeding and Seed Technology and MSc Agronomy in Nigeria. He started his career as a Genebank Research Assistant in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Nigeria and later proceeded to study PhD Botany with specialization in plant genetic conservation and propagation. After his postdoctoral study, he joined the Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, South Africa as a Lecturer in 2008 and was appointed HOD, of the department in January 2009; a position he held till end of May 2011. Francis Lewu joined the Cape Peninsula University of Technology as HOD of Agriculture Department in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. He was appointed Associate Professor in 2014 and became a C Rated National Research Foundation Scholar of South Africa during the same year. He is a qualified Professional Natural Scientist and has supervised and mentored master and doctoral students to completion. Prof Lewu currently concentrates his research effort on the autecology and propagation of screened medicinals and alternative cultivation protocols for field crops and horticultural species. He is editorial member of many journals and serves as reviewer to the NRF, several local and international journals and reviews many masters and doctoral thesis for several universities.

Autecology, Propagation of screened medicinals, Crop Science, Horticulture

Halos-Kim, is a Registered Professional Agricultural Engineer in the Philippines and has over 30 years’ experience working on crop processing, postharvest and food engineering research, development, and most recent, on Extension, in Asia and Africa. She was the Former Head of the Postharvest Engineering Unit, IITA in Nigeria & a Researcher with the Agricultural Engineering Department of IRRI in Philippines. From 2009, Engr. Leony is the Thematic Director of the Postharvest and Agro processing (PHAP) Extension of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Halos-Kim leads a team of specialists (agricultural engineers, food technologist, rural development experts and economists) in Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda to promote the use of appropriate technologies to reduce losses, improve quality and food safety, and enhance food security and income of smallholder farmers in SAA focus countries, and in Africa in general.

Agricultural Engineering, Agro-processing, Crop Processing, Farm Power and Machinery, Postharvest Technology, Food Process Engineering, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development Works

Shashi Sharma is Professor and Chair in Biosecurity and Food Security, and Centre Director of Australia-China Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry at Murdoch University in Western Australia. Until his appointment at Murdoch University, Professor Sharma was Director of Plant Biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia from where he is on secondment. He has had a long career in food and agriculture spanning over 35 years and it includes working in several countries in different spheres of agriculture -- on-farm, post-harvest, trade, quarantine and biosecurity policy and planning, regulation, legislation and science. He studied for his MSc and PhD degrees at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi and later returned to IARI as Professor and Head of the Division of Nematology. He worked well over a decade as a Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), spent his sabbatical at the Delta Centre of the University of Missouri, USA and International Fellowship at the Rothamsted International, UK. He is recipient of several awards in recognition of his contributions to agriculture including Excellence in Science Award of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research. Professor Sharma is a strong advocate of biosecurity as an integral component of global food security strategy and has been internationally speaking on biosecurity and food security issues for a number of years.

Food sustainably, Bio-security and policy, Food safety and Food security, Post-harvest food loss and food waste management, Managing chemical contaminants, and Innovative technologies for improved market access and trade.

A. Gattinger is agronomist and soil ecologist and coordinates climate-related research at FiBL Switzerland and Germany (www.fibl.org). He studied agriculture at the universities in Kassel/ Germany and Aberdeen/UK and got his PhD at TU München/Germany. He has international scientific expertise in the field of soil ecology and climate impact of farming systems. A. Gattinger is author/co-author of currently 47 peer-reviewed papers and teaches soil ecology at the universities Basel/CH and Giessen/Germany. He chairs the International Round Table of Organic Agriculture and Climate Change, an international, multi-stakeholder association. Furthermore, he is a member in the German organic grower association Naturland and runs an organic farm in Selters, Germany.

Climate impact of farming systems, Greenhouse gas fluxes in soil-plant systems, Structure and function of soil microbial communities as influenced by agricultural management, Adaptive capacity of soils and farming systems to climate change, Soil and water conservation including water and nutrient use efficiency.

