Guoping Zhang | Agronomy | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Botany Scientist

Prof. Guoping Zhang | Agronomy | Editorial Board Member

Professor at Zhejiang University | China

Prof. Guoping Zhang is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Zhejiang University, China, recognized internationally for his extensive contributions to crop stress physiology, barley germplasm improvement, and molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to abiotic and heavy metal stresses. After obtaining his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang University, he advanced through academic positions from Assistant Lecturer to full Professor, establishing a strong research legacy in plant molecular physiology and genetic improvement. His primary research areas encompass the identification and development of barley germplasm tolerant to salinity, drought, and acid soils, alongside investigations into nutrient-use efficiency and the molecular and physiological determinants of heavy metal accumulation and phytoremediation in crops. Over his career, he has completed more than thirty competitive research projects, including multiple national natural science foundation grants, and has authored over three hundred sixty publications in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Nature, Plant Physiology, Environmental and Experimental Botany, Advanced Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, accumulating over fifteen thousand citations and a highly influential h-index above sixty. He has contributed seminal findings on sodium transporters, microRNA regulation under salt stress, transcriptomic and alternative splicing responses during salinity adaptation, trypsin-family gene control of tillering and leaf morphology, negative regulatory roles of HKT and calmodulin-related genes in salt tolerance, and multi-omics insights into wild barley adaptation mechanisms. Beyond research, he has served in major international academic roles, including chairing the International Barley Genetics Symposium organizing committee and holding editorial responsibilities for key journals in agronomy, plant physiology, and integrated agricultural sciences, solidifying his standing as a global leader in stress biology and barley genetics.

Profile : Scopus 

Featured Publications : 

An integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome reveals aerenchyma-mediated antioxidant defense and energy metabolism conferring high waterlogging tolerance in sea barley. (Open access). Plant Stress.

Interactions of arsenic and phosphorus in their uptake and transportation in plants: Advances and prospective research on the mechanisms and approaches for alleviating arsenic stress. (Review, Open access).

Plant secondary metabolites—Central regulators against abiotic and biotic stresses. (Review, Open access).

Utilization of antagonistic interactions between micronutrients and cadmium (Cd) to alleviate Cd toxicity and accumulation in crops. (Review, Open access).

A comprehensive analytical method ‘Regulatome’ revealed a novel pathway for aerenchyma formation under waterlogging in wheat. Physiologia Plantarum.

A barley pan-transcriptome reveals layers of genotype-dependent transcriptional complexity. Nature Genetics.

 

Dr. Mostafa Sagharyan | Plant Physiology | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Botany Scientist

Dr. Mostafa Sagharyan | Plant Physiology | Editorial Board Member

Postodoc at Tarbiat Modares University | Iran

Dr. Mostafa Sagharyan is an accomplished plant physiologist whose academic journey spans advanced training from leading Iranian universities, culminating in a doctorate focused on microRNA-mediated regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in Linum album cell cultures under elicitor treatments such as methyl jasmonate and phenylalanine. His academic foundation began with undergraduate studies in plant biology, followed by a master’s specialization in plant physiology, where he optimized callus induction and plant regeneration protocols in Nepeta binaloudensis, achieving distinguished academic performance at both graduate levels and earning top ranking in doctoral program entrance examinations. His research portfolio reflects deep expertise in plant biochemistry, molecular signaling pathways, metabolic engineering, and plant stress resilience, with notable contributions to understanding how regulatory molecules, elicitors, and environmental factors modulate phenolic compound production, lignan biosynthesis, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, nitric-oxide-mediated signaling, and defensive responses in various plant systems. As the primary designer, performer, data analyst, and lead author of multiple impactful publications in international journals, his work has explored hydrogen sulfide interaction mechanisms in plants, microRNA expression dynamics influencing secondary metabolite pathways, metabolic shifts triggered by exogenous amino acids, the biochemical consequences of melatonin application, and pollution-responsive phenolic enhancement in medicinal species. His experience includes operating advanced analytical platforms such as HPLC and preparative-HPLC, conducting enzyme assays, spectrophotometric and fluorometric analyses, and applying molecular techniques ranging from nucleic acid extraction and PCR-based quantification to gene cloning, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Mostafa is also proficient in bioinformatic and statistical analysis using R, SPSS, Prism, FlowJo, MetaboAnalyst, and primer design tools, complementing his strong background in plant tissue culture, hairy root transformation, and metabolite assessment. Alongside his research activities, he has contributed to teaching biostatistics, SPSS analysis, and plant physiology for Olympiad students, demonstrating a commitment to scientific training and academic mentorship. His scholarly achievements, research excellence, and technical versatility position him as a dynamic and innovative researcher in modern plant science.

Profile : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications : 

Sagharyan, M., & Sharifi, M. (2024). Metabolic and physiological changes induced by exogenous phenylalanine in Linum album cells. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation.

Esmaeili, S., Sharifi, M., Ghanati, F., Soltani, B. M., Samari, E., & Sagharyan, M. (2023). Exogenous melatonin induces phenolic compounds production in Linum album cells by altering nitric oxide and salicylic acid. Scientific Reports.

Sagharyan, M., Sharifi, M., & Samari, E. (2023). Methyl jasmonate redirects the dynamics of carbohydrates and amino acids toward lignans accumulation in Linum album cells. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Khodamoradi, S., Sagharyan, M., Samari, E., & Sharifi, M. (2022). Changes in phenolic compounds production as a defensive mechanism against hydrogen sulfide pollution in Scrophularia striata. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Tashackori, H., Sharifi, M., Ahmadian Chashmi, N., Behmanesh, M., Safaie, N., & Sagharyan, M. (2021). Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of Linum album to digested cell wall of Piriformospora indica. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants.