Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics

The genus Thymus L. is characterized by high taxonomic complexity and pronounced phytochemical polymorphism, which underlie its economic and medicinal importance. While a limited number of species (Thymus vulgaris, Thymus pulegioides, Thymus × citriodorus) are traditionally cultivated, the cultivation potential of many Balkan taxa remains poorly explored. The present study aimed to evaluate the field cultivation performance, essential oil yield, and chemotype differentiation of three traditional and three lesser-studied Thymus species (Thymus zygioides Griseb., Thymus longedentatus (Degen & Urum.) Ronniger, and Thymus pannonicus All.). Plants were established through vegetative propagation and cultivated under field conditions, followed by essential oil isolation and GC–MS analysis. The newly introduced species exhibited higher essential oil yields, reaching 2.30% in T. longedentatus, 1.48% in T. pannonicus, and 0.94% in T. zygioides, compared to 0.24–0.60% in traditionally cultivated species. Clear and species-specific chemotypes were identified: a citral (neral/geranial) chemotype in T. longedentatus, a thymol chemotype in T. zygioides, and a sesquiterpene-dominated profile in T. pannonicus. In contrast, traditionally cultivated species displayed overlapping and less differentiated chemical profiles. All species were propagated vegetatively and cultivated in an open-field experimental plantation under temperate continental climatic conditions, following environmentally responsible horticultural practices. Vegetative propagation ensured genetic uniformity and supported consistent chemotype expression of the planting material under the applied cultivation conditions. These results demonstrate that species-based selection represents a robust alternative to conventional thyme cultivation, enabling higher essential oil productivity, clearer chemotypic differentiation, and improved standardization for horticultural and medicinal plant production, while supporting the sustainable use of native Bulgarian biodiversity.

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the oil content in grapevine seeds from intra- and interspecific genotypes with yellow-green and blue-violet berries. Grapevine processing generates secondary products that represent about 20% of the total processed mass among which grape seeds contain 9-20% oil, rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids with biological importance for the human body. Owing to this composition, grape seeds serve as a valuable raw material for obtaining grape seed oil. The seeds were extracted from fresh berries at the onset of must fermentation, and oil content was determined using the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry method. In intraspecific genotypes with yellow-green berries, oil content ranged from 13.8-13.7% ('Fetescă regală', 'Sauvigon'), while interspecific genotypes of the same colour group contained 13.45-14.46% oil ('‘Alexandrina’', 'Sarmis', etc.). For intraspecific genotypes of the same colour group contained 13.5% oil ('Fetească regală') and 16.6% oil ('‘Merlot’'), were recorded, whereas interspecific blue-violet genotypes showed oil contents between 11% ('‘Ametist’') and 15.35% (Sor). The results indicate that oil accumulation in grapevine seeds depends both on the genotype and on the climatic conditions in which the vines are cultivated. Climatic analysis of the cultivation area showed an increase of 3.23°C above the calculated long-term annual temperature norm, suggesting that arid conditions favour higher oil content compared with regions with moderate temperatures.

Well known, that The current  ultimate process of  climate  change intensifies, the demand for adaptable  fruit species  has become increasingly urgent. Actinidia arguta (commonly known as mini kiwi or baby kiwi or hardy kiwi) has emerged as a promising candidate due to its notable frost tolerance, smooth, edible skin that enhances consumer appeal, high nutritional value, and strong agro-ecological adaptability.  All features  combined with growing market interest, position mini kiwi as a quite interesting  option for diversifying fruit production in climate-sensitive regions across the world. This study aims was  to evaluate the biological and agronomic performance of   mini kiwi  (Actinidia arguta) 4  introduced  cultivars—Weiki, Ken’s Red, Issai, and Jumbo—under Georgian agro-climatic conditions, with the objective of  identifying varieties suitable for local cultivation and climate-resilient fruit production in Georgia. Field and laboratory trials were conducted 2019 -2023  years  in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia, on the experimental  station Jigaura (SRCA)  a representative area within the country’s principal fruit-growing zone. The main phenological parameters—including bud break, flowering stages,  fruit harvesting amd  leaf fall periods—were systematically recorded throughout the study. Comprehensive assessment of pomological traits was carried out, regarding of fruit size, weight, and  other organoleptic characteristics, alongside comercial  yield components. Additionally,   biochemical analyses were performed to quantify total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) , and vitamin C (ascorbic acids)  content , providing an integrated evaluation of fruit quality and pomological characteristics.