Dr. Raveendra H Patil completed his PhD from Copenhagen University, Denmark and has worked as Post-Doctoral Researcher at Yangzhou University, China, University of Nottingham, UK, Aarhus University, Denmark, and University of Florida, USA. Now Dr. Patil is based in India at UAS, Dharwad involved in teaching and supervision of Graduate students, undertaking research on climate change impact and adaptation studies in agriculture, precision agriculture, and sustainable production systems, among others. He is a recipient of Young Scientist award from the Indian Government (ICAR, New Delhi) and ISCA, Kolkata, India for his work on agro-forestry, and over the years he has received number of national and international fellowships. For instance, ICAR Junior & Senior Fellowship, Chinese Govt. Fellowship, The Royal Society, London, UK Fellowship, The Danish Government Post-Doc Fellowship and NSF, USA Post-Doc Research Associate Fellowship. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member and reviewer to number of reputed journals.

Agro-forestry and Sustainable production systems Crop production under changing climate and plant nutrition Soil nutrient cycling and GHG emissions from agro-ecosystems Crop model application to assess climate change impacts and identify adaptation strategies

Dr. Mannava Sivakumar was the former Director, Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA) in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Weather and Climate Extremes Journal published by Elsevier and a senior Consultant with World Bank and WMO. He obtained his M.Sc (Agronomy) from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India, in 1972; and Ph.D in Agricultural Climatology from the Iowa State University (USA) in 1977. From 1977 to 1996, Dr Sivakumar worked at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India (1977-83) and in West Africa (1984-96) occupying the positions successively of Agroclimatologist, Principal Agroclimatologist, Team Leader, Resource Management Programme and Director, Soils and Agroclimatology Division. In July 1996, Dr Sivakumar joined the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and served as the Chief of the Agricultural Meteorology Division until 2008 when he was appointed as the Director of the Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA). Dr Sivakumar has over 300 publications to his credit, including 53 books and 85 articles in various international journals. Dr. Sivakumar received the "Young Scientist Award' and the Science Academy Medal from the Indian National Science Academy of India in 1983. He is a Fellow of seven international scientific societies including the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India, the Indian Meteorological Society, the National Environmental Science Academy, the American Society of Agronomy, the Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences of Belgium, the Academy of Georgofili of Italy and Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science. Dr Sivakumar received the 2007 International Service in Agronomy Award from the American Society of Agronomy, the Award of Excellence for exceptional and outstanding contributions in the field of Science from the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in 2009 and the Bharat Jyoti Award from the India International Friendship Society in 2012.

Agricultural Climatology, Agronomy

Dr. Mohammad Reza Alizadeh has completed his PhD. in the field of Agricultural Machinery Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, I.R. Iran in 2007. He works as Associate Professor and head of Agricultural Engineering Department, the Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII) with nearly 25 years active research experiences in the area of mechanization of agricultural crop production and post-production. He has authored and co-authored more than 80 original and review papers in the national and international peer-reviewed journals. He joined as a member of the editorial board and reviewer of many international reputed journals related to agricultural engineering and post-harvest technology.

Field and post-harvest machinery management, Design and development of agricultural machinery, Engineering Properties of Agricultural Products, Precision Farming in plant Production and Post-Production.

Dr. Kazi Kamrul Islam has completed his MSc from Wageningen University, the Netherlands and PhD from Kyushu University, Japan. Dr. K.K. Islam has also completed his postdoctoral studies from Kyushu University in 2015. Currently he is the head and Associate Professor at the Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University (a renounced and famous agricultural university in Asia). He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of number of Journals.

Agroforestry, Agroecology, Forest Conservation, Forest Management, Forest Economics, Natural Resource Management

Dr Sani Yusuf Ahmad is an Associate Professor in Agronomy with specialization in Horticultural Production. He obtained his B. Agriculture, MSc. and Ph.D degrees from the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in 1995, 2003 and 2010, respectively. He is a member of several professional bodies and has several publications in reputable national, International journals and numerous research/technical reports to his credit. He is currently a lecturer/researcher at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria where he is actively involved in teaching, training, research and extension services. He attended several International Conferences and trainings across the globe.

