Institute of Plant Physiology

Main Research Topics

Investigation of the role of phytohormones and other natural plant growth regulators under normal and stressful conditions; application of biologically active substances to increase the efficiency of important physiological (photosynthesis, assimilate transport and distribution) and reproductive processes.
Studies on the endogenous defense mechanisms in plants; application of phytoeffectors for improvement of plant resistance against stress factors.
Studies on the chemical structure-physiological activity relationships; design of new ecologically friendly bio-active compounds and investigation of their mode of action.
Development of technologies for application of growth regulators to improve the plant resistance and increase the yield and quality of crop and uncultivated plants.

Most Important Achievents

Extensive evidence have been accumulated concerning the quantitative and qualitative alterations of different types of phytohormones (auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and some inhibitors) during the plant ontogenesis (vegetative and reproductive processes). Their role and relationships in the processes of growth, flowering and fruit-bearing have been investigated.
The endogenous content and metabolic alterations of cytokinins and auxins have been observed in different model systems under environmental pollution (high salinity, heavy metals, herbicides, UV-irradiation etc.).
New derivatives of dicarboxylic acids, salicylic acid, (thio)ureas and heterocyclic compounds have been synthesized. Their activities have been tested on cellular, tissue and organism level. Some of them have been proven to possess auxin, cytokinin, anticytokinin, antiageing, antimutagenous or antiphytovirus activity.
Some defense mechanisms and the protective properties of exogenous physiologically-active compounds have been investigated in plants by monitoring the changes in the content of polyamines; proline; non-enzymatic antioxidants and the activities of various antioxidant enzyme systems under normal and stressful conditions.
Functioning plate meristem has been established in postembryonic growth and development of epigeal cotyledons. Procedure for using of new experimental cotyledon systems and for investigation the quantitative changes in cell growth and proliferation under induced alterations (by endo- or exo-effectors) in the organ growth has been developed.
New biopesticides for weed and selective phytopathogens control in the agroecosystems have been developed on the basis of mixtures of extracts of etheric-oil plants.
Synthetic and natural compounds with protective activity against herbicides, chemical mutagens, salinity, heavy metals, gama- and UV-irradiation and some phytopathogens have been developed.

The investigations in the Department are covered by more than 50 invention certificates and patents in Blugaria and abroad.

Organised Conferences

The first international symposium in the Institute have been organized by the Department of Regulation of Plant Growth and Development (International symposium on plant stimulation, 25-30.10.1966, Sofia, Bulgaria). The Symposia were organized on a regular basis until 1995 (1975, 1981, 1986 and 1995). Scientists from the Department have been members or chairmen of the Scientific and Organizing Committees of all subsequent International Conferences held by the Institute (XI Congress of FESPP 1998; ESSA 2002; PISA 2006; PISA 2008).

Research projects

National projects
Since the foundation of the National Science Fund of Bulgaria (1991) there are financed more than 15 projects leaded by members of the Department. Recently the following projects have been investigated:

Antimutagenic action of newly synthesized compounds in plants and humans in relation to protection of the genome from harmful environmental conditions.
Effects of copper ions phytohormones on the growth and organogenesis of plant explants and cotyledons in Arabidopsis mutants.
Protective role of the salicylic acid against some phytopathogens in wheat, tomato and tobacco.

International projects
Members of the Department have been leaders and/or participants in a number of international projects (Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, The Netherlands, UK, USA, Vietnam etc.). Recently the following projects are investigated in the Department:

Investigation, development and production of bioactive preparations against plant diseases. Applied Biological technology Ltd Company (Vietnam), Institute of Plant Protection, Kostinbrod (Bulgaria), Institute of Plant Physiology, Sofia (Bulgaria).
Changes in the phytohormonal balance in plants under abiotic stress. Institute of Experimental Botanics, Prague (Czech Republic), Institute of Plant Physiology, Sofia (Bulgaria).
Effectiveness of the application of plant growth regulators in the ecological farming. Scientific-technological centre “Agrobiotech”, National Academy of Sciences, (Ukraine), Institute of Plant Physiology, Sofia (Bulgaria).

Staff

The department Regulation of Plant growth and Development totals 19 members - 7 Associate Professors, PhD; 2 Assistant Professors, PhD; 9 Research Associates, and 1 PhD Student.

