Research focus
The research program focuses on the development and validation of analytical methods for determining phytohormones that regulate responses to various types of stress: mechanical (jasmonates), biotic (salicylates and other signaling molecules), drought/flooding, salt stress (ethylene and ACC), “priming” (various aminobutyric acids), and general stress responses (polyamines). These methods include plant material sample preparation aimed at miniaturization, high-throughput processing, minimal sample consumption, and analysis based on chromatographic separation (liquid chromatography – LC, supercritical fluid chromatography – SFC) coupled with mass spectrometric detection (MS/MS).
Current projects involve studying jasmonate metabolism (conjugation of cis-OPDA and jasmonic acid with amino acids), profiling acidic plant hormones (jasmonates, auxins, abscisates, and salicylic acid), and identifying and profiling compounds associated with plant immunity. Determining ethylene as a gas, ACC, aminobutyric acids, and polyamines requires a specific analytical approach. The aim is also to enable the quantification of these substances from a single sample and to monitor complex, coordinated phytohormonal responses to stress and other developmental events.
Reseach leader
Team members
- Jitka Široká
- Beata Budíková
- Kateřina Cermanová
- Mersa Darbandsari
- Miroslava Špičáková