Melike Bakir | Legume Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melike Bakir | Legume Genetics | Best Researcher Award 

Erciyes University | Turkey

Dr. Melike Bakır, Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at Erciyes University, Turkey, is a distinguished researcher specializing in plant biotechnology, molecular genetics, and crop improvement. She earned her Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Ankara and has since advanced research in lentil and chickpea genomics, focusing on cold tolerance, hybrid incompatibility, and molecular marker development. Dr. Bakır has successfully led and co-led multiple national and international funded projects, including TUBITAK and Erciyes University initiatives. Her scholarly achievements are reflected in 38 scientific documents, 576 citations, and an impressive h-index of 15, highlighting her research impact and global recognition. She has also contributed as a visiting scholar at the University of Vermont, USA, and as a visiting researcher at the Public University of Navarre, Spain, collaborating with global experts to enhance crop resilience through genomic innovation. Dr. Bakır’s work bridges molecular biology and applied agricultural science, contributing significantly to sustainable crop improvement strategies and advancing genetic resources in legume species, positioning her as one of Turkey’s leading scientists in agricultural biotechnology research.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications 

Koboyi, B. W., Keklik, M., Doğanay, Ö., & Bakır, M. (2025). Transferability of genomic SSR markers in Lens species for genus characterization and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) breeding. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 30(1), 223–234.

von Wettberg, E., Banks, C. R., Chakraborty, D., Getahun, T., Bakır, M., Sassi, G., Hart, J. A., Kretzler, B., Layegh-Nikravesh, N., Kantar, B. M., Chen, Y. H., Tobin, D., Kraft, J., Khoury, C. K., & King, G. J. (2025). But does it taste good? A plea to consider the importance of flavor in managing plant genetic resources. Plants, People, Planet.

Butnor, J. R., Wilson, C. P., Bakır, M., D’Amato, A. W., Flower, C. E., Hansen, C. F., & Murakami, P. F. (2024). Cold tolerance assay reveals evidence of climate adaptation among American elm (Ulmus americana L.) genotypes. Forests, 15(11), 1843

Hua Xie | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Hua Xie | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Hua Xie, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, China.

🌱 Dr. Hua Xie is a Professor at the Institute of Biotechnology, BAAFS, China, specializing in plant genomics, genetics, and pathology. With a Ph.D. in Crop Genetics and Breeding, she has published in top-tier journals like Nature Communications 📚. Her research enhances crop improvement and disease resistance, contributing to global food security 🌾. Dr. Xie has also conducted collaborative research in Canada and the USA, showcasing her international impact and scientific excellence. 🌍✨

Profile

SCOPUS ID 

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Hua Xie embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy/Crop Sciences from Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province (1991–1995). She deepened her expertise by earning a Master’s in Crop Planting and Cultivation (1996–1999) from the same institution. Demonstrating a strong commitment to plant science, she pursued a Ph.D. in Crop Genetics and Breeding at the prestigious Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1999–2002), where she cultivated a foundation for her future groundbreaking research.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Xie’s professional trajectory reflects steady progress in plant sciences. She began her career as a Research Assistant at BAAFS in 2002, moving through ranks as Associate Professor, and now serves as a full Professor at the Institute of Biotechnology, BAAFS. Her global experience includes postdoctoral and visiting scholar positions in Canada (Agricultural & Agri-Food Canada, 2008–2009) and the USA (Purdue University, 2009–2010), enriching her international perspective and collaborative capabilities.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus On Agricultural 

Dr. Xie specializes in Genomic Bio-breeding Technology, Plant Genetics and Breeding, Plant Genomics, and Plant Pathology. Her studies have led to significant advancements in crop genetic improvement, soft rot pathogen identification, and resistance gene mapping. Her work integrates fundamental biology with practical breeding techniques, addressing critical challenges in agricultural productivity and plant health.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Through her pioneering work on peach genome variation, rice bean landraces, and the molecular epidemiology of Pectobacterium, Dr. Xie has influenced both the academic and applied agricultural domains. Her findings on genome re-sequencing and plant-pathogen interactions have been instrumental in guiding breeders and plant pathologists toward sustainable solutions.

🧠 Research Skills

Dr. Xie possesses a robust skill set in functional genomics, molecular plant pathology, bioinformatics, and marker-assisted breeding. She is adept at both laboratory and field experimentation, skilled in advanced DNA sequencing technologies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and pathogen diagnostics. These skills allow her to translate genetic knowledge into crop improvement strategies.

🏅 Awards and Honors

While specific awards were not listed, Dr. Xie’s elevation to full professorship and her international fellowships and visiting roles at globally respected institutions underscore her recognition within the scientific community. Her repeated role as a senior and corresponding author highlights her leadership and expertise in collaborative research.

🏛️ Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Hua Xie stands as a beacon of excellence in plant science. Her legacy includes mentoring the next generation of scientists and driving innovation in sustainable agriculture. Looking forward, she is poised to further influence global food security through advanced breeding technologies, molecular diagnostics, and integrated disease management solutions tailored for climate-resilient crops.