To contact particular colleague please dial +359-2-979- followed by the extension number given below:

Name, Title	Contact Phone
Vera Alexieva, Associate Professor, PhD	2694 or 2693
Georgi Ts. Georgiev, Associate Professor, PhD	3675 or 2690
Ekaterina Stoynova, Associate Professor, PhD	3673 or 2193
Ekaterina Zozikova, Associate Professor, PhD	2679 or 2602
Lyubomira Atanasova, Associate Professor, PhD	2678 or 2618
Petranka Yonova, Associate Professor, PhD	2616 or 2617
Iskren Sergiev, Associate Professor, PhD	2698
Sultana Dimova, Assistant Professor, PhD	2602 or 2617
Desislava Todorova, Assistant Professor, PhD	2676 or 2693
Emilia Kotseva, Researcher	2679
Irina Moskova, Researcher	2694
Nadejda Mincheva, Researcher	2617
Nikolina Popova, Researcher	2676
Nina Georgieva, Researcher	2679
Petar Petrov, Researcher, PhD	3673
Snejana Savova, Researcher	2617
Zornitsa Katerova, PhD	2676
Marieta Shopova, Researcher	2618
Elena Ivanova, PhD Student	2694

Selected Publications

2008
Dimova E., P. Yonova, M. Dimitrova, Z. Mitrovska, D. Miteva, A. Kujumdzieva, S. Chankova (2008) - Different defense response depending on the genotype in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii against paraquat. Plant Biology (in press).
Dimova S., E. Velinova (2008) - Nontraditional development cycle and botanical aspects of Colchidum autamnale L. (autumn crocus). Plant Science, Sofia, Bulgaria (in press).
Georgieva M., P. Yordanova, A. Georgieva, G. Ts. Georgiev (2008) - In vitro screening of the cytotoxicity of biologically active substances isolated from the saprophyte mushroom Pleurotus osteratus (Fr.) Kumm., Plant Science, Sofia, Bulgaria, 45, 201-204.
Katerova Z., E. Prinsen (2008) - Alterations in indoleacetic acid, abscisic acid and aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid in pea plants after prolonged influence of low levels ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-C radiations. General and Applied Plant Physiology – Special issue.
Katerova Z., E. Shopova, L. Brankova, S. Ivanov, E. Karanov (2008) - Alterations in antioxidant enzymes of pea plants in response to prolonged influence of short pulses ultraviolet-C radiations. Compt. rend. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 61(3), 335-340.
Katerova Z., S. Ivanov, E. Prinsen, H. Van Onckelen, V. Alexieva, A. Azmi (2008) - Low doses of ultraviolet-B or ultraviolet-C radiation affect ACC, ABA and IAA levels in young pea plants. Biologia plantarum, (in press).
Katerova Z., S. Ivanov, S. Mapelli (2008) - Prolonged low dose of ultraviolet-B radiation does not activate antioxidant defence in young pea plants. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 61(5), 615-620.
Katerova Z.I., D. Todorova, Endogenous polyamines lessen membrane damages in pea plants provoked by enhanced ultraviolet-C radiation. Plant Growth Regulation, (in press).
Lazova G., P. Yonova (2008) - Photosynthetic parameters were modified in wheat (Triticum aestivum) flag leaves by two novel phenylurea cytokinins. Plant Biology, (in press).
Lazova G., Yonova P. (2008) - Changes in the leaf polypeptide patterns of wheat flag leaves spraying with non-purine cytokinins. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 59 (4), 501-505.
Moskova I., D. Todorova, V. Alexieva, S. Ivanov, I. Sergiev (2008) - Effect of exogenous hydrogen peroxide on enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in leaves of young pea plants treated with paraquat. Plant Growth Regulation, 2008, DOI: 10.1007/s10725-008-9336-x, (in press).
Nenova V., M. Merakchijska, G. Ganeva, E. Zozikova, S. Landjeva (2008) - Physiolkogical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Aegilops sharonensis introgression lines to excess copper. Journal of Agronomy qand Crop Science, (in press).
Stefanov D, Stoimenova E, Stoinova E. (2008) - Altered leaf anatomy in pepper caused by cucumber mosaic virus (cmv) induces higher leaf absorbance at 830 nm in inoculated leaves with different symptoms of cmv resistance. Plant Protection, 19: 78-81.
Stoyanova Z., E. Zozikova, Ch. Poschenrieder, J. Barcelo, S. Doncheva (2008) - The effect of silicon on the symptoms of manganese toxicity in maize plants. Acta Biol. Hung., 59(4), 479-487.
Stoynova-Bakalova E, Petrov PI, Gigova L. Baskin TI. (2008) - Effects of methyl jasmonate on cell growth and division of etiolated Cucurbita pepo (zucchini) cotyledon. Plant Biology, 10 (4):276-284.
Todorova, D., I. Moskova, I. Sergiev, V. Alexieva, S. Mapelli (2008) – Changes in endogenous polyamines and some stress markers content induced by drought, 4PU-30 and abscisic acid in wheat plants. In: Abiotic stress and plant responses. Nafees A. Khan, Sarvajeet Singh (Eds.), I. K. International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., ISBN 978-81-89866-95-2, Chapter 11, pp. 205-215.

