Professor Katya Georgieva, PhD Building 21, Office 209, Lab 116 Phone (+359 2) 979 26-20; (+359 2) 979 26-88 E-mail: katya@bio21.bas.bg; georgieva.katya.m@gmail.com ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5509-3801 Research Gate: Katya Georgieva

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Plant physiology and biochemistry, photosynthesis, abiotic stress and acclimation mechanisms, resurrection plants, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidants, stress-induced proteins, pigment-protein complexes, photosynthetic proteins.

EDUCATION

• 1989 – PhD in plant physiology, Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
• 1982 – MSc in molecular biology, St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Faculty of Biology

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

• 2012 – Professor, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics – BAS
• 2002 – 2012 – Associate Professor, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics – BAS
• 1990 – 2002 – Assistant Professor, Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology – BAS

SPECIALIZATIONS ABROAD

• Institute оf Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Germany – German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD fellowship) – 2007, 2008
• Eötvös Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary – NATO fellowship – 2004
• Istituto di Biochimica ed Ecofisiologia vegetali, Monterotoondo Scalo, CNR, Italy – Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) fellowship – 2001
• Istituto per l’Agroselvicoltura, Porano, Italy –  CNR-NATO fellowship – 2000
• Institute of Botany, Karlsruhe University, Germany – DAAD fellowship – 1995, 1998, 2005
• Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK –  Royal Society fellowship – 1996

MEMBERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

• Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, section Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
• Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology (FESPB)

PROJECTS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS

• 2019-2021 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Academy of Sciences – “Detailed characterization of recovery processes from the drought-induced desiccated stage in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis – project coordinator from BAS
• 2018-2021 Research grant from National Science Fund (NSF), Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (Н21/8): Mechanisms of recovery from drought and frost-induced desiccation: strategies for survival of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis – Project leader
• 2018-2021 Research grant from National Science Fund (NSF), Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (Х26/11): Role of carotenoids for effectiveness and stability of photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants exposed to changes in environmental conditions – Project participant
• 2016-2018 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and National Council of Research (CNR), Italy – “Biochemical and physiological mechanisms of cold hardiness in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv” project coordinator from BAS
• 2016-2018 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Academy of Sciences – “Physiological characteristics of cold resistance of plants with different susceptibility to drought” – project coordinator from BAS
• 2016-2017 IAEA- BUL5014 “Screening of cereal germplasm stress response and adaptation potential by advanced nuclear, omics and physiological approaches” – Project participant
• 2015-2017 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Latvia – “Evaluation of wheat germplasm (Triticum aestivum L.) for resistance to some fungal diseases” – Project participant
• 2014-2016 COST action FA1204 „Vegetable grafting to improve yield and fruit quality under biotic and abiotic stress conditions“ – Project participant
• 2013-2015 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Academy of Sciences – “Low temperature tolerance mechanisms in a resurrection and a non-resurrection plant” – project coordinator from BAS
• 2012-2016 ДНТС Germany 01/1, Research grant from National Science Fund – “Protection mechanisms against excess light during desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis” – Project leader
• 2010-2014 Research grant from National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (ДТК 02/1/2010) – “Assessment of indicators for soil monitoring and ecological risk in elaboration of programs for sustainable management of areas with contaminated soils or subjected to human impact – Project participant
• 2008-2012 Research grant from National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (Д002-208/2008) – “Ecophysiological responses of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis to desiccation under high temperature and different light regimes. Molecular analysis of desiccation tolerance” – Project leader
• 2007-2011 Research grant from National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (ВУ-Л 301/07) – “New opportunities for application of a static electric field to biological membranes: the role of iron ions and electrokinetic potential” – Project participant
• 2010-2013 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and CNR, Italy – “Study on the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis under high temperature and high irradiance conditions” project coordinator from BAS
• 2010-2013 Joint research project within the frames of the bilateral cooperation between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Academy of Sciences – “The role of light during desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis” – project coordinator from BAS

PUBLICATION ACTIVITY

Scientific publications – 109
Citations ∼1500

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Mihailova G, Stoyanova Z, Rodeva R, Bankina B, Bimsteine G, Georgieva K (2019) Physiological changes in winter wheat genotypes in response to the Zymoseptoria tritici infection. Photosynthetica 57: 428-437

Doltchinkova V, Andreeva T, Georgieva K, Mihailova G, Balashev K (2019) Desiccation‐induced alterations in surface topography of thylakoids from resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis studied by atomic force microscopy, electrokinetic and optical measurements. Physiologia Plantarum 166: 585-595

Mihailova, G., Kocheva, K., Goltsev, V., Kalaji, H. M., Georgieva, K. (2018). Application of a diffusion model to measure ion leakage of resurrection plant leaves undergoing desiccation. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 125: 185-192

Georgieva K, Solti Á, Mészáros I, Keresztes Á, Sárvári É (2017) Light sensitivity of Haberlea rhodopensis shade adapted phenotype under drought stress. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 39: 164

Georgieva K, Dagnon S, Gesheva E, Bojilov D, Mihailova G, Doncheva S (2017) Antioxidant defense during desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 114: 51-59

Mihailova G, Abakumov D, Büchel C, Dietzel L, Georgieva K (2017) Drought-responsive gene expression in sun and shade plants of Haberlea rhodopensis under controlled environment. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 35: 313-322.