Objective. Study of germanium and zinc carboxylates influence in the inoculation suspension of nodule bacteria for pre-sowing seed processing on the formation and functioning of soybean symbiotic systems — Bradyrhizobium japonicum under salinity conditions. Methods. Microbiological, physiological, statistical. B. japonicum strain PC08 and soybean variety Samorodok were involved in the research. The nodulation activity of rhizobia (number and weight of nodules on plant roots), plant weight (aerial parts and roots) in the phases of budding, blooming and bean formation, as well as indicators of soybean grain productivity were studied. The nitrogen-fixing activity of the symbiotic system was determined by the acetylene-restoring method using an Agilent Technologies 6850 chromatograph (USA). Results. It was found that the introduction of zinc nanocarboxylate into the suspension of nodule bacteria immediately before seed inoculation inhibited the formation and functioning of the soybean – B. japonicum symbiotic system, regardless the presence of sodium chloride in the plant growing substrate. The addition of germanium nanocarboxylate favourably influenced the interaction of soybean with nodule bacteria under salinity during the growing season, increasing the number and weight of nodules by 7–35 % and 5–33 %, respectively, and nitrogen fixation activity by 3 % to 48 %, but did not have a prolonged positive effect on the vegetative mass of plants. It was shown that on a salt-free background, the use of zinc led to a decrease in grain productivity of plants, in particular, grain weight per plant by 15 % and weight of 1000 grains by 8 %. Under salinity conditions, the compounds of both nanometals provided a slight increase in the weight of 1000 grains, with Ge contributing to a 13 % increase in the weight of grain per plant, and zinc causing a 12 % decrease in the number of beans per plant. Conclusions. The possibility of using zinc compounds under the conditions of symbiosis formation requires additional complex researches, which would include, in particular, the selection of optimal concentrations and forms of preparations or bacterial strains tolerant to this element. The revealed positive effect of germanium nanocarboxylate on the background of sodium chloride requires further research in order to use it in the development of the ways to increase the productivity of soybean – B. japonicum symbiosis under salinity conditions.

Aims: The aim of this study is to introduce castor hybrid as an alternative crop in gap areas to promote agricultural diversification and enhance productivity. Place and Duration of Study: Mettur-Noyyal confluence sub basin areas of Tamil Nadu by the Tapioca and Castor research Research station, Yethapur for the past five years (2019-2024). Methodology: The on farm demonstrations was carried out at Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu including thirteen villages with 302 farmers holdings covering the areas of 260 ha. Looming water crisis, paucity of agricultural labourers, higher cost of cultivation owing to escalating labour costs, fluctuating in market price of the produce, the search for remunerative alternative crop to enhance the profitability without deteriorating soil productivity. Results: The castor hybrid cultivation is gaining momentum in non-traditional area of Tamil Nadu. The advantages of castor over conventional crop are less demanding in terms of land, labour and water requirement, water deficit areas and problem soils, cost of cultivation is less with high profit, suitable for small and marginal farmers besides improving the soil health through addition of leaf litter and biological ploughing. By adopting castor hybrid as an alternative crop resulted in the highest yield of 1964 kg ha⁻¹, compared to the conventional method, which yielded 1376 kg ha⁻¹.The highest gross returns (Rs. 116287 ha-1), net return (Rs. 91827 ha-1) and BCR (3.68) were recorded in adoption of hybrid castor as alternate crop. Conclusion: Castor is highly remunerative crop during Kharif season as compared to traditional crops because of its steady marketing price throughout the year unlike other crops. This technology increase yield up to 31.5 per cent when compared to farmer practice

