Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources | Russia

Ms. Nina G. Kon’kova, an accomplished researcher at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, has established herself as a prominent figure in the field of plant genetics, agro-biotechnology, and seed quality sensing technologies. Holding a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from a recognized Russian university, Ms. Kon’kova has consistently advanced the scientific understanding of genetic diversity, crop quality assessment, and the use of advanced spectroscopic sensing methods in agricultural research. Throughout her professional career, she has been deeply engaged in projects related to the genetic evaluation of crops, genome-wide identification of gene families, and rapid quality assessment techniques using infrared spectroscopy, contributing to sustainable agricultural development and the preservation of plant genetic resources. Her international collaborations, particularly those addressing Cyperus esculentus L., Taraxacum kok-saghyz, and various cereal species, demonstrate her multidisciplinary expertise and global engagement in plant biotechnology research. Ms. Kon’kova’s research interests include plant genomics, phenotypic variability, infrared spectroscopy-based sensing, molecular breeding, and bioinformatics-driven crop improvement. Her research skills span molecular genetic analysis, high-throughput phenotyping, spectral data interpretation, and agronomic evaluation methods that enhance accuracy and reproducibility in crop trait studies. With 17 Scopus-indexed publications, 125 citations, and an h-index of 3, she has significantly contributed to internationally recognized journals such as Foods (MDPI), Plants (MDPI), and Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding.

Professional Profiles: ORCID | Scopus

Featured Publications 

  1. Kon’kova, N. G., Khoreva, V. I., Popov, V. S., Yakusheva, T. V., Kibkalo, I. A., Malyshev, L. L., & Solovyеva, A. E. (2025). Technological assessment of bread with the addition of Cyperus esculentus L. accessions flour grown in the Kuban–Azov Plain. Foods. (Cited by 5)

  2. Shen, G., Zhou, L., Zheng, F., Yu, Z., Yang, Y., Zhang, W., & Kon’kova, N. G. (2025). Study on seed quality testing of Russian dandelion. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 0)

  3. Gancheva, M., Kon’kova, N., Solovyeva, A., Danilov, L., Gusev, K., & Lutova, L. (2024). Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the CLAVATA3/ESR-related gene family in Tiger Nut. International Journal of Plant Biology. (Cited by 4)

  4. Popov, V. S., Kon’kova, N. G., Shelenga, T. V., Khoreva, V. I., Kibkalo, I. A., Gadjimagomedova, M. Kh., & Suvaryan, L. G. (2024). Rapid assessment of main agronomic indicators in the grain of winter and spring forms of triticale using infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 6)

  5. Popov, V. S., Salikova, A. V., Perchuk, I. N., Kon’kova, N. G., Egorova, G. P., Vishnyakova, M. A., & Shelenga, T. V. (2024). Rapid assessment of the main economic value indicators in lupine flour samples using infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 3)

  6. Kon’kova, N. G., Khoreva, V. I., Popov, V. S., Yakusheva, T. V., Malyshev, L. L., Solovyeva, A. E., & Shelenga, T. V. (2024). Variability of the main economically valuable characteristics of Cyperus esculentus L. in various ecological and geographical conditions. Plants. (Cited by 9)

  7. Shen, G., Zheng, F., Zhou, L., Zeng, X., & Kon’kova, N. G. (2024). Effects of irrigation frequency on growth and yields of Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 5)

Dr. Youngho Kwon | Rice Breeding Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Youngho Kwon | Rice Breeding Awards | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Youngho Kwon, National institute of crop science, South Korea

Youngho Kwon is a researcher at the National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, South Korea, specializing in rice breeding. He holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology from Gyeongsang National University. His research focuses on molecular breeding, plant-microbe interactions, and climate resilience in rice. He has contributed extensively to scientific literature, with publications in top-tier journals such as Nature Climate Change and Trends in Plant Science. His work integrates advanced genetic techniques with practical agricultural applications, aiming to enhance crop productivity and sustainability in the face of environmental challenges.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Dr. Youngho Kwon

Dr. Youngho Kwon is a highly accomplished researcher in crop science and plant pathology, specializing in rice breeding, molecular biology, and plant-microbe interactions. His significant contributions to agricultural biotechnology, climate change mitigation, and molecular breeding make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

🎓 Education

  • Ph.D. (1997) – Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Gyeongsang National University, Korea

  • M.S. (2017) – Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Gyeongsang National University, Korea

  • B.S. (2015) – Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Gyeongsang National University, Korea

🏢 Work Experience

  • 2017 – Present: Researcher, Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, South Korea

🏆 Achievements

  • 📌 Expert in Rice Breeding – Focused on molecular markers, phenotypic analysis, and climate resilience in rice

  • 🌱 Climate Change Mitigation – Pioneered research on Rice Rhizobiome Engineering to combat environmental changes

  • 🌾 Breakthrough in Rice Yield & Emissions – Discovered a gs3 allele mutation that increases grain yield while reducing methane emissions (Published in Nature Climate Change)

  • 🧬 Advancements in RNA-Seq Technology – Identified key defense mechanisms against rice pests (Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences)

  • 📖 Prolific Researcher – Published numerous papers in top-tier journals like Trends in Plant Science, Molecular Breeding, and Nature Climate Change

🏅 Awards & Honors

  • 🎖 Outstanding Agricultural Research Award – Recognized for innovative contributions to rice genetics and breeding

  • 🏆 Best Paper Award – Awarded for groundbreaking research on molecular breeding and climate adaptation in rice

  • 🌍 Global Collaboration Recognition – Acknowledged for international research collaborations in crop science

  • 🔬 Excellence in Plant Pathology Research – Awarded for contributions to understanding plant-microbe interactions

Publication Top Notes:

Optimizing the degree of milling semi‐waxy rice variety to enhance its functional properties and cooking quality

Rice rhizobiome engineering for climate change mitigation

Development of Functional Molecular Markers for Viviparous Germination Resistance in Rice

Artificial Rainfall on Grain Quality and Baking Characteristics of Winter Wheat Cultivars in Korea

Loss-of-function gs3 allele decreases methane emissions and increases grain yield in rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grain Size, Shape, and Weight-Related QTLs Identified Using GWAS with Multiple GAPIT Models and High-Density SNP Chip DNA Markers