Plant Physiology Spotlights May and June 2024 First Authors
In May and June, we published many innovative manuscripts in Plant Physiology. Behind those manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Facebook and Twitter — now, read more about why they chose to pursue plant sciences and click on the links below to read their articles.
MAY AUTHORS
Phanu Theodore Serivichyaswat
Phanu Theodore Serivichyaswat is the First Author of Auxin signaling in the cambium promotes tissue adhesion and vascular formation during Arabidopsis graft healing published 03 May 2024.
Serivichyaswat is a Researcher at Swedish Museum of Natural History. Education background includes a 2022 Phd (Plant Biology) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 2017 MSc (Plant Molecular Biology) at Korea University; and a 2012 (Biosciences) Mae Fah Luang University.
Research interests include Plant genomics and evolution. Personal interests include Techno music.
“Taylor Swift has inspired me to love plants and plant science. She often uses plant-themed imagery and metaphors in her music. In songs like “Out of the Woods”, “Clean”, and “All Too Well”, she uses references to forests, trees, and leaves to convey emotions and themes of growth, renewal, and resilience. I became aware of the important role of plants in our culture and scientific community through Swift’s music.”
Zihui Su
Zihui Su (she/her) is the First Author of Structural basis of chorismate isomerization by Arabidopsis ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE1 published 03 May 2024.
She is a Doctoral Student at Guangxi University. Education background includes 2015.09-2019.06, Bachelor of Engineering in Biopharmaceuticals at Liaocheng University.
Research interests include Structural biology, Plant immunity, Plant pathogen pathogenicity. Personal interests include Reading, Traveling.
“My research focuses on investigating the structural mechanisms in plant immunity under the supervision of Prof. Zhenhua Ming.”
Amanpreet Kaur
Amanpreet Kaur (she/her) is the First Author of A maize semidwarf mutant reveals a GRAS transcription factor involved in brassinosteroid signaling published 06 May 2024.
Kaur is currently a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Purdue University. Education background includes 2020 Ph.D Plant Biology at Purdue University, Indiana; 2015 M.Sc Biotechnology at Punjab Agricultural University, India; 2012 B.Sc Biotechnology(Hons.) at Punjab Agricultural University, India.
Research interests include Plant Architecture, Plant hormones. Personal interests include Gardening, Painting.
“My interest in plant sciences was sparked during my undergrad in Biotechnology at Punjab Agricultural University, India, where I was exposed to different aspects of plant research, such as molecular biology, genetics, and biotechnology. I was fascinated by how plants function, adapt, and interact with their environment. In my final semester, I was involved in a research project focused on analyzing molecular diversity in water stress tolerant and susceptible maize inbred lines. I learned various laboratory skills such as DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and data analysis. This project allowed me to experience the excitement and challenges of conducting plant research and motivated me to pursue further studies in this field.”
Peng Zhao
Peng Zhao is the First Author of Modern wheat breeding selection synergistically improves above- and below-ground traits published 13 May 2024.
Zhao is a Ph.D candidate at Northwest A&F University. Education background includes a 2020-Now Ph.D candidate at Northwest A&F University, a 2017-2019 Master of Agriculture at Northwest A&F University, and a 2013-2017 Bachelor of Agriculture at Nanjing Agricultural University.
Research interests include Root development, Population genetics, Bioinformatics. Personal interests include Photography.
“How plants perceive external signals and use them to guide their growth and development is fascinating.”
Zihui Liu
Zihui Liu（he/his) is the First Author of Modern wheat breeding selection synergistically improves above- and below-ground traits published 13 May 2024.
Li is a Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, Baoding University. Education background includes 2023 Ph.D of Agriculture at Northwest A&F University; 2018 Master of Agriculture at Northwest A&FUniversity; 2015 Bachelor of Science at Hebei University of Science & Technology. Research interests include wheat development and abiotic stress. Personal interests include Badminton, Basketball and Volleyball.
“The botany course I took in college got me interested in plant science. The diversity of plants and their responses to different environments make me want to learn about them and study them. My supervisor, Professor Shengbao Xu, mainly guided me in my research.”
