Sustainable Plant Nutrition

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 improvement2. Nutrient acquisition, transport and metabolism within the plant cells3. Molecular basis of plant nutrient use efficiency - concepts and challenges for its improvement4. Role of mineral nutrients in biological nitrogen fixation5. Physiological and molecular aspects of macronutrient uptake by higher plants6. Physiological and molecular aspects of micronutrient uptake by higher plants7. Physiological, molecular and epigenetic revelations in nutrient requirement status of crops influenced by intercropping8. Nutrient sensing in plants9. Use of nano-fertilizers to improve the nutrient use efficiencies10. Why and how to prevent over-fertilization for sustainable crop productivity11. Molecular basis of abiotic stress alleviation by micronutrients12. Nutrient dependent regulation of root architecture13. Phytohormone dependant regulation of mineral nutrients in plants14. Strategies for enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency in crop production systems15. Metabolite flux analysis to understand effects of mineral nutrition on crop physiology16. Role of microorganisms in plant nutrition and soil health17. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and root system functioning18. Regulation of expression of genes encoding nutrient transporters in higher plants19. Improving nutrient use efficiency by exploiting genetic engineering of crops20. Role of inorganic biostimulants and beneficial elements in improving nutrient uses efficiency in crops