2007
Brankova, L., S. Ivanov, V. Alexieva (2007) - The induction of microsomal NADPH:cytochrome P450 and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductases by long-term salt treatment of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. Plant Physiol. Biochem., 45, 691-695.
Ganeva G., E. Zozikova (2007) - Effect of increasing Cu²⁺ concentrations on growth and content of free phenols in two lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with different tolerance. Gen. Appl. Plant Physiology, 33(1-2), 75-82.
Krezhova, D. D., T. K. Yanev, I. Ts. Iliev, S. Ivanov, L. Brankova, V. Alexieva (2007) - Detection of herbicide contamination in plants through changes in leaf spectral reflectance and chlorophyll fluorescence, in: Abiotic Stress and Plant Responses, eds. Nafees A. Khan and S. Singh, I.K. International, New Delhi (in press).
Krezhova, D. D., T. K. Yanev, S. V. Ivanov, V. S. Alexieva (2007) - Remote sensing of the effect of the herbicide glyphosate on the leaf spectral reflectance of pea plants (Pisum sativum L.). Proceedings of the 26^th Symposium of the Europian Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories,Warsaw, Poland, 29 May-2 June 2006 "New Developments and Challenges in Remote Sensing", Millpress, Rotterdam, pp. 45-52.
Lazova, G., P. Yonova, (2007) - Changes in the leaf polypeptide patterns of wheat flag leaves spraying with non-purine cytokinins. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 59, N 3 or 4.
Miteva, L., S. Ivanov (2007) - Alteration of ascorbate pool upon influence of oxidative stress inducing herbicides. Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci., 60 (8), 883-888.
Moskova, I., D. Todorova, V. Alexieva, I. Sergiev (2007) – Hydrogen peroxide pretreatment alleviates paraquat injuries in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci, 60 (10), 1101-1106.
Petrova, T., G. Ganeva, E. Zozikova, S. Landjeva, E. Kotseva (2007) - Frost resistance and changes in the content of free phenols in Bulgarian hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ) varieties. Genetics and Breeding,. 36 ,N 1-2, 35-41.
Sergiev, I., D. Todorova, M. Somleva, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov, E. Stanoeva, V. Lachkova, A. Smith, M. Hall (2007) – Influence of cytokinins and novel cytokinin antagonists on the senescence of detached leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Biologia Plantarum, 51(2), 377-380.
Shu Hsien Hung, Chun Chi Wang, Sergei Veselinov Ivanov, Vera Alexieva, Chih Wen Yu (2007) - Repetition of hydrogen peroxide treatment induces a chilling tolerance comparable to cold acclimation in mung bean. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 132: 770-776.
Stoilkova G., P. Yonova (2007) - Protective effect of two synthetic compounds against chlorsulfuron injury in maize (Zea mays L.). Acta Agronomica Hungarica 55 (3), 283-292.
Stoynova-Bakalova, E., (2007) - Properties of plate meristem of growing epigeal cotyledons in an experimental system. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 59, 76-83.
Todorova, D., I. Sergiev, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov, A. Smith, M. Hall (2007) – Polyamine content in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh during recovery after low and high temperature treatments. Plant Growth Regulation, 51, 185-191.
Todorova, D., I. Vaseva, J. Malbeck, A. Trávníčková, I. Macháčková, E. Karanov (2007) - Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase activity as a tool in gibberellic acid/cytokinin cross talk. Biol. Plant., 51(3), 579-583.
Vaseva, I., D. Todorova, J. Malbeck, A. Travnichkova, I. Machackova (2008) - Response of cytokinin pool and cytokinine oxidase/dehydrogenase activity to abscisic acid exhibits organ specificity in pea. Acta Physiol. Plant., (in press).

