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Bishkek is the capital and the most populated city of Kyrgyzstan and home to small scale industrial plants. The city of Bishkek has started to suffer from a widespread pollution after showing a rapid industrial and economic development in recent years. In present work, woody species, Populus nigra (black poplar) and Salix fragilis (crack willow) chosen as study materials were used for monitoring research for the evaluation of heavy metal pollution. For the assessment of the rate of pollution in the region, the Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn contents of the parts of plants (leaves, stems and roots) and co-located soil samples collected from along Alamedin River passing through Bishkek were determined using ICP-OES. Our data showed that the levels of Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb were found to be above the allowable limits, especially in stations where located in the city in comparison with literature. This indicates that anthropogenic pressure in the city are getting being a serious problem.

Ozyigit, Ibrahim Ilker/0000-0002-0825-5951; YALCIN, IBRAHIM ERTUGRUL/0000-0003-3140-7922, Turkish red pine is an evergreen tree species widely distributed in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions in Turkey. In the present work, the heavy metal pollution level in Istanbul was investigated using Turkish red pine as a biomonitor. For determining heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb) in leaf (unwashed and washed) and bark samples of Turkish red pine and its co-located soil samples we used ICP-OES. Additionally, particulate matter profiles of the research areas were investigated. The samples were collected from 5 different localities: 4 from the Bosporus region (Yildiz Grove, Fethi Pasha Grove, Baltalimani Grove and Mihrabad Grove) and one from Prince Island, also known as Buyukada (as control). According to our measurements, the highest heavy metal accumulations (in mg kg(-1) DW) in plant part samples were measured between 1.526 +/- 0.012 and 1.639 +/- 0.015 for Cd, 0.543 +/- 0.007 and 0.600 +/- 0.009 for Co, 5.110 +/- 0.064 and 5.648 +/- 0.072 for Cr, 9.347 +/- 0.105 and 10.331 +/- 0.111 for Mn, 7.483 +/- 0.091 and 8.271 +/- 0.096 for Ni, and 13.848 +/- 0.159 and 14.950 +/- 0.167 for Pb, while the highest heavy metal accumulations (in mg kg(-1) DW) in soil samples were measured between 1.813 +/- 0.021 and 1.974 +/- 0.029 for Cd, 6.326 +/- 0.082 and 6.992 +/- 0.091 for Co, 22.017 +/- 0.284 and 23.685 +/- 0.301 for Cr, 268.333 +/- 3.153 and 297.361 +/- 3.529 for Mn, 15.194 +/- 0.176 and 16.792 +/- 0.193 for Ni, and 68.778 +/- 0.715 and 74.514 +/- 0.883 for Pb. The highest outdoor particulate matter levels (in mu g/m(3)) in research areas were also determined as 27.103 for fine (PM2.5) and 67.792 for coarse (PM10) aerosols. The findings revealed that Turkish red pine could accumulate noteworthy amounts of heavy metals.

Kyrgyzstan still suffers from the past practices of radioactive industry operated by the Soviet Union that caused significant impact on ecosystems in this region, especially related with storage of uranium in inadequate conditions. There are at least 50 abandoned sites used as radioactive waste dumps in the country. Due to the pressure of natural and anthropogenic reasons, the structural foundations of mine waste dumps are gradually losing their integrities. Here, particular interest of our research is to reveal current state of radioactive contamination and to make evaluation on the radiological impacts of pollution caused by uranium mine waste dump, one is situated near Kaji-Say Village in Issyk Kul Region-Kyrgyzstan. In this study, the leaf, stem, and root parts of Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. and their co-located soils as study materials collected from five different localities were used for investigation of existent alterations on element uptake and genetic material in the plant using ICP-MS and ISSR marker technique. Also, radioactivity readings were recorded using Geiger counter. The data showed that the levels of radiation (in mR/h) were found to be significantly high in comparison with normal acceptable limits. Uptake patterns of certain elements in P. abrotanoides grown in the uranium waste dump site were modified extensively as reductions and increments due to strong radioactive leakage in comparison with the control. Also, the results indicated that changes in ISSR profiles from exposed plant leaf samples included variation in band intensities, losses of normal bands, and the appearances of new bands compared to unexposed (control) plant leaf sample. Considering people living around the area where the research was conducted, the consequences of contamination as our data suggest could cause health problems through radioactive leakage. Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Commission of Scientific Research Project [KTMU-BAP-2018.FBE.01] This work was supported by the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Commission of Scientific Research Project [KTMU-BAP-2018.FBE.01].