Agronomy, Agriculture Extension, Horticulture

Dr. Sunday Yiseyon Hosu was born in Ogun State Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2004. He obtained Masters Degree from Nigeria’s premier university: the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2007 and PhD in Agricultural/Environmental Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2013. His PhD thesis is a holistic attempt to know the determinants of food system among the poor households in the semi-arid region; the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He focused on modeling small farms’ optimal productivity under stressed environmental conditions, resource utilization and effective institutional services provision. His study made insight on the necessary conditions to boost smallholder productivity and food security among the small-holder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province. His research interest focuses on optimal resource utilization for sustainable livelihood, food security and food systems as well as rural poverty analysis. He has authored and co-authored manuscripts and proposal with others. He has read papers on food issues at several local and international conferences. Dr Hosu is the Lead Researcher and Consultant, Sunclare Consults Limited, a-one- stop research outfit for solutions to agriculture and agribusinesses issues based in Nigeria. He is currently a Research Fellow at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Optimal resource utilization for sustainable livelihood, food security and food systems as well as rural poverty analysis

Dr Olayinka Ayobami AIYEGORO obtained a doctoral degree in Microbiology (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology) from the renowned University of Fort Hare in South Africa. He has a versatile research career in applied microbiology- his research emphases include: Public Health Microbiology, Phytomedicine, Probiotics and Prebiotics Research. He has published above 40 research articles in international peer reviewed ISI rated journals and also has 2 book chapters in his archives. Dr Aiyegoro is a rated researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and also a registered professional member of South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. He has worked as a University lecturer, research scientist and currently he is a Senior Researcher/Project Manager in GI Microbiology and Biotechnology Unit of Agricultural research Council- Animal Production Institute, South Africa. His daily activities include: researching students supervision, project and financial management, office administration and other Ad hoc duties.

Public Health Microbiology, Phytomedicine, Probiotics and Prebiotics Research

Dr. Justin K. Urassa holds a PhD (Developme Studies) and an M.Sc. Social research Methods (Development Studies) from the university of Sussex (United Kingdom), A Post-graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis for Socioeconomic Security and Development from the Institute of Social Studies-The Hague, Holland in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)-Tanzania and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA)-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, an MSc. and B.Sc. (Agriculture) from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and a Diploma in Dairy Husbandry from Livestock Training Institute (LITI) Tengeru, Tanzania. In addition to his regular academic activities at the university he also acted as Associate Director for the Development Studies Institute, SUA from July 2004 to October 2005. Before Joining SUA in December 1999 he worked as a Livestock Tutor at the Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute (MATI) Mlingano, Tanga.

Rural livelihoods and well-being, Poverty analysis, Food Security, Agricultural and rural development, Policy analysis, Social development and gender and development.

Dr. (Mrs.) Angela M. Lamptey is a Lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon. She has a Ph.D in Fisheries Science from the University of Ghana. Her research interests include Aquaculture, Fisheries Ecology, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), aquatic biotopes studies and water quality studies. She is a reviewer to a number of International Peer-reviewed Journals and has over seven (7) publications in top peer-reviewed journals. She is a motivational speaker to various youth groups and a role model for young ladies.

Aquaculture, Seabird-fisheries interactions, Seabirds ecology, Fisheries ecology, Water quality studies, Fish feeding habits, Biodiversity studies (Seabirds and sea turtles), Aquatic biotopes studies.

Nabil Killiny is Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology & Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, University of Florida. The French Society of Phytopathology, awarded with student fellow travel Award, 2004 Synergistic Activities: Ad Hoc Manuscript Review: Plant Pathology, Phytopathology, Journal of Bacteriology, PLoS One, Journal of Insect Physiology, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions,Current Microbiology, Electron Microscope Techniques, Biomedicine and Biotechnology, European Journal of Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology, Phytopathology

Abul Mandal has completed his PhD from University of Agriculture in Cracow, Poland and Post-doctoral studies from University of Stockholm, Sweden. In 2010, he was appointed as a Professor of Molecular Biology at the System Biology Research Center of the University of Skovde, Sweden. Currently, he is heading the Physiology and Toxicology research group at this University. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed peer reviewed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of several scientifi c journals.

Physiology and Toxicology

Nurul Faridi has completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, 1988 and worked at the International Rice Research Institute and Intl. Maize and Wheat Research Institute, Mexico from 1989 to 1994, and then worked in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University until 2003 before joining with the USDA Forest Service. He has been working in conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics for the last 25 years and published about 70 papers in reputed journals.

conventional and molecular plant cytogenetics

YuegangZuo is currently a Full Professor in analytical and environmental chemistry and Director of Graduate Programs at Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He received his BS degree from Wuhan University, MS from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and PhD from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. One of his recent research areas has focused on separation, identification and quantification of phenolic antioxidants in plants and examine their bioavailability in humans and animals. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious international scientific journals such as Science, and JAFC.

