Biostimulants for Improving Reproductive Growth and Crop Yield

Ph.D. in Botany from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, India in 2015. Her research field includes biostimulants, plant physiology, plant tissue culture, endophytes, plant biotechnology and analytical chemistry. She worked as an assistant professor at Baba Farid College, Punjab, and as a post-doctoral fellow at Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development (RCPGD), University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa. At present, she is working as a post-doctoral researcher at Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic and as a visiting researcher at the RCPGD, University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa. She has received a Y1 rating (Young Scientist) by National Research Foundation, South Africa. She has published 25 papers, 8 book chapters and an edited book on biostimulants and is Founder and Director of Gustaden Manuscript Services, India Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (1996) from Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. Following postdoctoral work in Swedish Agriculture University Umea, Dept. of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, he joined as a researcher in Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palacký University & Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR and is now a Deputy Head of the Department of Chemical Biology, Palacký University, Olomouc. In 2014 Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic awarded him a research professorship (DSc.). He has supervised 5 MSc, 10 Ph.D. students to completion and 2 postdoctoral fellows and has published over 170 peer-reviewed papers, over 150 conference presentations and has above 65 granted patents. Ph.D. in Botany from university of Natal, South Africa in 1970. He is the director of the Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of Natal, South Africa. His research field includes plant hormones, biostimulants, seed germination, senescence, stress physiology, post-harvest physiology, biotechnology and plant tissue culture, ethnobotany, secondary products and ethnomedicine. Prof Van Staden has supervised 82 MSc and 100 Ph.D. students and 70 Post-Docs. He is the author/co-author of more than 1400 papers which have been published in ISI rated journals. He has a number of publications that qualify as ‘citation classics’ (over 100 citations). Prof Van Staden is former Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Botany.

1. Evaluating biostimulants and their active biomolecules in improving reproductive growth of crops 2. Application of biostimulants for vegetative reproduction of crops with special reference to bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes and stolons. 3. Role of biostimulants in the induction of buds and flowering 4. Influence of biostimulants on pollen germination, pollen tube development and pollen viability 5. Role of biostimulants in pollen-pistil interaction and development of female gametophyte (ovule development) 6. Effect of biostimulants on fertilization and embryo development 7. Enhancing seed production and quality using biostimulants 8. Effect of biostimulants on fruit set and fruit yield 9. Contribution of biostimulants in improving flower and fruit longevity 10. Role of biostimulants in the regulation of the physiology of flowering 11. Improving crop yield and produce quality using biostimulants 12. Empirical evidence of the efficacy of biostimulants in improving crop productivity under field conditions 13. Common mistakes made by researchers and farmers when applying biostimulants 14. Action mechanisms of biostimulants with respect to reproductive growth (sexual and vegetative reproduction) and crop yield 15. State-of-the-art and future research directions in biostimulant research for improving reproductive growth and crop yield