Publications Top Notes

📊 The PeachSNP170K array facilitates insights into a large-scale population relatedness and genetic impacts on citrate content and flowering time
📚 Journal: Communications Biology
📅 Year: 2025
🧬 Focus: Genomics, fruit development

🦠 The combined application of Bacillus velezensis BCP6 and Jinggangmycin to control soft rot on Amorphophallus konjac
📚 Journal: Plant Protection Science
📅 Year: 2024
🌿 Focus: Biological plant disease control

🧪 A genome-wide association study reveals that epistasis underlies the pathogenicity of Pectobacterium
📚 Journal: Microbiology Spectrum
📅 Year: 2023
🧫 Focus: Pathogen virulence mechanisms

🧬 Occurrence and qPCR-based identification of Pectobacterium versatile causing soft rot in Chinese cabbage
📚 Journal: Plant Disease
📅 Year: 2023
🥬 Focus: Disease diagnostics

🧲 Role of Zinc uptake regulator (Zur) in the virulence of Pectobacterium odoriferum
📚 Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
📅 Year: 2023
🧪 Focus: Molecular plant pathology

🌾 Genomic analyses of rice bean landraces for adaptation and yield-related loci
📚 Journal: Nature Communications
📅 Year: 2022
🌱 Focus: Crop breeding & adaptation

🍑 Peach genome analyses reveal selection patterns and fruit flavor biochemistry
📚 Journal: Nature Communications
📅 Year: 2021
🍑 Focus: Fruit quality & genomics

🔁 Genome structure variation and causal inversion for fruit shape in peach
📚 Journal: Genome Biology
📅 Year: 2021
🧬 Focus: Structural genomics

🧫 Detection of Pectobacterium polaris causing soft rot in Chinese cabbage
📚 Journal: Plant Disease
📅 Year: 2021
🧪 Focus: Pathogen detection

🌿 Jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling in defense response to Pectobacterium
📚 Journal: Journal of Integrative Agriculture
📅 Year: 2021
🧬 Focus: Plant immune response

🧪 Rapid diagnosis of Pectobacterium carotovorum in vegetable soft rot
📚 Journal: Plant Disease
📅 Year: 2020
🥦 Focus: Pathogen diagnostics

🧬 Comparative genomics of 84 Pectobacterium genomes
📚 Journal: BMC Genomics
📅 Year: 2018
🧫 Focus: Pathogen evolution

🍑 Genome resequencing reveals evolutionary history of peach fruit edibility
📚 Journal: Nature Communications
📅 Year: 2018
📈 Focus: Genomics and evolution

🌱 First report of Pseudomonas marginalis in celery stem rot
📚 Journal: Journal of Plant Pathology
📅 Year: 2018
🥬 Focus: Disease report

🥬 First report of Pectobacterium aroidearum in Chinese cabbage
📚 Journal: Plant Disease
📅 Year: 2018
🔬 Focus: Plant pathology

🌳 Molecular characterization of PpMADS1 gene from peach
📚 Journal: Tree Genetics and Genomes
📅 Year: 2012
🧬 Focus: Gene function in peach

🧫 Rapid identification and phylogenetic analysis of Pectobacterium carotovorum
📚 Journal: Journal of Plant Pathology
📅 Year: 2010
🧪 Focus: Plant bacteriology

Hanan Ghanem | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanan Ghanem | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanan Ghanem, Field Crops research institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt .

🌾 Dr. Hanan Essa Esmaeil Ghanem is an Assistant Professor at the Wheat Research Department, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt. With a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, she specializes in wheat physiology, drought and salinity stress, and stress tolerance mechanisms. 🌿 She has authored international publications, supervised theses, and reviewed for reputed journals. 📚 With over 14 years of research experience, she is a dynamic leader and educator in plant science 🌱, known for her innovative work in enhancing crop resilience under environmental stress. 💡

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Hanan Essa Esmaeil Ghanem began her scholarly journey with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Chemistry from Mansoura University, graduating with honors in 1999. Her passion for plant sciences led her to pursue an MSc in Plant Physiology in 2007, focusing on the physiological effects of seawater irrigation on wheat. She continued with a PhD in Plant Physiology in 2015 from the same institution, where she explored biotechnological strategies to improve drought tolerance in wheat cultivars. 🌱📘

🧪 Professional Endeavors

Currently an Assistant Professor at the Wheat Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, ARC, Egypt, Dr. Hanan has significantly contributed as a team leader in national wheat breeding programs since 2002. She has supervised and reviewed multiple MSc theses and authored an international book on wheat salinity responses. Her teaching portfolio includes over four years of university-level instruction in plant physiology and biochemistry. 🎓📚

