Group of Ecology and Physiology of Phototropic Organisms, Institute Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow, Russia.

Dr. Vladimir V. Matichenkov was born in 1964. In 1986 he graduated from the Soil Science Department of Moscow State University. In 1990 Dr. Matichenkov obtained a Ph. D. degree – Thesis: Amorphous oxide of silicon in Soddy Podzolic Soils and its influence on plants. In 2008 he defended his doctoral dissertation on the title “Role of mobile silicon compounds in plants and soil-plant system.” Dr. Matichenkov works at the Institute Basic Biological Problems Russian Academy of Sciences. From 1998 to 2004 he worked at the University of Florida. Dr. Matichenkov is a specialist in the area of soluble silicon compounds in nature (soil-plant system) and Si fertilizers. Dr. Matichenkov is the author of more than 140 published materials and has organized and conducted numerous seminars in USA, Middle East, Australia, Africa, China, and Europe on the theme “Role and functions of Si in the soil-plant system.” In 2004 he organized the international conference “Silicon in Food, Agriculture, and Environment.” In 2015 Dr. Matichenkov obtained the Chinese Government Award of Friendship (Gold Medal) as a Foreign Expert.