2006
Bineva, Tz., D. Staneva, P. Yonova, I. Yordanova, N. Stoeva (2006) - Modification of the irradiation effect on oat plants during the vegetation period. J. Environm. Protection and Ecology, 7, No 1, 146-150.
Moskova, I. (2006) - Hydrogen peroxide – physiological function in plants. Plant Science, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3, 211-222 (Review).
Sergiev I., V. Alexieva, S. Ivanov, I. Moskova, E. Karanov (2006) - The phenilurea cytokinin 4PU-30 protects maize plants against glyphosate action. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 85, 139–146.
Stoynova-Bakalova EZh, Petrov PI. (2006) - Control by cytokinins of the cellular behaviour in the plate meristem of zucchini cotyledons. Planta 223 (6): 1256-1263.
Todorova D, Vaseva-Gemisheva I, Petrov P, Stoynova-Bakalova E, Alexieva V, Karanov E, Smith A, Hall M. (2006) - Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase in wild and ethylene-insensitive mutant /eti5/ type of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh plants and the effect of cytokinin N¹-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N²-phenylurea on enzymatic activity and leaf morphology. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 28, 6 : 613-617.

2005
Ivanov S., L. Miteva, V. Alexieva, Hr. Kurjin, E. Karanov (2005) - Alterations in some oxidative parameters in susceptible and resistant wheat plants infected with Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici. J. Plant Physiol., 162: 275-279.
Ivanov, S. V., V. S. Alexieva, E. N. Karanov (2005) - Cumulative effect of low and high atrazine concentrations on Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh plants. Russian J. Plant Physiol., 52 (2), 213 – 219.
Todorova, D., T. Genkov, I. Vaseva-Gemisheva, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov, A. Smith, M. Hall (2005) - Effect of temperature stress on the endogenous cytokinin content in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh plants. Acta Physiol. Plant., 27 (1), 13-18.
Vaseva-Gemisheva I., D. Lee, E. Karanov (2005) - Response of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase expression and specific activity to drought stress and herbicide treatments in pea leaves. Plant Growth Regul., 46 (3): 199-208.
Vaseva-Gemisheva, I., I. Sergiev, D. Todorova, V. Alexieva, E. Stanoeva, V. Lachkova, E. Karanov (2005) - Antagonistic effects of triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine and pyridylurea derivatives on cytokinin-induced cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase activity in young pea plants. Plant Growth Regul., 46 (3), 193-197.
Yonova, P. A., G. M., Stoilkova (2005) - Synthesis and biological activity of urea and thiourea derivatives from 2-aminoheterocyclic compounds. J. Plant Growth Regul., 23: 280-291.
Yonova, P., G. Stoilkova (2005) - Synthesis and plant growth regulating activity of pyridyl-imidazolidinone compounds. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 58, N5, 595-600.
Yonova, P., G. Stoilkova (2005) - Antisenescence effect of 2-pyridylureas with un- and cyclic- ureido groups. General and Applied Plant Physiology, 31, N 3-4, 197-214.

2004
Alexieva, V., I. Sergiev, D. Todorova, E. Karanov, A. Smith, M. Hall (2004) - Effect of ethylene and its antagonist 1-MCP on the senescence of detached leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Biol. Plant., 48 (4), 593-595.
Atanasova, L., M. Pissarska, G. Popov, G. Georgiev (2004) - Growth and endogenous cytokinins of juniper shoots as affected by high metal concentrations, Biol. Plant., 48 (1), 157-159.
Atanasova, L. (2004) - Cytokinins in wheat germ transfer RNA: determination by immunological methods, Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plants, 10, 203-208.
Bogoeva, V., M. Radeva, L. Atanasova, S. Stoitsova, R. Boteva (2004) - Fluorescence analysis of hormone binding activities of wheat germ agglutinin, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1698, 213-218.
Ivanov, S., L. Miteva, V. Alexieva, Hr. Kurjin, E. Karanov (2004) - Alterations in some oxidative parameters in susceptible and resistant wheat plants infected with Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici. J. Plant Physiol., (in press).
Miteva, L., S. Ivanov, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov (2004) - Effect of atrazine on glutathione levels, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities in pea and wheat plants. Plant Protect. Sci., 40(1), 16-20.
Parvanova, D., S. Ivanov, T. Konstantinova, E. Karanov, A. Atanassov, T. Tsvetkov, V. Alexieva, D. Djilianov (2004) - Transgenic tobacco plants accumulating osmolytes show reduced oxidative damage under freezing stress, Plant Physiol. Biochem., 42, 57-63.
Stoynova-Bakalova, E., P. Petrov, E. Karanov, M. Hall (2004) - Cell division and cell expansion in cotyledons of Arabidopsis seedlings. New Phytol., 162, 471-479.
Vaseva-Gemisheva, I., D. Lee, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov (2004) - Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase in Pisum sativum plants during vegetative development. Influence of UV-B irradiation and high temperature on enzymatic activity, Plant Growth Regul., 42(1), 1-5.

