Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Mirza Hasanuzzaman is Professor of Agronomy at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka. He is a specialist in agronomy, plant stress responses, and crop physiology. His current work is focused on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of environmental stress tolerance (salinity, drought, flood, and heavy metals/metalloids). Dr. Hasanuzzaman has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has edited six books and written 30 book chapters on important aspects of plant physiology, plant stress tolerance, and crop production.

Masayuki Fujita is a Professor in the Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan. He received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, and his M.Agr. and Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry from Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan. His research interests include physiological, biochemical and molecular biological responses based on secondary metabolism in plants under biotic (pathogenic fungal infection) and abiotic (salinity, drought, extreme temperatures and heavy metals) stresses; phytoalexin, cytochrome P-450, glutathione S-transferase, phytochelatin and redox reaction and antioxidants. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and has multiple books.

Kamrun Nahar is a leading plant stress physiologist and Professor of Agricultural Botany at Sher‑e‑Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She began her academic career at the same institution in 2011 and rose to the rank of Professor in 2021. Her research focuses on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms that enhance plant resilience to abiotic stresses, including drought, waterlogging, salinity, metal toxicity, and extreme temperatures, with particular emphasis on antioxidant and glyoxalase pathways. Prof. Nahar earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Stress Physiology from Ehime University, Japan, and completed her Master’s degree at Kagawa University, both supported by Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarships. She has received numerous distinctions, including the BAS Gold Medal Award (2017), multiple academic merit awards, and national research fellowships. A BAS Associate Fellow since 2021, she continues to supervise graduate researchers and lead projects funded by national research bodies.

Recognized with prestigious national awards for his leadership in rice science, Jiban Krishna Biswas is a distinguished plant physiologist with more than 33 years of experience in research and development. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF), having previously held the role from 2020 to 2022 and rejoining in November 2022. An agricultural graduate from SAU and BAU, he earned his PhD in Crop Science from CLSU, Philippines, supported by an IRRI‑USAID fellowship, and completed postdoctoral research under JSPS in Japan. Dr. Biswas has led major research, administrative, and policy roles, including serving as Director General of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute until his retirement in 2016. His work spans the development of abiotic stress‑tolerant rice varieties, research management, and extensive consultancy for national and international organizations.