Project BUL 5014 Screening of Cereal Germplasm Stress Response and Adaptation Potential

Project BUL 5014 “Screening of cereal germplasm stress response and adaptation potential by advanced nuclear, omics and physiological approaches”, financed by IAEA, 2016-2017

Main CP and Counterpart Institution: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Genetics, 21 “Acad. G. Bonchev” str., Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.

Project coordinator: Prof. Ph.D Lubomir Stoilov,

Other Counterpart Institutions :

1. Bulgarian Agricultural Academy, AgroBioInstitute, Dragan Tzankov № 8, Sofia, Bulgaria; Project coordinator for ABI: Prof. PhD Elena Todorovska

2. Bulgarian Agricultural Academy, Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Sadovo, Bulgaria; Project coordinator for IPGR: Prof. PhD Tencho Cholakov

3. Sofia State University, Joint Genomic Center - Dragan Tzankov № 8, Sofia, Bulgaria. Project coordinator for JGC: Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanassov

4. University of Silesia, Department of Genetics, Katowice, Poland; Project coordinator prof. Iwona Szareiko

The ultimate project objective is to develop a database comprising the major molecular characteristics of Bulgarian cereal germplasm (natural and mutant forms of wheat and barley) to abiotic and biotic stress factors (radiation, temperature, genotoxic agents and viral diseases). This goal is expected to be achieved by in-depth evaluation of the nature of stress response on molecular and physiological levels. The experimental work will include application of wide range of modern methodological approaches such as gene expression (qRT-PCR), SNP-based DNA markers for further application in Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS), cloning and characterization of genes, etc. The analysis of important physiological and biophysical parameters such as photosynthesis, transpiration rate, efficiency of water use and chlorophyll fluorescence will allow more effective screening and selection of tolerant genotypes. The realization of the project is expected to extend our knowledge on the protective capacity and overall adaptability of cereal genotypes towards radiation stress by revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the recovery of induced DNA lesions and sensitivity to radiation. The accumulated data on the expression profile of radiation-driven repair genes will contribute towards better understanding of the genetic control of DNA repair in cereal genomes. Envisaged characterization of the allele configuration of repair and stress response genes will provide more detailed background towards development of effective breeding strategies for reduction of the harmful effects of various stress factors, extending the adaptive potential and yields of important for agriculture in Bulgaria cereal crops.