Innovative Research Award
Luan dos Santos Silva
Federal University of the São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF), Brazil
Luan dos Santos Silva is a Brazilian agronomist and plant production researcher whose academic work is centered on horticulture, particularly fruit production, plant nutrition, plant ecophysiology, growth regulation and approaches for mitigating abiotic stress. He holds a PhD in Plant Production from the State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), a master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), and a degree in Agronomic Engineering from UFPI. His professional activities include research, university teaching, technical training and scientific peer review.[1] [2]
Abstract
Luan dos Santos Silva’s academic profile combines training in agronomy with research and teaching in plant production and horticulture. His doctoral research examined molybdenum nutrition and nitrate-mediated floral induction in mango trees, extending earlier work on paclobutrazol, fulvic acids and free amino acids in ‘Keitt’ mango. His research portfolio also encompasses plant nutrition, physiological responses, growth regulators, fruit production and abiotic-stress mitigation. His documented activities include university teaching, postgraduate and undergraduate examination committees, scientific peer review, technical training and participation in agricultural research events. [1] [2]
Keywords
Horticulture; fruit production; mango; plant nutrition; plant physiology; plant ecophysiology; growth regulators; molybdenum; paclobutrazol; abiotic stress; irrigated agriculture; São Francisco Valley; Plant Production; Agronomy.
Introduction
Luan dos Santos Silva’s academic trajectory developed through successive technical, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral training in agricultural sciences. His education includes an Agricultural Technician qualification from Colégio Agrícola de Bom Jesus, an Environmental Technician qualification from the Federal Institute of Piauí, an Agronomic Engineering degree from UFPI, a master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from UFPI, and a PhD in Plant Production from UENF, completed in 2025. The doctoral thesis addressed molybdenum nutrition in relation to floral induction in mango trees. [3]
His professional record includes agricultural internships, technical consulting, rural education and university teaching. In 2026, he began serving as a substitute professor at the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley and undertook postdoctoral research at the same university with a CNPq scholarship, according to the supplied academic record. Earlier activities included work with agricultural defense, commercial crop production, irrigation planning, soil analysis and fruit-growing instruction.
Research Profile
The research profile is situated within Agricultural Sciences and Agronomy, with particular emphasis on Plant Science and Fruit Growing. The supplied record identifies plant management and nutrition, plant physiology, growth regulators and mitigation of abiotic stresses as principal areas of activity. Research settings described in the record include the Gurguéia Valley, the Cerrado of Piauí, the São Francisco River Valley and northern Rio de Janeiro, providing a geographic context for studies involving tropical and irrigated production systems.
- Plant management and cultural practices in horticultural systems.
- Mineral nutrition and nutritional management of fruit crops.
- Plant physiological responses and ecophysiology.
- Use of growth regulators in fruit production.
- Strategies for mitigating environmental and abiotic stresses.
- Propagation of vegetables using regional substrates and production practices for annual and fruit crops.
Research Contributions
A recurring theme in Luan dos Santos Silva’s research is the management of mango production through nutritional and physiological interventions. His master’s research investigated fulvic acids and free amino acids in relation to the absorption and effects of paclobutrazol in ‘Keitt’ mango. A subsequent publication reported interactions between paclobutrazol and these compounds in the production system of ‘Keitt’ mango. [4]
Doctoral research subsequently examined molybdenum nutrition as a factor associated with nitrate-mediated floral induction in mango trees. The research direction connects mineral nutrition with reproductive physiology and crop management, reflecting an applied approach to fruit production under tropical conditions. The supplied academic record also documents studies concerning biostimulants, gas exchange, propagation substrates, nutrient solutions and responses to environmental stress. [5]
Another research component concerns vegetable production and plant propagation. Earlier studies included the use of regional substrates such as decomposed buriti stem in seedling development and investigations of substrate effects on germination. These activities complement the later emphasis on fruit crops and plant nutritional management.