To face climate change, searching for alternative crops resistant to drought and heat stress becomes necessary, along with efficient germplasm management. Old landraces well-adapted to local climatic conditions, pests, and pathogens could be used as a source of desired traits. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), grown mainly in the tropical and subtropical areas, presents superior drought and heat stress adaptation compared to other legumes. Limited information is available on field performance and nutrient qualities of cowpea landraces originating from southern Bulgaria. The aim of the present study was to compare in field conditions and their impacts on plant performance, yield, and the seed biochemical composition of Bulgarian cowpea accessions, including fourteen landraces and one variety. Higher-yielding, earlier-maturing accessions were discerned. Among the landraces studied, B1E0103 was the most productive under the agro-climatic conditions in Sadovo, central Bulgaria; BOE0035 had the earliest maturity. The seed moisture content was 11.5 ± 0.3%, and the energy value was 347.9 ± 1.2 kcal/100 g. The crude protein content varied from 22.5 to 27%, the lipids were 1.6–2.55%, the carbohydrates were 56.5–61.4%, ash was 3.8–4.3%, dietary fibers were 3.1–4.5%, tannins were 16–22%, phenols were 1.3–4.4 mg/g, flavonoids were 1.85–3.7 mg/g, and the trypsin-inhibiting activity was 0.7–2.5 units/mg FW, with the lowest in BOE0010, the variety “Hrisi”, and B1E0103 and the highest in B0E0035, A9E1230, and A8E0562. Landraces are promising genetic material for future research and breeding purposes.

Despite significant efforts, cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. The medicinal plant Nepeta nuda L. represents a valuable source of biologically active compounds with pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral. This study aimed to assess the antiproliferative potential and mechanisms of action of aqueous extract from the leaves of wild-grown N. nuda. Cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231, MCF7 (breast), HT29, Colon 26 (colon), and HepG2 (liver cancer), and a non-cancerous skin cell line, BJ, were assessed for antiproliferative activity by MTT assay and observation of cell morphological alterations. The cancer cell line that was most sensitive to the extract was further studied for apoptotic alterations by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, colony-forming assay, and qRT-PCR analysis. The results revealed that the plant extract inhibited the proliferation of all investigated cancer cell lines with the strongest cytostatic effect on Colon 26 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 380.2 μg/mL and a selectivity index (SI) of 3.5. The extract significantly inhibited the ability of cells to form colonies, exhibited considerable proapoptotic potential involving the participation of the CASP8 gene, and increased the expression levels of ATG3 and the BECN1 gene, which suggests a role of autophagic cell death in the antitumor action.

The aim of the present work was to investigate some of the molecular mechanisms and targets of the anticancer action of the bioflavonoid fustin isolated from theheartwood of Cotinus coggygria Scop. in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. For this purpose, we applied fluorescence microscopy analysis to evaluate apoptosis, necrosis, and mitochondrial integrity, wound healing assay to study fustin antimigratory potential and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to analyze the expression of genes associated with cell cycle control, programmed cell death, metastasis, and epigenetic alterations. A complex network-based bioinformatic analysis was also employed for protein-protein network construction, hub genes identification, and functional enrichment. The results revealed a significant induction of early and late apoptotic and necrotic events, a slight alteration of the mitochondria-related fluorescence, and marked antimotility effect after fustin treatment. Of 34 analyzed genes, seven fustin targets were identified, of which CDKN1A, ATM, and MYC were significantly enriched in pathways such as cell cycle, intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to DNA damage and generic transcription pathway. Our findings outline some molecular mechanisms of the anticancer action of fustin pointing it out as a potential oncotherapeutic agent and provide directions for future invivo research.

In vegetation experiments, a study of changes in the content of chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence induction and the content of protective low molecular weight proteins in four different plasticity varieties of winter wheat under the conditions of a ten-day drought was carried out. It was established that the Natalka variety is the most sensitive to drought. On the first day of drought, this variety lost chlorophyll the fastest, and was distinguished by a more significant decrease in fluorescence induction parameters. In the varieties Podolyanka, Podilska Nyva and Paradnytsia, the loss of chlorophyll and the reduction of parameters of the induction curve on the first day of drought were smaller. It is shown that on the seventh day of moderate drought, the fluorescence induction indicators increase in Podolyanka, Poradnytsia and Podilska Nyva varieties. The formation of non-specific resistance due to the increased synthesis of protective proteins is noted for these varieties. The strong, high-protein variety Natalka only partially restored the indicators of fluorescence induction and was distinguished by a slight increase in the content of protective low molecular weight proteins.