Dennis R. Hoagland Award

2024 Winner: Jian Feng Ma

Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Japan

Jian Fing Ma is internationally recognized for his work on the discovery and characterization of many mineral transporters, including transporters for essential, beneficial, and toxic elements in crops. Jian Fing has provided important insights into the molecular and physiological basis of the transport of silicon, manganese, and boron in rice. For example, his studies have revealed polarly localized plasma membrane transporters that participate in a cooperative mineral transport system that is essential for root-to-shoot translocation of these minerals. Jian Fing’s recent work has taken a systems approach to study how mineral transporters are regulated, both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally, in response to variation in mineral nutrient availability in the soil. Together his many research contributions have provided new insight into molecular mechanisms and agricultural impact of mineral nutrition, and he is well deserving of the Dennis R Hoagland award.