Separation, identification and quantification of phenolic antioxidants in plants

Nnadozie Oraguzie received his PhD in Plant breeding and genetics at Lincoln University, New Zealand and worked for a year as a Post-Doctoral researcher at Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand, before joining Plant and Food Research (PFR) Institute, New Zealand as Research Scientist in 1998. At PFR, he was the Manager of the national pome fruit germplasm collection and an Objective Leader in the Pome fruit breeding consortium program. With the help of a fellowship from the Science and Technology Agency (STA) of Japan in 2001, he led an international collaboration including PFR, Hirosaki University and the National Institute of Tree Fruit Science, Morioka, Japan, that first linked an allele of the Md-ACS1 gene to fruit softening in apple. He was also the recipient of an Invitation Fellowship from the Japan Ministry of Science and Technology in 2006. He joined the faculty of Washington State University (WSU) in 2008 as Associate Professor. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal publications and a book, and currently serves on the editorial board of two journals.

His current research interests are at the interface of breeding and genomics. He leads the stone fruit breeding, genetics and extension program at WSU with emphasis on developing new sweet cherry varieties suited for growing in the PNW regions of the USA. He also has research interests in the genetics and genomics of traits that govern consumer appreciation of fresh fruit products in apple and pear.

Waled Elkhoby currently working at Agricultural Research Center, Field Crops Research Institute, Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC), Egypt

Crop Science

Shyam S Yadav completed his Bachelor Degree in agriculture at the University of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1964, and a Master Degree in Genetics & Plant Breeding from University of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1967. He completed a PhD in Genetics & Plant Breeding from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, in 1987. Dr. Yadav has a very wide working experience at different research organizations. During 1969 to 2006, he worked at Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi on various capacities. In 2008 to 2010, he was working with National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), PNG as Chief Scientist. During 2010 to 2012 he was holding the position of International Advisor in Agriculture for Capacity Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Kabul, Afghanistan. At different occasions, he also worked as a short time consultant with FAO, UNDP, ACIAR, DPI-Victoria, Australia, State University of Montana, USA etc. Dr Shyam S Yadav is working as Freelance International Research Consultant in Agriculture. Simultaneously, Dr. Yadav is also working as President, Manav Foundation at Manav Yadav Memorial Trust, Vikaspuri, New Delhi, India. He is also engaged as a part time International Research Advisor in Agriculture on Capacity Development in Agriculture at Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr Yadav has a wide working experience as an agriculture scientist, consultant, and expert in different countries across the continents ranging from Australia, United States, Asia, and the Pacific Region. His primary interest of research has been focused on plant breeding, development of integrated crop production and management technologies and their dissemination among farming communities at village levels in diversified ecologies, mentoring and coaching of graduate and post graduate students, agricultural personnel, NGOs, and different stakeholders. Dr. Yadav has worked as Chief Editor for books on Crop Wild Relatives & Climate Change in 2015, A Publication of Wiley - Blackwell Inc. USA, Crop Adaptation to Climate Change in 2011, A Publication of Wiley – Blackwell Inc. USA, Climate Change and Management of Cool Season Grain Legume Crops in 2010, A Publication of Springer, The Netherlands, Chickpea Breeding and Management in 2007, A Publication of CABI, UK, and Lentils: An Ancient Crop of Modern Times in 2007, A Publication of Springer, The Netherlands.

Plant Breeding, Integrated Crop Production

Raveendra H Patil completed his PhD from Copenhagen University, Denmark and has worked as Post-Doctoral Researcher at Yangzhou University, China, University of Nottingham, UK, Aarhus University, Denmark, and University of Florida, USA. Now Dr. Patil is based in India at UAS, Dharwad involved in teaching and supervision of Graduate students, undertaking research on climate change impact and adaptation studies in agriculture, precision agriculture, sustainable production systems, among others. He is a recipient of Young Scientist award from the Indian Government (ICAR, New Delhi) and ISCA, Kolkata, India for his work on agro-forestry, and over the years he has received number of national and international fellowships. For instance, ICAR Junior & Senior Fellowship, Chinese Govt. Fellowship, The Royal Society, London, UK Fellowship, The Danish Government Post-Doc Fellowship and NSF, USA Post-Doc Research Associate Fellowship. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member and reviewer to number of reputed journals. He is one of the organizing committee members of this agri-2015 conference in Beijing.