2003
Atanasova, L., D. Stefanov, I. Yordanov, K. Kornova, L. Kavardzikov (2003) - Comparative characteristics of growth and photosynthesis of sun and shade leaves from normal and pendulum walnut (Juglans regia L.) trees, Photosynthetica 41 (2), 289-292.
Sergiev, I., D. Todorova, V. Alexieva, E. Karanov, A. Smith, M. Hall (2003) - Rosette leaf senescence in wild type and ethylene-insensitive mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh during inflorescence and fruit development. In: Phytohormones in plant biotechnology and agriculture, Ed. by I. Machackova, G. Romanov, Kluwer Acad. Publ., The Netherlands, 217-228.
Stoynova-Bakalova, E., T. Toncheva-Panova (2003) - Subcellular adaptation to salinity and irradiance in Dunaliella salina. Biol.Plant., 47, 233-236.
Todorov, D., E. Karanov, A. Smith, M. Hall (2003) - Chlorophyllase activity and chlorophyll content in wild and eti5 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana subjected to low and high temperatures. Biol. Plant. 46, 125-127.
Yordanova, R., V. Alexieva, L. Popova (2003) - Influence of root oxygen deficiency on photosynthesis and antioxidants in barley plants. Russ. J. Plant Physiol., 50, 2, 163-167.

2002
Ananieva, E., V. Alexieva, L. Popova (2002) - Treatment with salicylic acid decreases the effects of parquat on photosynthesis. J. Plant Physiol., 159, 685-693.
Angelova, Y., S. Petkova, N. Popova, B. Stefanov, L. Iliev (2002) - Influence of ABA and 4PU-30 on the growth, proteolytic activities and protein composition of maize seedlings. Biol. Plant., 45(1), 33-37.
Stoynova-Bakalova, E., P. Petrov, H. Tsukaya (2002) - Cell division and cell enlargement in isolated Cucurbita cotyledons grown in darkness and in light. J. Plant Res., 115, 375-380.

2001
Alexieva, V., I. Sergiev, S. Mapelli, E. Karanov (2001) - The effect of drought and ultraviolet radiation on growth and stress markers in pea and wheat. Plant, Cell & Environ., 24, 1337-1344.
Atanasova, L., D. Stefanov, M. Pissarska, D. Moskova, C. Christov, K. Kornova, L. Kavardzikov (2001) - Physiological studies of walnut trees, normal and pendulous type of growth. In: Plants of the Balkan Peninsula: into the next Millennium. Ed. by N. Gozukirmizi. Istanbul University, Turkey, (Proceedings of the 2nd Balkan Botanical Congress held at Istanbul, 14-18 May 2000) vol. II, 33-38.
Atanasova, L., L. Iliev (2001) - Growth and endogenous cytokinins in tobacco callus as affected by N-(2-chloro-4-pyridil)-N’-phenylurea. Biol. Plant., 44, 451-453.
Chankova, S., G. Jovtchev, S. Gateva, P. Yonova, A. Mehandjiev, V. Shevchenko (2001) - Protecting effect of newly synthesized urea and thiourea derivatives on different test-systems. J. Environm. Protection and Ecology, 2(3), 694-703.
Christov, C., I. Pouneva, M. Bozhcova, E. Ananieva (2001) - Abscisic acid and cell cycle in unicellular green algae. In: Plants of the Balkan Peninsula: into the next Millennium. Ed. by N. Gozukirmizi. Istanbul University, Turkey, (Proceedings of the 2nd Balkan Botanical Congress held at Istanbul, 14-18 May 2000) vol. II, 61-66.
Christov, C., I. Pouneva, M. Bozhcova, T. Toncheva, S. Fournadzieva, T. Zafirova (2001) - Influence of temperature and methyl jasmonate on Scenedesmus incrassatulus. Biol. Plant., 44, 3, 367-371.
Stoynova-Bakalova, E., P. Petrov, E. Karanov (2001) - Effects of benzylaminopurine and abscisic acid on distribution of rRNA in the palisade cells of excised Cucurbita pepo cotyledons. Biol. Plant., 44, 355-360.