Laboratory of Biotechnology, Phytopathology and Biochemistry

The Laboratory of Biotechnology, Phytopathology and Biochemistry is headed by Candidate of Biological Sciences Irina Vardanyan. The Laboratory conducts scientific research in the field of biotechnology, molecular biology and plant biochemistry.

The main areas of research are as follows:

• development of technology of in vitro culture of isolated organs and tissues of vegetables crops,
• development of new breeding lines by the method of somaclonal variability,
• usage of promising regenerant lines in breeding processes in closed and open ground conditions,
• development of methods for obtaining healthy planting material of vegetable crops in vitro,
• search for sources and donors of vegetable plants resistance to the most harmful diseases,
• physiological and biochemical studies of developed varieties and promising breeding lines.

The Laboratory of Biotechnology, Phytopathology and Biochemistry conducts:

• micropropagation of vegetable and Cucurbits crops under in vitro conditions;
• diagnostics of a number of bacterial and fungal diseases, detection of quarantine pathogens and seed diseases by real-time PCR;
• detailed analyzes of fertilizers, soil, water, as well as analyzes of hydroponic solutions and drainage water are carried out using modern high-precision equipment in accordance with ISO standards;
• biochemical analyzes of vegetables fruits: determination of sugars content, vitamin C, dry substances, lycopene, carotenoids.

The Laboratory of Phytopathology, Biotechnology and Plant Biochemistry cooperates with research centers and universities of the Republic and abroad, actively participates in national and international scientific programs.