Azerbaijan Genetic Resources Institute

Abstract The conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) is essential for global food and nutrition security, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. This study presents a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework applied across 20 countries in the Global South to assess the state of ex situ PGRFA conservation. Using mixed methods, we collected quantitative and qualitative data on genebank performance, validated operational status, and identified specific needs of genebanks. Our findings demonstrate the practical use of this M&E framework for genebanks to assess efficiency and effectiveness in genebank management, while also guiding targeted capacity development and context-specific interventions to address persistent challenges. We recommend adopting the approaches described in this study, including genebank reviews and the review checklist, to support more systematic and evidence-based assessment of genebanks. Aligning national efforts with global conservation objectives will help generate actionable recommendations to strengthen genebanks and ensure the long-term conservation and availability of PGRFA.

Genetic diversity among 20 Azerbaijani grape (Vitis vinifera L.) accessions was assessed using 10 Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers to elucidate relationships among samples and identify a convenient marker for determining genetic diversity.Based on the polymorphic information parameters such as PIC, EMR, MI, and RP were critically analyzed for utilizing these ISSR primers for genetic variability and 4 ISSR (UBC 811, UBC 812, UBC 815, UBC 857) markers were selected for future germplasm management.The total number of identified bands varied between 2-5.The maximum PIC value was observed in UBC 857 (0.478).Among genotypes, Ag oval kishmish and Yumru kishmish cultivars had the closest genetic similarity index (0.913), while Ag oval kishmish and Marandi, Yerli Muskat and Yabani uzum 1, Yerli Muskat and Yumru kishmish cultivars had the most distant genetic similarity index (0.406).These findings highlight both the complexity of grapevine genetic structure and the value of ISSR markers for detecting non-obvious relationships.

Lentil is mainly grown in rainfed systems and thus plays an important role in sustainable agriculture, especially in high mountain landscapes. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of 50 lentil accessions, including landraces from high mountain regions of Azerbaijan as well as wild lentil species, using SSR markers. DNA was extracted from leaves, amplified by PCR and separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Statistical analysis included dendrogram construction and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). A total of 26 alleles were identified, with an average of 8.6. Primers SSR 156 and SSR 323 showed transferability between all studied species/subspecies within the genus Lens. The genetic diversity index for each primer ranged from 0.704 to 0.776, with a mean value of 0.735. Accessions from higher altitudes such as Ismayilli and Nakhchivan contributed significantly to the observed genetic variation. The dendrogram revealed four clusters in which 71.4% of the accessions were distinguishable. Lens culinary subsp. odemensis formed a distinct subcluster due to its high genetic distance. PCoA analysis revealed a dispersed sample distribution, with the first five axes accounting for 69.9% of the total variation. The study revealed significant genetic diversity among lentil accessions in Azerbaijan, including highland regions. These results highlight the need for conservation and will support future breeding and sustainable agriculture.

The mass of 1000 grains, the number of grains per spike, spike weight, spike length, protein, essential amino acids - lysine and tryptophan have been analyzed in cultivated and wild varieties - Nutans, Pallidum and Nigropallidum of 21 barley specimens planted at the experimental field of the MSE of AR Genetic Resources İnstitute. In the analyzed samples, the mass of 1000 grains varied between 36.0-57.0 grams, the number of grains per spike was 26-56, the grain weight per spike – 1.07-4.5 g and the moisture content in the grain varied between 9.0 and 14.0. As seen in the table, the amount of total protein varied between 10.5 and 14.8% in the analyzed barley specimens. The highest protein content was detected in the wild barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans No 74 (hybrid) (14.8%), and the lowest protein content was found in the wild barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. spontaneum AZGR-14520, No 39 (10.5%). The amount of tryptophan was the highest – 170 mg (mg per 100 g)) in H.vulgare subsp. spontaneum AZGR-14521, No 40 (similar) and the amount of lysine was the highest – 323 mg (mg per 100 g) in H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans/erectum No 47 (hybrid). Three samples that differed from the standard due to high lysine content were selected. So, the amount of lysine was highest -323mg (mg per 100 g) in H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans/erectum No 47 (hybrid) and cultivated barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. var. nigropallidum No 44 (hybrid) – 308 mg (mg per 100 g). It has been found that the high lysine content in protein is closely related to the low amount of protein in the grain in most cases. That is, as the amount of protein in the grain decreases, the amount of lysine in its content increases. It is possible to select samples with a high amount of protein, which is considered one of the main indicators, and use them as a valuable starting material in practical selection work to create new varieties with good grain quality. Keywords: Barley, protein, lysine, tryptophan, mass of 1000 grains, biochemistry

Abstract BackgroundMolecular biology has always shown some similarities with computer science. So, considering transient expression, one can see an analogy with a DDoS attack on a computing system. Like the DDoS attack, transient expression can carry a payload. In particular, analysis of the structure of cell mechanisms and signal amplification in the study of very subtle mechanisms of regulation.ResultsA new vector system for transient expression in plants is described; this system is intended for quantitative analysis of the contribution of regulatory elements to transcription and translation efficiencies. The proposed vector comprises two expression cassettes carrying reporter genes (of the Clostridium thermocellum thermostable lichenase and E. coli

Durum wheat genotypes including 7 landraces and 17 breeding varieties were studied. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under acidic conditions of pH 3.1 was used to study gliadin and glutenin polymorphisms. In total, 32 gliadin and 8 high molecular weight glutenin alleles were identified. The contribution of B genome (58.5%) to the allelic variation of durum wheat varieties was higher than of A genome. The cluster analysis delineated genotypes into four main clusters. According to cluster analysis, legitimacy identifying the distribution of botanical varieties through the tree was observed. The study confirms the suitability of biochemical markers for cultivar identification and genetic relation study in durum wheat genotypes.

The genetic activity of phytohormones (Phs) was studied. The investigation was conducted with 4 plants (Allium fistulosum, Lycopersicon esculentum, Triticum aestivum, and Gossypium hirsutum). The action of Phs on plant genetic processes was evaluated by chromosome aberration testing. It was observed that the exogenic Phs exerted a stabilizing effect on spontaneous plant mutagenesis. The use of Phs before and after the action of mutagenic factors contributed to an increase in the anti-mutational or reparative function of the plants´ genes. It was observed that the Phs exhibited genoprotective or reparative activity. The absence of clearly expressed dependence of these effects on Ph dose was recorded.