Tariq Aftab received his PhD from the Department of Botany at Aligarh Muslim University, India, where he is currently a Senior Assistant Professor. He is the recipient of a prestigious Leibniz DAAD fellowship from Germany, a Raman Fellowship from the Government of India, and Young Scientist Awards from both the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India. He has also served as a Visiting Scientist at IPK Gatersleben, Germany, and in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University, United States. Dr. Aftab has edited numerous books for major international publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and CRC Press. He has co-authored several book chapters and published extensively in peer-reviewed, international journals. His research interests include physiological, proteomic, and molecular studies on medicinal and crop plants.
Dr. Hakeem is a Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Head of the Plant Biotechnology Research Unit at the Princess Dr. Najlaa Bint Saud Al Saud Center for Distinguished Research in Biotechnology. His academic journey includes roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Kashmir and research appointments in Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Jamia Hamdard, India, with expertise in plant eco-physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and medicinal plant research. He has authored numerous books, journal articles, and book chapters, and serves on editorial boards for leading publishers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and affiliated with international scientific societies. His work focuses on advancing plant science through global collaborations and research on eco-physiological and molecular processes.

1. Plant nutrition and soil fertility: Physiological and molecular avenues for crop improvement
2. Nutrient acquisition, transport and metabolism within the plant cells
3. Molecular basis of plant nutrient use efficiency - concepts and challenges for its improvement
4. Role of mineral nutrients in biological nitrogen fixation
5. Physiological and molecular aspects of macronutrient uptake by higher plants
6. Physiological and molecular aspects of micronutrient uptake by higher plants
7. Physiological, molecular and epigenetic revelations in nutrient requirement status of crops influenced by intercropping
8. Nutrient sensing in plants
9. Use of nano-fertilizers to improve the nutrient use efficiencies
10. Why and how to prevent over-fertilization for sustainable crop productivity
11. Molecular basis of abiotic stress alleviation by micronutrients
12. Nutrient dependent regulation of root architecture
13. Phytohormone dependant regulation of mineral nutrients in plants
14. Strategies for enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency in crop production systems
15. Metabolite flux analysis to understand effects of mineral nutrition on crop physiology
16. Role of microorganisms in plant nutrition and soil health
17. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and root system functioning
18. Regulation of expression of genes encoding nutrient transporters in higher plants
19. Improving nutrient use efficiency by exploiting genetic engineering of crops
20. Role of inorganic biostimulants and beneficial elements in improving nutrient uses efficiency in crops