Lena Frenzke
Lena Frenzke (she/her) is the First Author of Genotyping-by-sequencing-based high-resolution mapping reveals a single candidate gene for the grapevine veraison locus Ver1 published 14 May 2024.
Frenzke is a Research Assistant at Technische Universität Dresden. Education background includes a 2016 Ph.D in Plant Evolution at Technische Universität Dresden and a 2009 Diploma in Biology at Technische Universität Dresden.
Research interests include grapevine breeding, plant evolution, and historical plant collections. Personal interests include contemporary dance, eastern-european music, gardening.
“I discovered my love of plants during my biology studies!”
Nathan Diplock
Nathan Diplock (he/him) is the First Author of Molecular dissection of the pseudokinase ZED1 expands effector recognition to the tomato immune receptor ZAR1 published 15 May 2024.
Diplock is a PhD Candidate at University of California, Berkeley. Education background includes 2017 BSc Biology Bates College.
Research interests include Plant-microbe interactions, plant immunity. Personal interests include Surfing, hiking, gardening.
“Plants are capable of extraordinary physiology that can feel both familiar and foreign to the human experience. Plant science is our best tool to unravel these fascinating complexities.”
Isabelle S. Lucet 
Isabelle S Lucet (she/her) is the First Author of Molecular dissection of the pseudokinase ZED1 expands effector recognition to the tomato immune receptor ZAR1 published 15 May 2024.
Lucet is a Professor at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Division Head, Chemical Biology Division. Education background includes a 1994, PhD Biochemistry, Biophysics, Angers University, France. Research interests include Kinases, pseudokinases, drug discovery, drug development, scaffolds. Personal interests include Walking, reading.
Sepideh Mazhari Azad
Sepideh Mazhari Azad (she/her) s the First Author of Designer transcription activator-like effectors enable discovery of cell death-inducer genes published 09 May 2024.
She is a PhD candidate, biotechnology. Education background includes: 2020 Ph.D candiate biology; 2018 Msc in plant pathology; 2013 BSc Plant science. Research interests include plant pathogen interaction. Personal interests include Swimming.
“Fell for plant biology in high school. Ever since it’s been my passion. Plants are my joy; they’re beautiful, resilient, and vital for Earth.”
Shuai Zhang
Peng Zhao is the First Author of Modern wheat breeding selection synergistically improves above- and below-ground traits published 13 May 2024.
Zhao is a Ph.D candidate at Northwest A&F University. Education background includes a 2020-Now Ph.D candidate at Northwest A&F University, a 2017-2019 Master of Agriculture at Northwest A&F University, and a 2013-2017 Bachelor of Agriculture at Nanjing Agricultural University.
Research interests include Root development, Population genetics, Bioinformatics. Personal interests include Photography.
“How plants perceive external signals and use them to guide their growth and development is fascinating.”
Laura Mekarni
Laura Mekarni (she/her) is the First Author of In-vivo X-ray microtomography locally affects stem radial growth with no immediate physiological impact published 17 May 2024. Mekarni is a Ph.D student at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.
Education background includes: 2020 MSc in Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, 2018 BSc in Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.
Research interests include drought-induced mortality, tree acclimation to global change. Personal interests include hiking, dancing.
“Despite the complexity of tree physiology, one can find scientific explanations for observable phenomena, and I find that fascinating.”
Qi Yan
Qi Yan (her) is the First Author of The genome of Lespedeza potaninii reveals biased subgenome evolution and drought adaptation published 17 May 2024.
Yan is a Postdoc at Lanzhou University.Education background includes a 2024 Postdoc at Lanzhou University; 2022 Ph.D Pratacultural Science at Lanzhou University.
Research i nterests include Native and forage grass genome, Abiotic stress, Functional genes. Personal interests include traveling.
“I’m very interested in the evolution of drought adaptation in xerophytes.”
Hengliang Huang
Hengliang Huang (he/his) is the First Author of Tissue-specific deposition, speciation and transport of antimony in rice published 18 May 2024.
He is a Ph.D. student at Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Japan. Education background includes: 2020-present, Ph.D. student at Okayama University; 2017-2020, M.S. at Huazhong Agricultural University; 2013-2017, B.S. at Huazhong Agricultural University
Research interests include Transporter, Abiotic stress. Personal interests include Basketball, Music.
