INIAP, Ecuador
Dr. Luis Eduardo Morillo Velastegui is a leading Ecuadorian researcher specializing in plant genetics, biotechnology, and crop improvement. With extensive academic and research experience, he has made significant contributions to the fields of genetic diversity, molecular biology, and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Morillo has held academic and research positions in both national and international institutions, where he has led multidisciplinary projects focused on enhancing food security and agricultural productivity in Latin America. His dedication to scientific innovation and education has positioned him as a key figure in Ecuador’s agricultural biotechnology landscape.
Profile
Scholar
Orcid
🎓 Education
Dr. Morillo holds a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, building on earlier degrees in agronomy and agricultural sciences. His academic training includes specialized courses and international fellowships in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. His education reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation that bridges classical breeding methods with cutting-edge genomic technologies, enabling impactful research on crop diversity, gene expression, and plant resilience under stress conditions.
👨🏫 Experience
Dr. Morillo has served as a professor, research scientist, and technical advisor in various universities, research centers, and government institutions. His work has focused on the genetic characterization of native crops, development of improved plant varieties, and the application of biotechnology in sustainable farming. He has coordinated collaborative projects funded by international agencies, trained students and researchers in advanced lab techniques, and contributed to national policy frameworks for agricultural innovation and biosafety.
🏅 Awards & Honors
Dr. Morillo has received national and international recognition for his research excellence, including fellowships from renowned scientific organizations and awards for innovation in plant biotechnology. His leadership in agrobiodiversity conservation and his commitment to rural development have earned him accolades from academic institutions, research networks, and governmental bodies. These honors reflect his influential role in advancing science for social and environmental benefit.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Morillo’s research focuses on plant molecular genetics, crop improvement, and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. He explores the genetic mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to stress, the use of genomic tools in breeding, and the sustainable utilization of native crops. His current projects involve transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of Andean plant species, genome editing for disease resistance, and the integration of indigenous knowledge with modern science to enhance food sovereignty and resilience.
🏅 Conclusion
Dr. Luis Eduardo Morillo Velastegui is a highly qualified and impactful scientist whose work in plant genetics, biotechnology, and agrobiodiversity makes him a very strong candidate for the Distinguished Scientist Award. His long-term commitment to both scientific advancement and local development, particularly in Ecuador, sets a benchmark in applied and collaborative agricultural biotechnology. Addressing a few areas such as global visibility and innovation output could further elevate his candidacy.
Publication
Fiallos-Jurado, J., Pollier, J., Moses, T., Arendt, P., Barriga-Medina, N., Morillo, E., …
Title: Saponin determination, expression analysis and functional characterization of saponin biosynthetic genes in Chenopodium quinoa leaves
Year: 2016
Citation: Plant Science 250, 188-197
Morillo, E., Second, G., Pham, J.L., Risterucci, A.M.
Title: Development of DNA microsatellite markers in the Andean root crop arracacha: Arracacia xanthorrhiza Banc. (Apiaceae)
Year: 2004
Citation: Molecular Ecology Notes 4 (4), 680-682
Viera, W., Ponce Morales, L.A., Morillo, E., Vásquez, W.
Title: Genetic variability of avocado germplasm for plant breeding
Year: 2016
Citation: (Journal citation unavailable)
Morillo, E., Madeira, N., Jaimez, R.
Title: Arracacha.
Year: 2020
Citation: Carrots and related Apiaceae crops, 245-253
Morillo, E.
Title: Protocolos de marcadores moleculares
Year: 2002
Citation: Departamento Nacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos y Biotecnología. Quito
Morillo, E., Sécond, G.
Title: Tracing the domestication of the Andean Root crop arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.): a molecular survey confirms the selection of a wild form apt to asexual reproduction
Year: 2017
Citation: Plant Genetic Resources 15 (5), 380-387
Delgado, R., Morillo, E., Buitrón, J., Bustamante, A., Sotomayor, I.
Title: First report of Moko disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum race 2 in plantain (Musa AAB) in Ecuador
Year: 2014
Citation: New Disease Reports 30 (23), 2044-588
Morillo, E., Miño, G.
Title: Marcadores Moleculares en Biotecnología Agrícola: Manual de procedimientos y técnicas en Iniap
Year: 2011
Citation: Manual No. 91 INIAP Estación Experimental Santa Catalina
Basantes Lasso, M.G.
Title: Caracterización molecular de la colección nacional de camote (Ipomoea spp.) del banco nacional de germoplasma del INIAP mediante marcadores microsatélites
Year: 2010
Citation: Quito, EC: INIAP, Estación Experimental Santa Catalina, Departamento de …
Morillo, E., Miño Castro, G.M.
Title: Marcadores moleculares en biotecnología agrícola: Manual de técnicas y procedimientos en INIAP
Year: 2011
Citation: Quito, EC: INIAP, Estación Experimental Santa Catalina, Departamento …