Associate professor, University of Tehran, Iran
Dr. Forouzandeh Soltani Salehabadi is an Associate Professor of Vegetable Genetics and Breeding at the University of Tehran, Iran. She is also currently a Research Associate at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. With expertise in vegetable crop physiology and breeding, Dr. Soltani has an exceptional academic and research career. She has contributed significantly to agricultural science through international collaborations and cutting-edge research. As a recognized leader, Dr. Soltani has held prominent roles, including Deputy of the Horticultural Science Department at the University of Tehran, where she mentored numerous students. Her work is focused on improving the genetic quality and stress tolerance of crops, especially melon and cucumber varieties. She has extensive international collaborations with institutions in Germany, France, Japan, and other countries. Dr. Soltani has earned recognition in the form of prestigious awards, grants, and high-impact publications.
Profile
Education
Dr. Forouzandeh Soltani Salehabadi holds a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science, specializing in the physiology and breeding of vegetable crops, which she completed in 2010 at the University of Tehran, Iran. Before that, she earned a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Horticultural Science from the same university in 2003, and a Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Horticultural Science from Valiasr University, Iran, in 2001. Her education provided her with a strong foundation in plant science, focusing on vegetable crops’ breeding, physiology, and genetic improvement. Through her academic journey, Dr. Soltani has developed expertise in vegetable breeding, crop stress physiology, and biotechnology, making substantial contributions to both her home country and internationally. Her academic path has supported her later research career, where she has pushed boundaries in the genetic improvement of crops, particularly under stress conditions like drought and salinity.
Experience
Dr. Forouzandeh Soltani Salehabadi has over a decade of experience in academia and research. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Horticultural Science Department at the University of Tehran, where she has made significant contributions to research and teaching. Prior to this, she served as an Assistant Professor from 2011 to 2022 and also held the role of Graduate and Undergraduate Program Director at the university. Between 2022 and 2023, Dr. Soltani was the Deputy of the Horticultural Science Department. In addition to her position in Tehran, Dr. Soltani is currently a Research Associate at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, where she continues her international collaborations. Over her career, Dr. Soltani has worked extensively with international research teams from Germany, France, Japan, and more, engaging in projects that advance crop breeding, stress tolerance, and genetics, particularly in melons, cucumbers, and aubergines.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Forouzandeh Soltani Salehabadi has received numerous grants and awards for her groundbreaking research in vegetable breeding and genetics. She has been awarded fully funded grants for her greenhouse cucumber inbred lines breeding program and has received recognition from the University of Tehran and the Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute for the registration and commercialization of Cantaloup hybrid varieties. Her work on the genetic improvement of melon and other vegetable crops has earned her recognition in the scientific community, with high citation rates for her publications. The international recognition of her research and contributions to global agricultural science further exemplifies her excellence in the field. Dr. Soltani’s leadership and mentorship in academia have also garnered accolades, highlighting her influence on shaping the next generation of scientists and researchers, particularly women, in agricultural science.
Research Focus
Dr. Forouzandeh Soltani Salehabadi focuses on vegetable genetics and breeding, particularly on improving drought and salinity stress tolerance in vegetable crops. Her research aims to enhance the nutritional quality, yield, and resilience of crops such as melon, cucumber, and aubergine. A significant part of her work involves understanding and regulating the carotenoid metabolism in colored vegetables like cauliflower, which impacts their nutritional value. Additionally, her work on the genetic diversity of melons and other crops using molecular markers is pivotal in developing superior breeding lines. Dr. Soltani’s studies on magnetic fields and their impact on seed germination, along with the application of biofertilizers to improve crop yields, have contributed to sustainable agriculture practices. By collaborating internationally with renowned institutions in Germany, France, and Japan, Dr. Soltani is advancing global efforts in the genetic improvement of vegetable crops under environmental stress.
Publication Top Notes
- Characterization of Iranian melon landraces of Cucumis melo L. Groups Flexuosus and Dudaim by analysis of morphological characters and random amplified polymorphic DNA (Breeding Science, 2010) 🌱
- Effect of magnetic field on Asparagus officinalis L. seed germination and seedling growth (Seed Science and Technology, 2006) 🌾
- Evaluation of combining ability in Cucurbita pepo L. and Cucurbita moschata Duchesne accessions for fruit and seed quantitative traits (Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2018) 🍉
- Genetic diversity of Cucurbita pepo L. and Cucurbita moschata Duchesne accessions using fruit and seed quantitative traits (Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2018) 🍈
- The effect of nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solvent bacteria on growth physiology and vitamin C content of Capsicum annum L. (Iranian Journal of Plant Physiology, 2013) 🌶️
- Morphological and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Watermelon Grafted onto Rootstocks of Wild Watermelon (Horticulturae, 2021) 🍉
- Selenium Fortification Alters the Growth, Antioxidant Characteristics and Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Cauliflower (Plants, 2021) 🥦
- Effect of magnetic field on Ocimum basilicum seed germination and seedling growth (International Symposium on the Labiatae, 2006) 🌿
- Growth, yield and enzyme activity response of watermelon accessions exposed to irrigation water deficit (International Journal of Vegetable Science, 2018) 🍉
- Analysis of general and specific combining ability of postharvest attributes in melon (Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2020) 🍈