“My supervisor, Prof. Jian Feng Ma, inspired and guided me in my research.”
Katsuhiro Shiono
Katsuhiro Shiono is the First Author of Low nitrate under waterlogging triggers exodermal suberization to form a barrier to radial oxygen loss in rice roots published 18 May 2024.
Shiono is a Professor at Fukui Prefectural University. Education background includes: 2007 Ph.D Agriculture at University of Tsukuba; 2004 MSc in Biosystem at University of Tsukuba; 2002 BSc Engineering Tokyo University of Science.
Research interests include Root dynamics, Apoplastic transport, Plant hormone, Abiotic stress. Personal interests include Football, Cycling.
“I want to achieve sustainable development on earth. Sustainable food production is essential in times of global environmental change.
Saiqi Yang
Saiqi Yang (he/his) is the First Author of ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM1 sustains cellular differentiation by limiting HD-ZIP III transcription factor gene expression published 23 May 2024.
Yang is an Associate Professor at Northwest A&F University. Education background includes a 2017 Ph.D Molecular Biotechnology at Technical University of Munich; 2012 MSc Agriculture in Crop genetics and breeding at Northwest A&F University; 2009 BSc Agriculture at Northwest A&F University.
Research interests include Genes and development, Abiotic stress. Personal interests include Fitness and Gaming.
“Why do I love plant science? It’s a suitable science subject for people who trust the progress.”
Will Thomas
Will Thomas (he/him) is the First Author of Recent advances in the improvement of genetic resistance against disease in vegetable crops published 26 May 2024.
He is a PhD Candidate at The University of Western Australia. Education background includes a 2018 BSc (Honours) Biology, The University of Western Australia.
Research interests include Plant disease resistance, plant-pathogen interactions, genomics. Personal interests include Music, swimming, board games and travelling.
First Author Will studies plants because “their interactions with pathogens are complex and fascinating”.
Yingxi Chen
Yingxi Chen (she/her) is the First Author of Alternative localization of HEME OXYGENASE 1 in plant cells regulates cytosolic heme catabolism published
Chen is a Doctoral Student at The University of Tokyo. Education background includes: 2020 MSc Analytical Chemistry at Nanjing University of Science and Technology; 2017 BE Polymer Material and Engineering at Nanjing University of Science and Technology.
Research interests include Organelle, Tetrapyrrole Photoreceptors. Personal interests include Reading, Playing Games, Taking videos.
“I spent most of my spare time in childhood adventuring in the fields and playing with wildflowers, insects, and small animals.”
Subhash Reddy Gaddam 
Subhash Reddy Gaddam is the First Author of A network comprising ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5, microRNA397b, and auxin-associated factors regulates root hair growth in Arabidopsis published 31 May 2024.
Gaddam is a Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umea, Sweden. Education background includes: Ph.D. in Science (2023), CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India; Masters in Botany (2012), University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India; Bachelors in Sciences (2010), University of Osmania, Hyderabad, India.
Research interests include Light signaling, Adventitious root development. Personal interests include Snapping nature, Wanderer .
“My supervisor, Dr. Prabodh K. Trivedi, inspired me to work in the area of light signaling.”
JUNE AUTHORS
Hui Xue
Hui Xue is the First Author of Endoplasmic reticulum protein ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM 1 negatively regulates senescence in Arabidopsis published May 23 2024. She is a Ph.D at College of Life Sciences and Northwest A&F University. Education background: 2022, Ph.D Life Sciences at Northwest A&F University; 2020, BSc Life Sciences Northwest A&F University. Research interests include Plant senescence，Plant Genetics. Personal interests include hiking, watching movies.
“My high school biology teacher is my first teacher interested in plant science, her lectures are very lively and interesting. She often designed interesting biological experiments and let us get started and observe the experimental results, which stimulated my interest in biology learning.”
Eduardo José Haverroth
Eduardo José Haverroth is the First Author of Shoot hydraulic impairments induced by root waterlogging: parallels and contrasts with drought published 12 June 2024. Haverroth is a Postdoc at North Carolina State University. Education background includes; 2023 PhD Plant Physiology at Universidade Federal de Viçosa; 2019 MSc Crop Science at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; 2016 BS Agronomy at Universidade Estadual de Santa Catarina. Research interests include Abiotic stress, plant hydraulics. Personal interests include Grilling, Watching TV Shows.
