Institute of Genetics,
Physiology and Plant Protection

The research directions are referring to the accredited field: Genetics, physiology and plant breeding

Fundamental direction: Genetic and molecular control of the quantitative and qualitative valorous traits; elaboration of the new principles of heritable variability extension and quantification; study of genetic and physiological diversity and plant gene pool conservation; genetic and physiological mechanisms for manipulation of the productive processes.

Applied direction: Elaboration of the new principles, breeding technologies and biotechnologies; creation of plant varieties and hybrids with high productivity, quality and ecological resistance to different agricultural system; elaboration of genetic and physiological methods of optimization and providing of the production stability in intensive and organic (ecological) agriculture.

Objectives:
• Identification of new molecular markers, and mobile regulatory elements associated with economically valuable characters.   
• Marker-assisted selection for resistance to biotic and abiotic unfavorable factors in some cultivated species (tomato, maize, soy, wheat and grapevine).
• Physiological and biochemical study of genetic mechanisms involved in crop productivity optimization.
• Application of in vitro biotechnology in increasing of somatic variation, in microcloning, somatic embryogenesis, callusogenesis etc.
• Ex situ and in situ conservation and documentation of collection of cultivated plants and their wild ancestors (Cereals, Legumes, Vegetables, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Endemic Species), storage of samples with valorous traits.
• Determination of the influence of biological active substance, macro- and microelements on growing, resistance and plant productivity.
• Genetic and physiological assessment of natural bio-regulators for increasing the productivity and resistance potentials.
• Evaluation of the secondary metabolites and their role in the biosystems adaptation to stress factors.
• Impact of exogenous substances, degree of maturation and the hypoxia on fruit quality and resistance to fungal diseases and functional disorders in the post-harvest.
• Elaboration of new principles and untraditional technologies for plants improvement (Cereals, Vegetables, Aromatic and Medical Plants).