Rashad Mukhtar Balal | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Rashad Mukhtar Balal | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

University of Sargodha | Pakistan

Prof. Rashad Mukhtar Balal is a leading horticultural researcher and academician currently heading the Department of Horticulture at the University of Sargodha. He holds a PhD in Pomology, Biotechnology, and Horticultural Stress Physiology  and earlier earned an MPhil in Horticultural Biotechnology and a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture. Over more than two decades, he has served in roles from Assistant Professor to full Professor, with visiting appointments at Cornell University (USA) and Harper Adams University (UK). His research spans Pomology, stress physiology of horticultural crops, biotechnology, citrus rootstocks and nursery management, off-season vegetable production, and the use of phytoextracts to mitigate abiotic and biotic stress. According to his profile on ScienceDirect, He has received numerous national and international recognitions, including the ASHS Outstanding Research Publication Award, national innovation awards, and accolades for establishing certified disease-free citrus nurseries. Through leading significant funded projects and mentoring many MPhil and PhD scholars, he continues to advance horticultural research and education in Pakistan.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Shahid, M. A., Sarkhosh, A., Khan, N., Balal, R. M., Ali, S., Rossi, L., Gómez, C., … (2020). Insights into the physiological and biochemical impacts of salt stress on plant growth and development. Agronomy, 10(7), 938.

Abbas, T., Balal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Ayyub, C. M., Aqueel, M. A., … (2015). Silicon-induced alleviation of NaCl toxicity in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is associated with enhanced photosynthesis, osmoprotectants and antioxidant activities. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 37(2), 6.

Khan, H. A., Ayub, C. M., Pervez, M. A., Bilal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., & Ziaf, K. (2009). Effect of seed priming with NaCl on salinity tolerance of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at seedling stage. Soil and Environment, 28(1), 81–87.

Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Balal, R. M., Mattson, N. S., Rashid, A., Ahmad, R., … (2011). Brassinosteroid (24-epibrassinolide) enhances growth and alleviates the deleterious effects induced by salt stress in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(5), 500–510.

Shahid, M. A., Balal, R. M., Khan, N., Zotarelli, L., Liu, G. D., Sarkhosh, A., … (2019). Selenium impedes cadmium and arsenic toxicity in potato by modulating carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 180, 588–599.

Dan Ioan Avasiloaiei | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Environmental Engineering Award

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Dr. Dan Ioan Avasiloaiei | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Environmental Engineering Award

Vegetable Research and Development Station Bacău | Romania

Dan-Ioan Avasiloaiei is an experienced researcher in organic horticulture and protected cultivation technologies, with over 10 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and several national scientific contributions; his approximate citation record is 77, and h-index is 3, but his work has gained recognition in the organic vegetable cultivation community. He holds a PhD in Sciences from “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences Iași, Romania, and master’s and engineering degrees in horticulture. During his career he has held positions spanning full-time researcher roles, PhD student, crop and packhouse manager in the UK, and currently serves as III Grade Research Scientist at VRDS Bacău, heading research, development and production activities in the Organic Agriculture Laboratory. His research interests include sustainable organic vegetable production; intercropping systems; allelopathic interactions; climate‐smart protected cultivation; carbon farming; minor and medicinal plants; disease and pest management under ecological conditions. He has led and partnered in projects aiming to improve vegetable cultivation technologies under protected spaces, reduce chemical inputs, and optimize resource use in changing climates. His contributions have been disseminated via journals, proceedings, and scientific papers. He continues to pursue innovation in regenerative and ecological agriculture practices, with a strong focus on producing safe, sustainable and resilient food systems.

Profile : Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

“Study on the application of bioregulatory substances in organic tomato crop”

“The study of sexual pheromone traps for pest monitoring, cabbage moth – Mamestra brassicae L.”

“The assessment of carbon farming practices for the ecological vegetable growing system–a review”

“Review on the positive influence of intercropping systems for organic vegetable growing.”

“Preliminary studies regarding some allelopathic interactions in vegetables intercropping systems”