“My family has agricultural roots. I am curious about how everything works. I combined the two interests and became a plant scientist.”
Haiqin Zhang
Haiqin Zhang (she/her) is the First Author of the Genetic factors of grain cadmium concentration in Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L.) published 25 June 2024. She is a Professor at Sichuan Agricultural University. Education background includes 2006 Ph.D at Sichuan Agricultural University; 2002 MSc at Sichuan Agricultural University; 1999 BSc Biology Zhejiang normal University. Research interests include evolution. Personal interests include running.
Sonal Sachdev
Sonal Sachdev (she/her) is the First Author of The Arabidopsis ARID-HMG DNA-BINDING PROTEIN 15 modulates JA signaling by regulating MYC2 during pollen development published 24 June 2024.
She is a Graduate Student at Bose Institute, India and holds a BS in Botany from Shrishikshayan College and an MS in Botany from the Ballygunge Science College, University of Calcutta. She has been a two-time Gold Medalist for both the University Examinations.
Research interests include Plant Development. Personal interests include Dancing (Kathak Nritya), Reading, Gardening.
“My fascination with plant science stems from its vital role in shaping our very existence. It’s a constant source of wonder.”
Manuela Leonardelli
Manuela Leonardelli she/her is the First Author of Photoreceptor-induced sinapate synthesis contributes to photoprotection in Arabidopsis published 26 June 2024. She is a Field Application Scientist at Labgene Scientific.
Education background includes 2018 PhD Plant Molecular Biology, 2011 MSc Molecular Biology, 2008 BSc Molecular Biology. Research interests includePlant photosynthesis. Personal interests include Wordle, Mountain Biking.
“I’ve always found plant molecular biology fascinating. Since my BSc days, it has been the subject that has intrigued me the most. The complexity of plant life at the molecular level drove my curiosity and passion for research in this field.”
Edmar R Oliveira-Filho
Edmar R Oliveira-Filho (he/him) is the First Author of Running Fermi calculations as a superpower to gauge reality published 14 June 2024.
He is a Postdoctoral Associate at University of Florida. Education background includes: 2021 Ph.D. in Biotechnology at University of São Paulo; 2017 M.Sc. in Microbiology at University of São Paulo; 2014 B.Sc. in Biological Sciences at University of São Paulo. Research interests include Metabolic engineering, Synthetic Biology, Bioproducts.
Personal interests include Museums, Reading, Concerts.
“I have wanted to be a scientist since I was a kid. I was fascinated by microbes and metabolic engineering during my bachelor’s degree.”
Rodrigo Campos da Silva 
Rodrigo Campos da Silva (He/Him) is the First Author of Running Fermi calculations as a superpower to gauge reality published 14 June 2024. He is a Postdoctoral Associate at University of Florida .
Education background includes: 2023 Ph.D Pharmaceutical Sciences at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; 2023 Ph.D Microbiology at Université de Rennes I; 2019 BSc Pharmacy Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
Research interests include Synthetic Biology, Microbiology, Biotecnology. Personal interests include Learning languages, cooking.
“Plants (and microorganisms) are sources for many molecules and compounds of interest. From the food to the pharmaceutical sector, they are the base of our development. ”
Pedro Martínez Rodríguez
Pedro Martínez Rodríguez (he/him) is the First Author of Dopamine-derived pigments in nature: identification of decarboxybetalains in Amaranthaceae species published June 3 2024. He is a Ph.D student in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Murcia (Spain). Education background includes 2020-2021 MSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (University of Murcia); 2016-2020 BSc in Biology (University of Murcia). Research interests include Bioactive phytochemicals and nutraceutical compounds. Personal interests are Hiking, snorkeling and fishing.
“I am researching molecular strategies in the production of bioactive plant pigments such as betalains and studying their health-promoting effects in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model. I entered the world of science under the guidance of my mentor, Professor Dr. Fernando Gandía Herrero, who is responsible for the beautiful research we conduct and has been a constant source of inspiration for me.”
