Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
|
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B270 |
Biomedical sciences |
Plant ecology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.06 |
Natural Sciences |
Biological sciences |
| 1.05 |
Natural Sciences |
Earth and related Environmental sciences |
plants, ecosystems, biodiversity, growth, development, interaction with environment, ionomics, crops, biofortification, remediation, pollution
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
July 26, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
447 |
9,074 |
7,532 |
16.85 |
| Scopus |
464 |
10,263 |
8,597 |
18.53 |
Researchers (33)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Programme group consists of researchers dealing with different aspects of plant biology namely botany, taxonomy, ecology and physiology. Top priority of the group is to establish the basis for sustainable use of biodiversity that includes species, processes, and ecosystems and provides ecosystem services. Main goals of the programme group are: (1) to investigate biodiversity potential and mechanisms to develop methods that will enable the use of natural resources in sustainable way, (2) to indicate and mitigate the harmful effect of human activity on ecosystems and (3) to improve the quality of our resources. The research consists of 4 work packages: Biodiversity, Growth and development, Plant – environment interactions and Ionomics and biofortification. In the context of biodiversity research we will investigate Slovenian flora in priority areas and establish high-quality and up-to-date database of ferns and seed plants, which will serve for scientific and professional purposes. We will focus on mapping of invasive alien species in order to establish a prediction model for the spread and priorisation of action for their eradication. The results of the investigation of some processes associated with abscission obtained within the work package Growth and development will be applicable in agriculture and biotechnology. The research of secondary substances of different autochthonous and alien species will reveal their potential antimicrobial and allelopathic effects. The research that will point out environmental factors triggering outstanding variations of selected ornamental species, will enable their cultivation. The research within the work package Plant – environment interactions aims to investigate the effects of different biotic and abiotic factors, including climate, pollution, UV-B radiation and microbial communities on selected plants species. The results will serve as a basis to establish mitigation measures against harmful effects and to encourage the use of potentially beneficial effects. Within the work package Ionomics and biofortification we aim to improve the quality of food crops. We will examine the importance of Si for the vitality of cereals and the factors that affect its uptake. We will optimise the processes of biofortification that can become an alternative to supplement human diet with minerals. Special attention will be paid to Se, I and Fe, which are important for human health. Localization and speciation of beneficial and toxic elements (Hg, Cd, Cu) in plants will be studied by techniques based on synchrotron light. We will investigate the interaction of nanoparticles with secondary metabolites in crops. We will also study the effects of microbial communities on the elemental composition of grape and the uptake of metals in different crops to examine their usefulness for phytoremediation. Our research will result in development of new methods that will improve the insight into the studied areas.
Significance for science
An important contribution of program group will be new knowledge of species composition in selected areas, critical evaluation of problematic taxonomic groups and the establishment of high-quality and up-to-date database of distribution of plant species in Slovenia. This knowledge is crucial for biogeographic analysis, including strategic analysis in order to predict spreading of invasive alien species (IAS) and to establish corridors to mitigate global climate change. Our data, combined with data from other two large data bases of the Slovenian flora, will serve to complete Atlas of Flora of Slovenia. Our findings on the biological activity of extracts and essential oils derived from tissues of IAS and indigenous species, will contribute to the understanding of the interactions among plant species and mechanisms of IAS spreading and control. Molecular basis of the abscission process is poorly known therefore we will study the metabolism of ethylene, the course of programmed cell death, cell wall degradation and expression of genes involved in cell disruption. The the study of the causes for variability of common cyclamen leaves and common snowdrop flowers will bring new knowledge for horticultural practice. The research of the interactions between plants and their abiotic and biotic environment will reveal the tolerance limits of selected plant species, their ecological role and ecosystem resilience. Research of IAS and plants from extreme habitats are important from the perspective of global change, because these plants are candidates for colonization of cleared, devastated, polluted and disturbed areas. The knowledge about causes of variability of light absorbance in plant leaves will improve the interpretation of reflectance spectra that are frequently used for indication of different aspects of plant biology. The research of plant ionome in relation to metabolomic and genetic profiles, is becoming important in the processes of producing mineral-rich and hazardous mineral-reduced crops in order to combat mineral malnutrition and prevent contamination of food with potentially hazardous elements.The new insights into interactions of plants with rhizosphere microorganisms will improve our knowledge on processes in different habitats. These findings will contribute to the development of techniques for prevention of the uptake of toxic metals in food chains and for improving the quality of food. Our knowledge on Se, I and Fe compounds and their metabolism in plants is limited. Crops of plants enriched with Se, I and Fe will be applicable in development of innovative functional food products. Since the emissions of nanoparticles in the environment are increasing, we will contribute to the understanding of interactions between nanoparticles and biota. The result of the survey will also be new methods that will improve insight into studied areas.
Significance for the country
Knowledge transfer on scientific and professional meetings, through scientific and professional publications and educational process to other sectors and social strata impacts different aspects and levels of everyday life. From the national point of view, technical and scientific writing in Slovene language is highly important for development of Slovenian terminology. Research programme is an opportunity for students to participate in research processes and also enables participation of our research team in national and international projects as well as in professional associations. As a result of our activities, new herbarium specimens will be added to the LJU herbarium collection and our field records will be directly entered into the Flora of Slovenia Database. LJU herbarium collection and Flora of Slovenia Database are important from the scientific and cultural-historical point of view. In addition to that, studies of some unique taxa (endemics) and ecosystems (intermittent Lake Cerknica) are also of national importance. Results on biodiversity research will be directly applicable for nature conservation purposes i.e. for the strategies of management with invasive alien species, and for strategies of adaptation of protected areas with high nature-conservation value, to the impacts of climate change. Our research is also of social importance: it raises the level of knowledge about our flora, the interest in nature-conservation values and the awareness of risks of invasive alien species (IAS). Studies on the allelopathic and antimicrobial activities of extracts of autochthonous species and IAS will show the potential usefulness of these substances as the alternative to the chemical herbicides. The results on the programmed cell death and abscission research will be applicable in agriculture and biotechnology to monitor fruit abscission in different species. The knowledge of the causes for variability some autochthonous species will be applicable in horticultural practice and will promote Slovenian flora. The knowledge about interactions between species and their abiotic and biotic environment represents scientific background for ecosystem sustainable management and reveal their resilience and trends due to global changes. With the research of plant microbiome we will examine their effect on plant elemental composition and protection against toxic elements. The results of phytoremediation studies will contribute to effective mitigation measures in different parts of Slovenia with high metal load and improve the quality of local people life. The biofortification of crops with Se, I and Fe will enable the development of new functional products, which is important in Slovenia with declining food self-sufficiency.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