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus On Agricultural 

Dr. Hanan’s primary research revolves around wheat physiology, drought and salinity stress, and stress tolerance mechanisms. Her expertise extends to plant-water relations, antioxidant activity, and molecular and ultrastructural studies under environmental stress. She has conducted and led numerous field and lab-based studies under challenging agro-climatic conditions, aiming to enhance wheat productivity and resilience. 🌾🧪

🌍 Impact and Influence

Her research has had a meaningful impact on agricultural sustainability in arid regions. She has collaborated across institutions, trained students and researchers, and developed frameworks for understanding the genotypic and phenotypic adaptability of wheat under stress. As a reviewer for top-tier journals like BMC Plant Biology and Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, her insights contribute globally to plant science. 🔍📖

🧠 Research Skills

Dr. Ghanem is skilled in statistical analysis using SPSS and CoStat, experimental design, physiological data interpretation, and bioinformatics tools. Her expertise spans biochemistry, antioxidant mechanisms, and pre-breeding strategies, making her a multifaceted scientist with strengths in both field and laboratory settings.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Hanan’s academic excellence is reflected in her recognition as a distinguished book author and contributor to education development and quality assurance in Egypt. Her involvement in national and international scientific events and training programs further showcases her commitment to academic and professional growth. 🏅

🔮 Legacy and Future Contributions

With over 14 years of research experience, Dr. Hanan continues to inspire through her multidisciplinary approach, merging plant biochemistry, physiology, and agricultural innovation. Her vision includes enhancing bio-fertilizer applications, AI integration in agriculture, and fostering the next generation of plant scientists. Her legacy is firmly rooted in Egypt’s agricultural advancements, with far-reaching influence in global food security research. 🌐🌾

Publications Top Notes

  • 📘 Exogenous salicylic acid and trehalose ameliorate short term drought stress in wheat cultivars
    👥 H Aldesuquy, H Ghanem
    📚 Journal of Horticulture 2(139), 2376-0354.1000139
    📊 77 citations | 📅 2015

  • 💧 Efficacy of seawater salinity on osmotic adjustment in wheat during grain filling
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, ZA Baka, OA El-Shehaby, HE Ghanem
    📚 Int. J. of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 4(3), 33-45
    📊 30 citations | 📅 2012

  • 🌿 Salicylic acid and trehalose protect wheat flag leaf from drought damage
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, FL Ibraheem, HE Ghanem
    📚 J. Agric. & Forest Meteorology Research 1(1), 13-20
    📊 24 citations | 📅 2018

  • 🌊 Varietal differences in growth and nucleic acids under seawater stress
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, ZA Baka, OA El-Shehaby, HE Ghanem
    📚 J. of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry 8(1), 24-47
    📊 13 citations | 📅 2012

  • 🌾 Wheat drought tolerance: Morpho-physiological criteria in sandy soils
    👥 HE Ghanem, MO Al-Farouk
    📚 Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 43(7), 2234-2250
    📊 12 citations | 📅 2024

  • 🌱 Silicon alleviates alkalinity stress in sorghum by improving physiological traits
    👥 HE Ghanem, HS Aldesuquy, HA Elshafii
    📚 Adv. in Agricultural Technology and Plant Sciences 2, 180027
    📊 11 citations | 📅 2019

  • 🌾 Growth and antioxidant enzyme activities in salt-stressed wheat
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, ZA Baka, OA El-Shehaby, HE Ghanem
    📚 Phyton 53, 153–165
    📊 10 citations | 📅 2013

  • 🌾 Salicylic acid and trehalose effects on osmotic adjustment in droughted wheat
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, FL Ibraheem, HE Ghanem
    📚 Adv. Agric. Tech. Plant Sci 1, 180001
    📊 6 citations | 📅 2018

  • 🌱 SA and trehalose impact on wheat root growth and grain yield under drought
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, FL Ibraheem, HE Ghanem
    📚 Nutrition & Food Science Int. Journal 7
    📊 6 citations | 📅 2018

  • 🌿 Silicon mitigates alkalinity stress by enhancing antioxidant defenses in sorghum
    👥 HS Aldesuquy, HA Elshafii, HE Ghanem
    📚 Adv. Agric. Tech. Plant Sci 1, 180002
    📊 3 citations | 📅 2018

  • 🌾 Impact of planting techniques on yield of wheat cultivars
    👥 HE Ghanem, EMA Gebrel
    📚 Journal of Plant Production 15(2), 45–49
    📊 2 citations | 📅 2024

  • 🌱 Effect of sowing dates on wheat productivity and seed quality
    👥 WS Elbatrawy, A Kishk, HE Ghanem
    📚 Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research 101(2), 497–504
    📊 2 citations | 📅 2023

  • 🌾 Morpho-anatomical responses of alkalinized sorghum to silicon
    👥 HE Ghanem, HS Aldesuquy, HA Elshafii
    📚 Adv. Agric. Tech. Plant Sci 2, 180037
    📊 2 citations | 📅 2019