Plant Genomics And Epigenomics Unlocking The Code For Crop Improvement In The Era Of Climate Change

Dr. Krishan K. Verma  is working as a Foreign Expert at Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China. His research focuses on environmental toxicology, bio-engineering modeling, physio-molecular biology, and their impacts on growth and stress adaptation strategies in the era of climate change. He obtained his Master’s and doctorate from C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur, and Lucknow University, Lucknow, India; a postdoc from the University of Lucknow; and Young Scientist status from C.S.A. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, India. He received the ‘Award of Excellence- 2021’ and Fellow - 2024 SSRP for his outstanding contribution to Sugarcane Crop Production.

Dr. Xiu-Peng Song  is working as Associate Professor at Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China. His ongoing research focuses on plant physiology and biochemistry of stress resistance, occurrence mechanisms, and control of diseases and insect pests in sugarcane. He received Master’s and Ph.D. from Guangxi University, Nanning, China. He has won 6 awards, such as the Guangxi Science and Technology Progress Award.

Dr. Dong-Liang Huang  is working as a Professor at Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China. He has also been serving as the Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi) since 2012. He has been the General Secretary of the NJR Program for Elite Sugarcane Variety Development in China since 2018. He earned his doctorate from Guangxi University (2008) and was a visiting scientist at Sugar Research Australia (April 2015 - April 2016). Current research focuses on sugarcane molecular breeding and has developed transgenic sugarcane lines with enhanced sugar content, drought tolerance, and resistance to diseases and insects. He has been elected as Fellow - 2024 SSRP for his outstanding contribution to Sugarcane Crop Improvement.

Dr. Renato de Mello Prado  is working as a Professor (Plant Nutrition) at São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil. He also coordinates a research group (Genplant) focused on the nutrition of tropical plants. He has published over 500 articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored/co-authored about 30 academic books. He holds Ph.D. in Agronomy from the São Paulo State University, Brazil, and completed his postdoctoral program at the University of Cordoba and the Public University of Navarra, Spain.

Prof. Jian-Ming Wu  is working as a Professor and Director of Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China. His ongoing research focuses on the physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology in sugarcane. He received Master's and Doctorate in Agronomy from Guangxi University, Nanning, China. He presided over 10 projects, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and participated in 20 national and international cooperation projects, winning 4 awards.

Prof. Yang-Rui Li  (Life-time Professor) earned B.A. degree (1982) from Guangxi Agricultural University, Master’s (1985), and doctorate (1988) from Fujian Agricultural University, China. He was employed as a lecturer (January 1988 to November 1989), Associate Professor (December 1989 to November 1992) and Professor (since December 1992) in the Department of Agronomy, Guangxi Agricultural University, Vice-President of Guangxi University (March 1997 to April 1998), and President of GAAS (May 1998 to November 2012). He has been serving as the Director of the Sugarcane Research Center, CAAS, since September 2007, and as Chief-Expert of the National Joint Research Program for Elite Sugarcane Variety Development in China since 2018. He is the president of the IAPSIT, Vice-President of SSRP, and President of the CSIATI. His research interests on sugarcane physiol-biochem-molecular biology, sugarcane genetics, breeding and cultivation of sugarcane.