Laboratory of Applied Biology and Ecology

The Laboratory of Applied Biology and Ecology was established in 2013.

The field of laboratory research includes:

• study of soil salinization process and identification of innovative ways of improvement,

• study, assessment, and remediation of soil contamination with heavy metals,

• study of the biological effect of nanoparticles (green synthesis),

• biodiversity study,

• biological effect of nanoparticles,

• Traditional winemaking technology,

• the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems,

• study of predatory aquatic fungi,

• testing of antifungal and antibacterial activities of substances,

• bioleaching by strains isolated from mine waters.

The main scientific directions operating in the laboratory

• Assessment of the degree of salinity of soils in the most risky regions of the Republic of Armenia and study of the process of soil degradation according to various indicators of soil biological activity.

• Studying the salt tolerance of crops and identifying the most effective ways to mitigate salt stress.

• Study of the quality of underground waters of the Ararat Valley and evaluation of their irrigable properties.

• Assessment of the degree of heavy metal contamination and ecological risks of the soils of the mining regions of the Republic of Armenia and the study of the phytoremediation potential of different plant species.

• Screening of antifungal and antibacterial activities of selected substances.

• Isolation of strains from mine waters of copper-molybdenum and polymetallic deposits. Verification of bioleaching efficiency using isolated strains.

• The impact of microplastics on predatory fungi is being investigated. The antifungal and anticancer effect of silver nanoparticles obtained with the presence of bee’s royal jelly is evaluated.

• Study of physicochemical and biochemical mechanisms of traditional winemaking.

• Study of antifungal and antibacterial properties of wine waste.

• Study of species diversity of wine grape sugarcane.

• The impact of microplastics on phytoplankton, the primary link of aquatic ecosystems, quantitative and qualitative dynamics, and toxic manifestations of HABs.

Partnerships

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions:

• Department of Soil Science and Assessment of Land Resources of the Southern Federal University of the Russian Federation,

• Crop Research and Soil Science Research Center of the Department of Agriculture of the City of Gorizia (Italy),

• Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Lublin (Poland),

• RA NAS Zoology and Hydroecology Scientific Center,

• RA NAS "Armbiotechnology" JSC,

• "Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine" CJSC,

• Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Food and Wine, Agro-Institute of Dijon, France,

• "Armenia Wine" company,

• Gevorgyan Winery.

Staff

1. Alexander Yesayan 

2. Karen Ghazaryan 

3. Garegin Sevoyan 

4. Hayk Minasyan 

5. Lusine Hambaryan 

6. Susanna Yesoyan 

7. Abhishek Rakesh Kumar Singh 

8. Karen Grigoryan 

9. Lilit Ghukasyan 

10. Tigran Yesayan 

11. Bella Babayan 

12. Armine Chakhmakhchyan 

13. Ani Hayrapetyan 

14. Milena Shahbazyan 

Top 5 publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2018-2023):

1. Ghazaryan, K. A., Movsesyan, H. S., Minkina, T. M., Nevidomskaya, D. G., & Rajput, V. D. (2022). Phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soil by Artemisia absinthium: Comparative effect of chelating agents. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 44(4), 1203–1215. Q1.
2. Ghazaryan, K. A., Movsesyan, H. S., Minkina, T. M., Sushkova, S. N., & Rajput, V. D. (2021). The identification of phytoextraction potential of Melilotus officinalis and Amaranthus retroflexus growing on copper- and molybdenum-polluted soils. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 43(4), 1327–1335. Q1.
3. Ghazaryan, K., Movsesyan, H., Gevorgyan, A., Minkina, T., Sushkova, S., Rajput, V., & Mandzhieva, S. (2020). Comparative hydrochemical assessment of groundwater quality from different aquifers for irrigation purposes using IWQI: A case-study from Masis province in Armenia. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 11, 100459.,Q1.
4. Khosrovyan, A., Avalyan, R., Atoyants, A., Aghajanyan, E., Hambaryan, L., Aroutiounian, R., & Gabrielyan, B. (2023). Tradescantia-Based Test Systems Can Be Used for the Evaluation of the Toxic Potential of Harmful Algal Blooms. Water, 15(13), 2500. , Q1.
5. Singh, A., Rajput, V. D., Sharma, R., Ghazaryan, K., & Minkina, T. (2023). Salinity stress and nanoparticles: Insights into antioxidative enzymatic resistance, signaling, and defense mechanisms. Environmental Research, 235, 116585. , Q1.