Research • Research Areas

Plant Molecular Biology and Genetics

plant molecular

Application of invitro tissue culture techniques

plant molecular2

Screening wild and modern wheat genotypes for their tolerance to aboitic stresses

Research in plant molecular biology and genetics is attracting increasing attention within the scientific community, because biotechnology research is extensively involved in product development for many agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies. Through application of molecular biology techniques, new plant varieties are being developed which are resistant to broad spectrum herbicides, insects, viral pathogens and extreme environmental conditions. Testing and analysis of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is also carried out in our laboratories.

Investigation of genetic and molecular basis of biotic (diseases and insects) and abiotic (drought, cold, salt, heat, mineral deficiency.) stress response mechanisms, and herbicide resistance with identification and tagging of related genes in plants are main interests. The scientific knowledge generated in the light of those studies are used in genetic improvement of cultivated wheats by exploiting wild wheat, production of stress tolerant crop plants via genetic transformation and pathogen free plant materials by in vitro propagation.

Biodiversity in plants is explored at the genic and genomic level with DNA-RNA fingerprinting and comparative genome analysis. Gene transmission and silencing in plants are also investigated.

Faculty Members: Hikmet Budak, Selim Cetiner, Zehra Sayers

 

Recent Projects:

  • Molecular cloning and functional expression of glyphosate target enzyme in plants. (EU International Grants*)
  • Molecular characterization of drought resistance in wild and modern wheats using genomics and informatics tools (TUBITAK).
  • Development and application of techniques on molecular analysis and traceability of genetically modified products. (TUBITAK)
  • Identification and physiological, molecular characterization of new gene resources involved in salt tolerance of Aegilops tauschii (TUBITAK)
  • Identification of historical wine grapes found in Urla using molecular and ampelographic techniques (TUBITAK)

*European Union International Grants

Publications:

Budak, H., R.C. Shearman, and I. Dweikat. (2005). Evolution of Buchloë dactyloides based on cloning and sequencing of matK, rbcL, and cob genes from plastid and mitochondrial genomes. Genome: 48:411-416.

Budak, H., R.C. Shearman, O. Gulsen and I. Dweikat. (2005). Understanding ploidy complex and geographic origin of Buchloe dactyloides genome using cytoplasmic and nuclear marker systems. Theoretical and Applied Genetics: 111:1545-1552.

Yalcin-Mendi NY, Ipek M, Serbest-Kobaner S, Curuk S, Kacar YA, Cetiner S, Gaba V, Grumet R. (2004). Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of 'Kirkagac 637' a recalcitrant melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivar with ZYMV coat protein encoding gene. European Journal of Horticultural Science 69 (6): 258-262

Budak H, Kasap Z, R.C. Shearman, I Dweikat, U. Sezerman, A. Mahmood. (2006). Molecular characterization of cDNA encoding resistance gene like sequences in Buchloe dactyloides. Molecular Biotechnology (In press).