Physiological responses were investigated in two cotton cultivars grown at various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to determine the degree of the tolerance of the cultivars to salt stress and understand the physiological responses with respect to utilization of mineral nutrients. After germination of the seeds of cotton cultivars, they were transferred into standard pots with 210 g sterilized compost and watered with 30 ml Hoagland’s solution containing different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM) of NaCl at two-day intervals for 3 months. Growth parameters were measured and the mineral nutrient analyses were done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltman, MA). It was observed that plant growth and mineral nutritional status of both cultivars were altered extensively in those grown with NaCl. Excess NaCl reduces the concentrations of certain mineral nutrients and increases that of others, the patterns depending on the mineral nutrient and the plant part and varieties being compared to the control., Marmara University, Commission of Scientific Research Project (FEN-A-030108-0016)

Pollutants can have detrimental effects on living organisms. They can cause toxicity, damaging cells, tissues and organs because of their high concentrations or activities. Plants provide a useful system for screening and monitoring environmental pollutants. Among pollutants, aluminum is considered as a primary growth limiting factor for plants resulting in decreased plant growth and development. Although considered to be a non-essential and highly toxic metal ion for growth and development, aluminum (Al) is easily absorbed by plants. Urticaceae family members have high nutrient requirements demonstrated by leaves containing high levels of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N). Urtica pilulifera is one of the important traditional medicinal plants in Turkey. In this study, U. pilulifera was used as a bioindicator to investigate the possible differences in the absorption and accumulation of mineral nutrients at different levels of the Al exposure and examine the mineral nutrition composition of U. pilulifera under Al stress. Also, some growth parameters (leaf-stem fresh and dry weights, root dry weights, stem lengths and leaf surface area) were investigated. U. pilulifera seedlings were grown for two months in growth-room conditions and watered with spiked Hoagland solution, which contained 0, 100, and 200 μM aluminium chloride (AlCl3). It was observed that macro- and micro-nutritional status of roots and leaves was altered by Al exposure. The concentrations of some macro- and micronutrients were reduced while concentrations of others were increased by excess of Al. Some macro- and micronutrients were increased at low level of Al whereas reductions were observed at high level of Al, and vice versa. The patterns were dependent on the macro- or micronutrient and the plant part.

Filiz, Ertugrul/0000-0001-9636-6389; Ozyigit, Ibrahim Ilker/0000-0002-0825-5951 WOS: 000375452300017 Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) defined as sequence repeat units between 1 and 6 bp occur abundantly in both coding and non-coding regions in eukaryotic genomes and these repeats can affect gene expression. In this study, ESTs (expressed sequence tags) of Betula pendula (silver birch) were analyzed for in silico mining of EST-SSRs, protein annotation, open reading frames (ORFs), designing primers, and identifying codon repetitions. In B. pendula, the frequency of ESTs containing SSRs was 7.8 % with an average of 1SSR/4. 78 kb of EST sequences. A total of 188 SSRs was identified by using MISA software and di-nucleotide SSR motifs (65.9 %) were found to be the most abundant type of repeat motif followed by tri- (27.1 %), tetra- (4.8 %), and penta- (2.2 %) motifs. Based on ORF analysis, 175 of 178 sequences were predicted as ORFs and the most frequent SSRs were detected in 5' UTR (58.43 %), followed by in ORF (31.46 %) and in 3' UTR (8.43 %). 102 of 178 ESTs were annotated as ribosomal protein, transport protein, membrane protein, carrier protein, binding protein, and transferase protein. For a total of 102 SSRs (57.3 %) with significant matches, a set of 102 primers (100 %) with forward and reverse strands was designed by using Primer3 software. Serine (Ser, 19.6 %) was predominant in putative encoded amino acids and most of amino acids showed nonpolar (35.3 %) nature. Our data provide resources for B. pendula and can be useful for in silico comparative analyses of Betulaceae species, including SSR mining.

Plants can be used as biological indicators in assessing the damage done by bioaccumulation of heavy metals and their negative impact on the environment. In the present research, Roman nettle (Urtica pilulifera L.) was employed as a bioindicator for cadmium (Cd) pollution. The comparisons between unexposed and exposed plant samples revealed inhibition of the root growth (∼25.96% and ∼45.92% after treatment with 100 and 200 µmol/L Cd concentrations, respectively), reduction in the total soluble protein quantities (∼53.92% and ∼66.29% after treatment with 100 and 200 µmol/L Cd concentrations, respectively) and a gradual genomic instability when the Cd concentrations were increased. The results indicated that alterations in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles, following the Cd treatments, included normal band losses and emergence of new bands, when compared to the controls. Also, the obtained data from F1 plants, utilized for analysis of genotoxicity, revealed that DNA alterations, occurring in parent plants due to Cd pollution, were transmitted to the next generation., Scientific Research Fund of Fatih University (P50030701)

Ozyigit, Ibrahim Ilker/0000-0002-0825-5951; YALCIN, IBRAHIM ERTUGRUL/0000-0003-3140-7922, Uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization and industrialization due to increase of population and rapid industrial development have created severe environmental problems in Kyrgyzstan during the last few decades. In this study, Juniperus virginiana, a dioecious species, was employed in order to make assessment of the heavy metal pollution rate in the area and of the heavy metal pollution impact on the mineral nutrient status of the plant. For this study, leaf (washed and unwashed) and bark samples of J. virginiana, and its co-located soil samples were collected from eight different stations, all in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, in 2012 vegetation period. The standard procedures were used and the determinations of heavy metal and nutrient element contents (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb and Zn) in all samples were done using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. According to our measurements, J. virginiana was found to be capable of accumulating a considerable amount of metals and the mineral nutrient uptake pattern was altered because of metal deposition in the plant, which showed a contamination risk in the area., Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University [BAP-2013-FEB-02], This work was supported by Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University [grant number BAP-2013-FEB-02].

The gene (vgb) encoding Vitreoscilla (bacterial) hemoglobin (VHb) was electroporated into Gordonia amarae, where it was stably maintained, and expressed at about 4 nmol VHb g -1 of cells. The maximum cell mass (OD 600) of vgb-bearing G. amarae was greater than that of untransformed G. amarae for a variety of media and aeration conditions (2.8-fold under normal aeration and 3.4-fold under limited aeration in rich medium, and 3.5-fold under normal aeration and 3.2-fold under limited aeration in mineral salts medium). The maximum level of trehalose lipid from cultures grown in rich medium plus hexadecane was also increased for the recombinant strain, by 4.0-fold in broth and 1.8-fold in cells under normal aeration and 2.1-fold in broth and 1.4-fold in cells under limited aeration. Maximum overall biosurfactant production was also increased in the engineered strain, by 1.4-fold and 2.4-fold for limited and normal aeration, respectively. The engineered strain may be an improved source for producing purified biosurfactant or an aid to microorganisms bioremediating sparingly soluble contaminants in situ., NSF (MCB-9910356)

Our atmosphere, water resources and soil are becoming increasingly contaminated with inorganic and organic compounds as a result of anthropogenic-driven inputs, mainly from industry, mining, motorized traffic, agriculture, logging and military actions. Alleviation and prevention of environmental pollution can be achieved by utilization of plants and their associated microbes. Recent advances in plant–microbe interaction research revealed that plants are able to shape their rhizosphere microbiome through active secretion of substrates that are known to vary between plant species. Soil-borne microorganisms such as actinobacteria, algae, protozoa and different types of bacteria having different capabilities of functional activities can vary extensively in soils and occur in associations in the rhizosphere of plants. Microbial associations are known to affect mobility and availability of substances to the plant through the release of chelating agents, acidification, phosphate solubilization and redox changes and exudates derived from the plant can help to stimulate the survival and action of these microorganisms. A broad knowledge about the mechanisms in plants for the uptake, translocation, storage, and detoxification of contaminants, and interactions between plants and microorganisms are critical in developing technologies and best management practices for environmental clean-up. A comprehensive understanding of interactions between plants and rhizospheric microorganisms in the rhizosphere and plant-based processes will provide new opportunities to develop more efficient plants and better management practices for removal of contaminants. This chapter reviews plant–microbe interactions in phytoremediation with particular reference to the microbial dynamics in the rhizosphere of plants growing on contaminated soils.

The history of Agrobacterium-related plant biotechnology goes back for more than three decades with the discovery of molecular mechanisms of crown gall disease in plants. After 1980s, gene technologies began developing rapidly and today, related with the improved gene transfer methods, plant biotechnology has become one of the most important branches in science. Till now, the most important genes related with agricultural affairs have been utilized for cloning of plants with the deployment of different techniques used in genetic engineering. Especially, Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used extensively for transferring desired genetic materials to plants rapidly and effectively by the researchers to create transgenic plants. Recognition of the biology of Agrobacterium species and newly developed applications of their T-DNA systems has been a great step in plant biotechnology. This chapter provides the reader with extensive information on A. rhizogenes which is responsible for the development of hairy root disease in a wide range of dicotyledonous plants and its T-DNA system. This knowledge will be useful in improving utilization of crops and the formulation of new and up-graded transgenic based food products.