Department of Cell Biology

RESEARCH TOPICS

1. Microspore embryogenesis and doubled haploids (DH).
(i) Identification of (epi)genetic, proteomic and hormonal factors determining the effective reprograming of microspore developmental pathway in various cereal (triticale, wheat, barley, rye) and industrial crop species, including oilseeds (oilseed rape).
(ii) The role of reactive oxygen species and oxidoreductive balance in the induction and regulation of microspore embryogenesis in triticale, rye and barley. 
(iii) Identification of ‘cell death’ programme (PCD) elements as factors modifying the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis in triticale and rye.
(iv) Optimisation of DH lines production methods of cereal, grass and oilseed rape plants using anther and isolated microspore cultures. 

2. Drought as a factor modifying molecular background, cellular metabolism and initiating specific plant defence mechanisms. 
(i) Effects of soil drought on the chloroplast proteome and activity of selected proteins in winter barley.

3. Mechanisms controlling seed development in barley. 
(i) Analysis of the organisation and modification of chromatin structure in embryo and endosperm cell nuclei in developing seeds.
(ii) Identification and characterisation of imprinted genes determining endosperm development.

4. Involvement of secondary metabolism in the control of plant growth and development and in defence responses to environmental stress (in collaboration with Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology and Małopolska Hodowla Roślin Sp. z o.o.).
(i) Modification of the profile of secondary metabolites to enhance the defence mechanisms of crops, improve yields and use as a source of valuable compounds for industry, including pharmaceuticals.
(ii) The role of hormones in the regulation of defence mechanisms and activation of metabolic pathways related to plant resistance. Research on the role of the enzyme myrosinase in the activation of glucosinolates and their importance in the plant defence system against herbivores and pathogens.

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

2009-2012; National Science Center, Action COST FA0604 (TRITIGEN)  (No. 548/N-COST/2009/0)  'Localization of QTL for androgenic response in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.)' Project leader: dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur

2010-2013; National Science Center  (No. NN310 452638) 'The possibility of increasing the efficiency of androgenesis in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) by controlling the hormone balance and intensity of oxidative stress in anthers'  Project leader: dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur 

2011-2014; National Science Center (No. 2011/01/D/NZ9/02547) 'The role of endogenous auxins: Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in auxin homeostasis and androgenic effectivness enhancement in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)' Project leader: dr Ewa Dubas

2012-2014; National Science Center (No. 2011/01/N/NZ9/02541) 'The identification of proteins connected with androgenic responsiveness in triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm.)'  Project leader: dr Monika Krzewska 

2014-2018; Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development (Task no. 26) 'Identification of factors which determine drought and freezing tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)' Project leader: dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur

2015-2018; Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development (Task no. 84) 'Identification of factors determining the efficiency of doubled haploids production in rye (Secale cereale L.) through androgenesis and distant crosses' Project leader: dr hab. Ewa Dubas

2016-2021; National Science Center (No. 2015/18/M/NZ3/00348) 'Oxidative stress and its role in the regulation of embryogenesis in isolated microspore cultures of triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)' Project leader: dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur

2017-2020; National Centre of Research and Development (No. Tango2/340285/NCBR/2017) 'Protocol for effective doubled haploids production by androgenesis for polish breeding materials of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)'  Project leader: dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur

2020; National Science Center (No. 2019/3/X/NZ9/01879) 'The effect of soil drought on the winter barley chloroplast proteome (Hordeum vulgare L.)'  Project leader: dr inż. Przemysław Kopeć

2021-2026; Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development  (Task no. 4) 'Identification of factors which determine microspore embryogenesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)' Project leader: prof. dr hab. inż. Iwona Żur

2024-2027; MNiSW project Science for Society II (No. NdSII/SP/0237/2023/01) 'Centre for the Assessment of Resistance of Winter Cereals to Climate Change' Project leader: dr inż. Przemysław Kopeć

RESEARCH COOPERATION OFFER

• Doubled haploids production by microspore embryogenesis (anther culture, isolated microspor culture) and distant crosses for basic reasearch (genetic mapping, QTLs analysis, proteomics, metabolomics) and breeding (cooperation with Polish breeding companies).   
• In vitro culture of organs/tissues/cell and protoplasts suspensions and its utilization in the studies on embryo- or organogenesis and defences reactions induced by abiotic stress treatment
• Plant-pathogen interactions, identification of factors that determine the resistance against pathogenic fungi
• Early phases of plant  embryogenesis
• Advanced analytic methods of light and fluorescent microscopy: in situ immunodetection, histochemistry, cytogenetics, cariology, cytology and classic anatomy
• Biochemical and molecular analyses: proteins extraction and identyfication 2(D-Gel, Western-Blot, SELDI-TOF), enzymes activity analysis by spectroformetry and fluorimetry, measurement of reactive oxygen species level and cell/tissue redox state, DNA isolation and analysis (PAGE, PCR), RNA isolation
• Assessment of the impact of climate change on crop plants, e.g. phenotyping and evaluation of yield stability of cultivars
• Microscopic image analysis and graphical data visualisation (2D, 3D, 4D) in morphology, anatomy and cytology
• Bioinformatics and statistical analysis: RStudio, Statistica, FigTree