Dr. Zoltán Kende - MATE Research
Overview
Dr. Zoltán Kende is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His research focuses on the effects of abiotic stress on seed germination and early crop development, sustainable soil and crop management, and the agronomic use of superabsorbent polymers. He also works on soil health, hydroponic protein crop production, microgreens, and extraterrestrial soil simulants as novel experimental media. His studies combine applied agronomy with plant physiology, soil science, and environmental adaptation, with results published in leading international journals.
Research keywords:
Publications
Abiotic stress responses in seed germination and early crop development
Haj Sghaier, A., Tarnawa, Á., Khaeim, H., Kovács, G. P., Gyuricza, C., & Kende, Z. (2022). The Effects of Temperature and Water on the Seed Germination and Seedling Development of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Plants, 11(21), 2819. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212819
Haj Sghaier, A., Khaeim, H., Tarnawa, Á., Kovács, G. P., Gyuricza, C., & Kende, Z. (2023). Germination and Seedling Development Responses of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Seeds to Temperature and Different Levels of Water Availability. Agriculture, 13(3), 608. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030608
Khaeim, H., Kende, Z., Jolánkai, M., Kovács, G. P., Gyuricza, C., & Tarnawa, Á. (2022). Impact of Temperature and Water on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.). Agronomy, 12(2), 397. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020397
Soil tillage, soil health and sustainable agricultural practices
Kende, Z., Egri, N., Birkás, M., Jolánkai, M., Kunos, V., Bozóki, B., & Tarnawa, Á. (2025). Assessing Different Stubble Tillage Technologies on Covered and Uncovered Surfaces. Soil Systems, 9(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9010013
Bogale, A. A., Kende, Z., Tarnawa, A., Miko, P., Birkás, M., Kovács, G. P., & Percze, A. (2025). Precision Nutrient and Soil Tillage Management for Sustainable Winter Barley Production (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Tillage Impact on Soil CO2 Emission. Agronomy, 15(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010002
Dekemati, I., Simon, B., Bogunovic, I., Kisic, I., Kassai, K., Kende, Z., & Birkás, M. (2020). Long Term Effects of Ploughing and Conservation Tillage Methods on Earthworm Abundance and Crumb Ratio. Agronomy, 10(10), 1552. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101552
Hydroponic production, protein crops and microgreen systems
Balázs, L., Kovács, G. P., Gyuricza, C., Piroska, P., Tarnawa, Á., & Kende, Z. (2023). Quantifying the Effect of Light Intensity Uniformity on the Crop Yield by Pea Microgreens Growth Experiments. Horticulturae, 9(11), 1187. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9111187
Abd Ghani, R., Omar, S., Jolánkai, M., Tarnawa, Á., Khalid, N., Kassai, M. K., & Kende, Z. (2023). Response of Shoot and Root Growth, Yield, and Chemical Composition to Nutrient Concentrations in Soybean Varieties Grown under Soilless and Controlled Environment Conditions. Agriculture, 13(10), 1925. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101925
Abd Ghani, R., Omar, S., Jolánkai, M., Tarnawa, Á., Kende, Z., Khalid, N., Gyuricza, C., & Kassai, M. K. (2023). Soilless Culture Applications for Early Development of Soybean Crop (Glycine max L. Merr). Agriculture, 13(9), 1713. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091713
Fusarium infestation, grain quality and toxin-related research
El Chami, E., El Chami, J., Tarnawa, Á., Kassai, K.M., Kende, Z., & Jolánkai, M. (2022). Influence of growing season, nitrogen fertilisation and wheat variety on Fusarium infection and mycotoxin production in wheat kernel. Acta Alimentaria, 51(2), 282-289. https://doi.org/10.1556/066.2022.00036
El Chami, J., El Chami, E., Tarnawa, Á., Kassai, K. M., Kende, Z., & Jolánkai, M. (2023). Influence of Fusarium head blight on technological quality of wheat. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 58(2), 188-205. https://doi.org/10.1556/038.2023.00179
El Chami, J., El Chami, E., Tarnawa, Á. et al. Effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality parameters. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 51, 179–187 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-022-00295-w
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