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.

 

Peter Makieu | Crop Science | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Botany Scientist

Mr. Peter Makieu | Crop Science | Editorial Board Member

Research Teaching Assistant at Njala University | Sierra Leone

Mr. Peter Makieu is an emerging multidisciplinary researcher whose academic and professional journey spans agribusiness management, computer science, data analytics, and machine learning applications in agriculture, reflecting a unique blend of scientific rigor and technological innovation. He holds advanced degrees in Agribusiness Management and Computer Science and Engineering, complemented by strong foundations in research methodology, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, and publication ethics. His scholarly pursuits focus on agribusiness development, food and nutrition systems, crop science improvement, and the integration of intelligent technologies such as predictive analytics, precision agriculture tools, and AI-driven automation to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and decision-making. Peter’s research contributions include peer-reviewed works on nutritional assessment of indigenous crops, financial access challenges among farming communities, and the performance analysis of AI models and minimalist neural network architectures, demonstrating both scientific depth and interdisciplinary versatility. Professionally, he has served as a Research Teaching Assistant in agribusiness, a Data Analyst for national value-chain assessments, an Acting Principal and Lecturer contributing to academic governance and curriculum leadership, and a facilitator of training programs for farmers, students, and professionals. His roles have encompassed research design, data interpretation, academic mentorship, statistical modeling, administrative leadership, and community engagement. Peter has also gained hands-on experience in plantation management, market linkages, production planning, and quality control through internships and development collaborations. Known for his strong communication skills, academic leadership, and commitment to sustainable development, he continues to pursue impactful research at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and socio-economic transformation, contributing to knowledge advancement and capacity building across diverse sectors.

Profile : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications : 

Makieu, P., Yansaneh, M., Tunkara, I., & Newah, S. S. (2025). Assessing the effectiveness of government policies on youth employment in Sierra Leone. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports.

Makieu, P., Kanu, M. S., Sillah, A., & Sheriff, A. (2025). Nutritional values of cassava leaves in three districts, Kenema, Kailahun, and Bo, Sierra Leone. Food and Humanity.

Afsaneh Heydari | Horticulture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Botany Scientist

Dr. Afsaneh Heydari | Horticulture | Best Researcher Award

Researcher at Shiraz University | Iran

Dr. Afsaneh Heydari is a dedicated researcher at Shiraz University whose work focuses on agricultural meteorology, climate variability, and the hydro-environmental systems of arid and semi-arid regions. Her research explores the interconnections between the Middle East and the West Indian Subcontinent in the context of climate change, particularly examining the modulation roles of the Atlantic Meridional Oscillation (AMO) and monsoon cloud dynamics. Through advanced statistical and computational modeling, she has provided valuable insights into spatial disparities in climate trends and their implications for regional agriculture and water management. Her collaborative research, published in high-impact journals such as Climate (MDPI), demonstrates strong analytical rigor and contributes meaningfully to understanding climate-driven challenges affecting food and water security. Dr. Heydari’s work bridges hydrology, climatology, and sustainable resource management—making her a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award for her innovative contributions to advancing scientific knowledge in climate change impacts and adaptation strategies within horticultural and agricultural ecosystems.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

All-optical XOR, XNOR, NAND and OR logic gates based on photonic crystal 3-DB coupler for BPSK signals. Journal of Optical Communications.

Application of UV/Vis spectrophotometry based on using least squares support vector machine and continuous wavelet transform methods for the simultaneous analysis of antibiotics drugs in tablet formulation: Comparison with HPLC method.

Heydari, A., Nazemosadat, M. J., & Hosseinzadehtalaei, P. Climate change in the Middle East and the West Indian Subcontinent: Geographic interconnections and the modulation roles of the extreme phases of the Atlantic Meridional Oscillation (AMO) and the monsoon cloudiness. Climate.