Agro-forestry and Sustainable production systems
Crop production under changing climate and plant nutrition
Soil nutrient cycling and GHG emissions from agro-ecosystems
Crop model application to assess climate change impacts and identify adaptation strategies

Awarded with PhD (Horticulture) in 1991 and PDF (Visiting Scientist) from AVRDC (TAIWAN) in 1994-1995. Handled 21 externally funded schemes as Principal Investigator with the budget of Rs. 448.94 lakhs. Completed 15 schemes with the budget of Rs. 575.94 lakhs funded by various government, private and foreign agencies. Acted as backbone and catalyst for releasing more than 21 varieties and numerous horticultural techniques. Worked as the Dean, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Published 32 books, 39 book chapters, 127 research papers,etc. Editor of two seminar proceedings and delivered 23 radio talks. Totally there are 679 publications. Guided (15) MSc (Hort.) and (18) PhD (Hort.) students. Received Dr. G.S. Venkata Ram Memorial Award for the best research and oral paper presented at PLACROSYM XIV. Receipient of foreign Examiner, Dr. K.G. Shanmugavelu, Dr. S. Muthuswami medals, Golden Jubilee Symposium of Horticulture award for Best PhD research, Junior and Senior ICAR fellowship. Received TNAU Scientist Award (2010 & 2011) for research contribution by obtaining externally funded schemes (6 awards 2011 and 5 awards in 2012). Received Rastriya Gaurav Award, Bharat Jyoti Award and Best citizen of India from India International Friendship Society, New Delhi for the contribution to Horticultural Science. Also received MASU award (2012) for best technical bulletin in Tamil. Received Fellowship of CHAI (Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India) Award 2012 for meritorious service and outstanding performance in the field of Horticultural sciences. Served as a QRT member for oil palm and pomegranate. Chairman in Assessment Committee of ICAR for technical positions, Member in various committees in different universities, ICAR, Govt. of India. Recently Golden wings award for outstanding performance in Horticulture by Kalai Ilakkiya mandram of Theni and Best oral presentation award in Noni Search 2012. Awarded with in 2013 Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam life time achievement and best college award for academic excellence, in 2014 received best and highest number of horticulture book writer award in TNAU Coimbatore, India.

Horticulture

Mahendra P Srivastava born in 1942, obtained PhD in 1967 from University of Allahabad and subsequently joined Pb/Haryana Agricultural University, served as Rice/Cotton Pathologist, Extension Plant Pathologist, Professor, Head Plant Pathology, and Director Planning, Monitoring till 2002. He is considered an architect of Extension Plant Pathology and remembered for his contribution and innovative periodicals -- Plant Disease Warning & Plant Pathology Courier among others. He is known worldwide for his contribution in technology transfer and plant clinic. He has played a pivotal role in popularization of plant clinic by delivering invited lectures in India, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Italy, and Germany. He organized and chaired an ‘Evening Session on Plant Health Clinic’ in 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology at Turin, Italy in 2008, and delivered an invited keynote address on ’Plant clinics hold key to food security and organized Key note Session-5 in 10th ICPP at Beijing, 2013. He is recipient of several honors and awards, which include ‘Fellowship of The National Academy of Sciences’ in 1988, ‘Best Extension National Award’ 1996, Keynote speaker in 8th ICPP, New Zealand in 2003, and invited speaker on Knowledge transfer in 10th ICPP, 2013 at Beijing, Dr Radhakrishnan Award 2013, and International Technological Achievement Award on 9th February 2014. He has been President of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, Chief Editor, Indian Journal of Plant Pathology, and Member Pesticide Panel of DST, GOI, and Technical Advisor of Pestology.

Technology Transfer, Plant Health Clinic, Integrated Pest Management and Fungicides

Awnindra Kumar Singh, presently posted as Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding) at Central Island Agricultural research Institute, Port Blair is working on the genetic improvement of food legumes. He did his PhD. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He started his academic career from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and also served SKUAST-Jammu in the capacity of Assistant Professor-cum-Jr. Scientist. He is recipient of ISPRD Fellow and AABS Award for Best Research Paper. Dr. Singh is associated with more than 8 international and national scientific societies and more than 98 publications in his credit comprises of research papers, abstracts, technical bulletins and book chapters.

Crop Breeding, Genetics