Georgieva K, Rapparini F, Bertazza G, Mihailova G, Sárvári É, Solti Á, Keresztes Á (2017) Alterations in the sugar metabolism and in the vacuolar system of mesophyll cells contribute to the desiccation tolerance of Haberlea rhodopensis ecotypes. Protoplasma 254: 193-201

Georgieva K, Mihailova G (2016) Drought Tolerance of Photosynthesis In: Handbook of photosynthesis, Pessarakli M (Ed.), Third edition, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 683-696

Rapparini F, Neri L, Mihailova G., Petkova S, Georgieva K (2015) Growth irradiance affects the photoprotective mechanisms of the resurrection angiosperm Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. in response to desiccation and rehydration at morphological, physiological and biochemical levels. Environmental and Experimental Botany 113:, 67-79

Sárvári É, Mihailova G, Solti Á, Keresztes Á, Velitchkova M, Georgieva K (2014) Comparison of thylakoid structure and organization in sun and shade Haberlea rhodopensis populations under desiccation and rehydration. Journal of Plant Physiology 171: 1591-1600.

Solti A, Lenk S, Mihailova G, Mayer P, Barócsi A, Georgieva K (2014) Effects of habitat light conditions on the excitation quenching pathways in desiccating Haberlea rhodopensis leaves: an Intelligent FluoroSensor study. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 130: 217-225

Velitchkova M, Doltchinkova V, Lazarova D, Mihailova G, Doncheva S, Georgieva K (2013) Effect of high temperature on dehydration-induced alterations in photosynthetic characteristics of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis. Photosynthetica 51: 630-640

Georgieva K, Doncheva S, Mihailova G, Petkova S (2012) Response of sun- and shade-adapted plants of Haberlea rhodopensis to desiccation. Plant Growth Regul 67: 121-132

Péli E, Mihailova G, Petkova S, Tuba Z, Georgieva K (2012) Differences in physiological adaptation of Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. leaves and roots during dehydration–rehydration cycle. Acta Physiol Plant 34: 947-955

Nagy-Déri H, Péli E, Georgieva K, Tuba Z (2011) Changes in chloroplast morphology of different parenchyma cells in leaves of Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. during desiccation and following rehydration. Photosynthetica 49: 119-126

Mihailova G, Petkova S, Büchel C, Georgieva K (2011) Desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis at high temperature. Photosynth. Res. 108: 5-13

Georgieva K, Ivanova A, Doncheva S, Petkova S, Stefanov D, Péli E, Tuba Z (2011) Fatty acid content during reconstitution of the photosynthetic apparatus in the air-dried leaves of Xerophyta scabrida after rehydration. Biologia Plantarum 55: 581-585

Demirevska K, Simova-Stoilova L, Fedina I, Georgieva K, Kunert K (2010) Response of oryzacystatin I transformed tobacco plants to drought, heat and light stress. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 196: 90-99

Georgieva K, Sarvari E, Keresztes A (2010) Protection of thylakoids against combined light and drought by a lumenal substance in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis. Annals of Botany 105: 117-126

Fedina I, Hidema J, Velitchkova M, Georgieva K, Nedeva D (2010) UV-B induced stress responses in three rice cultivars. Biologia Plantarum 54: 571-574

Doncheva S, Poschenrieder C, Stoyanova Z, Georgieva K, Velichkova M, Barcelo J (2009) Silicon amelioration of manganese toxicity in Mn-sensitive and Mn tolerant maize varieties. Environmental and Experimental Botany 65: 189-197

Fedina I, Nedeva D, Georgieva K, Velitchkova M (2009) Methyl jasmonate counteract UV-B stress in barley seedlings. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 195: 204-212

Georgieva K, Roding A, Buchel C (2009) Changes in some thylakoid membrane proteins and pigments upon desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis. J Plant Physiol 166: 1520-1528

Georgieva K, Lenk S, Buschmann C (2008) Responses of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis to high irradiance. Photosynthetica 46: 208-215

Lambrev P, Tsonev Ts, Velikova V, Georgieva K, Lambreva M, Yordanov I, Kovacs L, Garab G (2007) Trapping of the quenched conformation associated with non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence at low temperature. Photosynth. Res. 94: 321-332

Georgieva K, Szigeti Z, Sarvari E, Gaspar L, Maslenkova L, Peeva V, Peli E, Tuba Z (2007) Photosynthetic activity of homoiochlorophyllous desiccation tolerant plant Haberlea rhodopensis during dehydration and rehydration. Planta 225: 955-964

Gorinova N, Nedkovska M, Todorovska E, Simova-Stoilova L, Stoyanova Z, Georgieva K, Demirevska-Kepova K, Atanassov A, Herzig R (2007) Improved phytoaccumulation of cadmium by genetically modified tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Physiological and biochemical response of the transformants to cadmium toxicity. Environmental Pollution 145: 161-179

Fedina I, Velitchkova M, Georgieva K, Demirevska K, Simova L (2007) UV-B response of green and etiolated barley seedlings. Biol Plantarum 51: 699-706

Georgieva K, Lichtenthaler HK (2006) Photosynthetic response of different pea cultivars to a low and high temperature treatment. Photosynthetica 44: 569-578

Georgieva K, Maslenkova L (2006) Thermostability and photostabitity of PSII of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis studied by means of chlorophyll fluorescence. Z. Naturforshung 61c: 234-240

Fedina I, Georgieva K, Velitchkova M, Grigorova I (2006) Effect of pretreatment of barley seedlings with different salts on the level of UV-B induced and UV-B absorbing compounds. Environmental and Experimental Botany 56: 225-230

Fedina I, Velitchkova M, Georgieva K, Grigorova I (2005) UV-B –induced compounds as affected by proline and NaCl in Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa. Environmental and Experimental Botany 54: 182-191

Georgieva K, Maslenkova L, Peeva V, Markovska Y, Stefanov D, Tuba Z (2005) Comparative study on the changes in photosynthetic activity of the homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant Haberlea rhodopensis and spinach leaves during desiccation and rehydration. Photosynth Res 85: 191-203

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