Publications
The supplied academic record reports 21 full journal articles, one published book chapter and 50 papers published in event proceedings. Among the cited publications, work in Scientia Horticulturae examined the interaction of paclobutrazol with fulvic acids and free amino acids in ‘Keitt’ mango, while research in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research examined how electrical conductivity of nutrient solutions affected growth, nutritional characteristics and essential-oil attributes of Acmella oleracea. [4] [6]
A further publication in Revista Caatinga investigated leaf gas exchange and flowering of mango plants treated with a biostimulant under semiarid conditions. Together, these publications illustrate research spanning fruit physiology, crop management, plant nutrition and responses to production conditions. [5]
| Reported publication category |
Total |
| Full articles published in journals |
21 |
| Published book chapters |
1 |
| Papers published in event proceedings |
50 |
| Paper presentations |
1 |
Research Impact
The supplied bibliometric information reports 19 Scopus-indexed documents, 132 citations and an h-index of 6. The supplied Google Scholar information reports 35 documents, 181 citations and an h-index of 8. Bibliometric indicators vary according to database coverage, indexing, document type and update date; therefore, these values should be interpreted as database-specific indicators rather than interchangeable measures. [1] [2]
The academic record also documents peer-review activity for Brazilian and international scientific journals, including journals in agricultural engineering, fruit science, horticulture and applied science. Additional academic service includes participation in examination boards, supervision of undergraduate completion projects, conference participation and short-course teaching.
Award Suitability
The article title identifies the recognition context as the Innovative Research Award associated with the Botany Scientist Awards. The supplied record documents several distinctions relevant to an academic recognition profile, including Best Paper of the Mango Symposium in 2025, first-place recognition in MANGA TEC AGROBUSINESS 2024, first-place recognition in UVA TEC AGROBUSINESS 2024, a Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing in 2020, an Honorable Mention in the Young Scientist Award in Fruit Growing in 2019, and Honor to Merit at the 72nd SOEA–CONTECC in 2015.
These documented recognitions cover research communication, agricultural innovation, peer review and scientific participation. The relevance of any particular award to a candidate should be determined from the official eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria of the organizing body rather than inferred solely from academic indicators or previous distinctions.[1] [2]
Conclusion
Luan dos Santos Silva’s documented academic profile encompasses advanced training in plant production, research in horticulture and agronomy, university teaching, technical education, scientific peer review and participation in agricultural research activities. His research has included mango production, plant nutrition, growth regulation, plant physiology, abiotic-stress responses and propagation systems. His current academic activities at UNIVASF and his postdoctoral work provide a continuing institutional context for research and teaching in the agrarian sciences.[1] [2]
External Links
References
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Luan dos Santos Silva, Author ID 57216927990. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57216927990
- Google Scholar. (n.d.). Luan dos Santos Silva — Google Scholar profile. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8WLqDDwBY6IC&hl=en&oi=sra
- Silva, L. S. (2025). MOLÍBDICA NUTRITION OPTIMIZES NITRATE-MEDIATED FLORAL INDUCTION IN MANGO TREES. Doctoral thesis, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil.
- Silva, L. S., de Sousa, K. Â. O., Pereira, E. C. V., Rolim, L. A., da Cunha, J. G., et al. (2021). Advances in mango ‘Keitt’ production system: PBZ interaction with fulvic acids and free amino acids. Scientia Horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109787
- Mudo, L. E. D., Lobo, J. T., Carreiro, D. A., Cavacini, J. A., Silva, L. S., & Cavalcante, Í. H. L. (2020). Leaf gas exchange and flowering of mango sprayed with biostimulant in semi-arid region. Revista Caatinga, 33(2), 332–340. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252020v33n206rc
- do Carmo, A. P. M., Freitas, M. S. M., Machado, L. C., dos Santos Silva, L., Petri, D. J. C., et al. (2024). Electrical conductivity of nutrient solutions affects the growth, nutrient levels, and content and composition of essential oils of Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen from southeastern Brazil. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 15, 100968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.100968
- Federal University of the São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF). (2026). Institutional academic and personnel information concerning the substitute professorship and postdoctoral activities described in the supplied academic record.
- ORCID. (n.d.). Luan dos Santos Silva — ORCID record. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4419-6669
- Botany Scientist Awards. (n.d.). Official award website. https://botanyscientist.com/