Research Projects
ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS
National Funding
KP-06 PN 36/8. Exploring the interactions between innovative nanomaterials and higher plants – basis for development of sustainable nanoagronomic practices.
2019-2024
PI: Prof. Sashka Krumova (Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
Partner: Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPPG – PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova)
KP-06-N21/8. Mechanisms of recovery from drought and frost-induced desiccation: strategies for survival of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis.
2018-2023
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partners: Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Agrobioinstitute – Agricultural Academy
KP-06-PN-31/2. Genome wide association study of grain yield, grain protein content and grain nitrogen concentration in Bulgarian bread wheat germplasm.
2019-2023
PI: Prof. Svetlana Misheva (Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
КP-06-N36/3. Evaluation of the physiological responses of wheat and triticale to drought and wetting of the soil after routine application of a selective herbicide.
2020-2023
PI: Assoc. Prof. Desislava Todorova (Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
КP-06-N49-7. Natural zeolites as a base for space soil (ZeoSpace).
2021-2024
PI: Prof. Yuri Kalvachev (Institute of Catalysis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
IPPG-PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
Bilateral cooperation
Defence mechanisms at root and leaf levels that allow the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis to overcome the final stage of desiccation.
2022-2023
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partner: Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, HAS, Hungary
The effect of light quality on physiology and photosynthesis and defining the role of polyamines in the development and stress tolerance of plants.
2022-2023
PI: Assist. Prof. Dilyana Doneva
Partner: Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungary
International Funding
ESA contract №4000122781/18/NL/SC. Design and development of Space Greenhouse Microgravity Specific ENvironment Simulating Equipment (SG µg-SENSE).
2018-2022
PI: Iliana Ilieva – Space Research and Technology Institute – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
IPPG PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
BUL5016 Improving the Productivity and Quality of Economically Important Crops through Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology (IAEA program)
2020-2023
PI: Prof. Elena Todorovska (AgroBioInstitute, Agricultural Academy)
PI from IPPG – Prof. Lubomir Stoilov
Other Funding Sources
National Research Program: „Healthy nutrition for a strong bioeconomy and quality of life“.
2019-2023.
PI from IPPG – BAS: Prof. Violeta Velikova.
COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS
National Funding
KP-06-India-9. Exploring the natural diversity in tomato germplasm for phosphate starvation responses.
2018-2022
PI: Assist. Prof. Kiril Mishev (Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences).
Partner: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.
National Research Program “Young scientists and postdoctoral students”, Young scientists Module. Manipulation of light for plant growth optimization and antioxidant capacity increasement. National Research Program “Young scientists and postdoctoral students”, Young scientists Module
2019-2020
PI: Assist. Prof. Dilyana Doneva
DFNP-17-37. The role of polyamine putrescine in the regulation of water deficit tolerance in wheat.
2017-2019
PI: Asst. Prof. Dilyana Doneva
BUL5014. Screening of Cereal Germplasm Stress Response and Adaptation Potential by Advanced Nuclear, Omics and Physiological Approaches
2016-2017
PI: Prof. Lubomir Stoilov
Partners: IPPG-BAS, Agrobioinstitute, Joint Genomic Center, The Institute for Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov” – Sadovo
DFNI B02/8. Biogenic volatile organic compounds, global climate change, and plant adaptation potential to changing environment.
2014 – 2018
PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
Partners: IPPG-BAS, Sofia University, University of Forestry
D01-168. Effects of climate change on air pollution impacts and response strategies for European ecosystems (ECLAIRE). Co-financed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria.
2014 – 2016
PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
DNTS 01/001. Protection mechanisms against excess light during desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis
2012 – 2016
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partners: Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Frankfurt, Germany
DNTS 01/10. Physiological and pathological effects of heavy metals at an early stage of cereal crop development and after complete maturity of grains. Protective role of nitric oxide.
2012-2016
PI: Asst. Prof. Rosina Yordanova-Zlatanova
Partners: Department of biotechnology, Academy of State administration of Grain, Beijing, China
International Funding
COST Action CA15226. Climate-Smart Forestry in Mountain Regions.
2016-2021
Grant Holder: Molise University, Italy.
EU FP7 – № 282910 Effects of Climate Change on Air Pollution Impacts and Response Strategies for European Ecosystems (ECLAIRE).
2011 – 2015
PI: Mark Sutton NERC, UK
BG PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova.
COST Action FP1204. Forests, their Products and Services “Green Infrastructure approach: linking environment with social aspects in studying and managing urban forests”.
2012 – 2016
Grant Holder: Institute of Agriculture and Forest Biology, CNR, Italy.
COST Action FA1204. Vegetable grafting to improve yield and fruit quality under biotic and abiotic stress conditions.
2012 – 2016
Grant Holder: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie per l’Agricoltura, le Foreste, la Natura e l’Energia (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
COST Action TD1102. Photosynthetic proteins for technological applications: biosensors and biochips.
2011 – 2015
Grant Holder: Crystallography Institute, CNR, Italy
Bilateral cooperation
Detailed characterization of recovery processes from the drought-induced desiccated stage in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis.
2019-2021
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partner: Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, HAS, Hungary
Role of bio-active substances in the stress responses of crop plants: Effects on photosynthesis and their interaction with plant hormones.
2019-2021
PI: Assist. Prof. Violeta Peeva
Partner: Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungary
Mitigation of adverse effects of abiotic stress on cereals by application of plant growth regulators.
2019-2021
PI: Assoc. Prof. Desislava Todorova
Partner: Cairo University, Egypt
Assessment of ability of synthetic auxin type compounds to counteract herbicide stress in crop plants.
2019-2021
PI: Assoc. Prof. Desislava Todorova
Partner: Institute of Botany, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Lithuania.
Physiological characteristics of frost resistance of plants with different desiccation tolerance 2016 – 2018
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partner: Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, HAS, Hungary
Polyamine metabolism and signaling in crop plants under stress conditions.
2016 -2019
PI: Asst. Prof. Violeta Peeva
Partner: Centre for Agricultural Research, HAS, Hungary
Biochemical and physiological mechanisms of cold hardiness in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv.
2016 – 2018
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partner: Institute of Biometeorology, IBIMET, CNR, Italy
Biogenic volatile organic compounds and their function in plant adaptation to changing environment
2015-2017
PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
Partner: Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
Development of wheat germplasm resistant to some fungal diseases.
2015 – 2017
PI: Asst. Prof. Gergana Mihailova
Partner: Faculty of Agriculture, Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Manipulation of light quality to optimize photosynthesis and production of secondary metabolites of interest for plant protection
2013-2015
PI: Prof. Violeta Velikova
Partner: Institute for Plant Protection, CNR, Италия
Low temperature tolerance mechanisms in a resurrection and a non-resurrection plant
2013-2015
PI: Prof. Katya Georgieva
Partner: Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, HAS, Hungary
Physiological effects of heavy metals and molecular aspects of acclimation processes in crop plants.
2013-2015
PI: Asst. Prof. Rosina Yordanova-Zlatanova
Partner: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary
