Plant Genomics

The Group of Plant Genomics was established in 2012. The research group is focused on the comprehensive characterization of plant genetic resources and on understanding what factors guide the distribution of genetic variation across plant genomes, and how this drives phenotypic variation in traits that are of adaptive or economic importance. We are also interested in understanding the genetic architecture of plant adaptation in changing climatic conditions, the importance of factors driving genome-wide variation in genetic diversity and how different types of genomics data can be integrated into innovative plant breeding programs. For the last ten years, one of the main pillars was a multidisciplinary characterization of Armenian grape genetic resources, based on its ampelographic, eno-carpological, genetic characteristics and genomics. The knowledge of genetic diversity and relationships among grapevine varieties is important to recognize gene pools, identify differences in germplasm collections and develop effective conservation and management strategies.
Based on realized large-scale research forwarded on the assessment of Vitis genetic resources in Armenia, the first Armenian Vitis database http://www.vitis.am/ has been established with the support of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia. AVD is available and linked to the Vitis International Variety Catalogue, VIVC http://www.vivc.de/ and Chinese http://vitisgdb.ynau.edu.cn database.
The group realized several cooperative projects with international institutions, such as the University of Milan, Italy, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, Germany, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT, Germany, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, CNR, Bari, Italy etc.