My research interests focus on plant nutrition, biological nitrogen fixation, crop management systems and organic farming. I involved several research projects on biological nitrogen fixation and fertilization of leguminous oil crops (soybean and groundnut); on optimization of agronomic practices for several crops (soybean groundnut, sesame, potato, sweetpotato) and on determination of organic production systems for different crops.

After joining the FAST team, I am planning to focus on environment-friendly production techniques in potato and food legumes which are the most important field crops in the Nigde region. 

My research interests focus on plant virus, viroid and phytoplasma diseases, and their epidemiology with a special emphasis on stone and pome fruit trees.  Stone and pome fruits have a great economical importance in Turkey; thus, we have conducted many surveys around the country, where these crops are grown widely, to have information on their sanitary status. 

My research team conducted several studies to search virus and phytoplasma detection methods, their epidemiology, and resistant/tolerant rootstocks.  Our participation to European Seventh Frame Project (SharCo) and COST Action FA0807 made it possible to compare many aspects of virus and phytoplasma diseases in Turkey to those of in Europe.  By SharCo project and with the collaboration of other European researchers, Plum pox virus (PPV), the most important virus disease in stone fruits, were investigated with all aspects including its vectors, strains and containment in Turkey. And also PPV resistant variety breeding and marker assisted selection of the resistant progenies, screening tolerant/resistant rootstocks in the field were studied by our team. Additionally, in collaboration with Dr. Nicolas Sauvion of INRA, France, under the bilateral project of Bosphorus, we searched the vectors of apple proliferation group of phytoplasmas in Turkey; and, compared them to those of in France.  We also investigated the genetic variability of this group of phytoplasma in Turkey.

My research interests are natural product chemistry, biological control using entomopathogens and biopesticides. I have completed my PhD program on biological control of greenhouse whitefly using entomopathogenic fungi. My group has isolated many indigenous entomoppathogenic fungi strains from different part of Turkey. In the last ten years I have been involving many national and international projects on natural product chemistry using the bioassay guided isolation and characterization of active compounds. We have been collaboration with Michigan State University and our cooperative work has resulted in several publications and a comprehensive patent: Insecticidal Compositions and Uses Thereof. The Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University. WO/2007/062248 - PCT/US2006045538. Our groups at FAST and MSU have focused on both toxic and behavioral effects of plant based active compounds on important pest species e.g. Colorado potato beetle, codling moth, plum curculio, leaf rollers.I have also involved pesticide residue profile studies especially neonicotinoids.

In the early years of my profession, I worked in applied research projects with foreign experts in the fields of pasture management and improvement in the Eastern Anatolia region. In particular, we focused on the needs of the appropriate dose of fertilizer pasture and meadows in order to improve dry matter yield and hay quality. In the same region, we also conducted researches on cultivation and seed production of alfalfa, sainfoin, white clover, as well as vetch and agricultural grasses. I involved in numerous research projects on forage crops breeding and silage production practices for years. As more focused on the alfalfa and white clover breeding, I have registered one alfalfa and one white clover varieties suitable for the Mediterranean ecology as a result of teamwork.  More recently I have been carrying out a project to develop grazing resistant forage legume and grasses cultivars in order to renovation of deteriorated communal grassland. 

My research interests focus on plant nematology especially, Root Lesion Nematodes and Cereal Cyst nematodes, Root Knot nematodes. I have conducted research projects on Wheat, Vegetable both greenhouse and open field, Citrus, Grapevine nematodes with morphological and molecular phytochemical studies. Most of these studies focused on species identification both morphological and molecular, screening cultivars against nematodes, yield loss studies. Dissemination of the results of these studies was aimed to Turkish growers, and therefore was published in Turkish journals and magazines.  My participation in a COST Action 872 made it possible to compare many aspects of nematological research activities to those of European participants.

In collaboration with Dr. AmerDababat in CIMMYT Ankara office, we are screening both national and international wheat varieties to identify new resistance sources against wheat nematodes.  These include testing of many lines or cultivars against different cereal nematodes, optimizing screening techniques under growth room conditions.

I have a Ph.D. related with in vitro investigations in origanum species from Kansas State University. I usually teach Plant Physiology and Tissue Culture. Stress in plants is an altered physiological condition caused by unfavorable factors that tend to change the equilibrium. My research interest covers mainly to determine physiological and biochemical responses of plants grown under abiotic stress conditions. To do that, I emphasize compatible organic solutes and plant antioxidant systems controlled reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. Stress factors may produce both destructive and constructive elements. For instance, the role of secondary metabolites in plants is a defense mechanism. From then on, I have carried out research emphasizes phenolic compounds accumulated under stress conditions. Currently I have conducted studies to ascertain plant responses against to abiotic stress factors induced in vitro conditions, because it illustrates and identifies the stress induced perfectly.

My research interests encompass molecular plant breeding, phylogenetics, genome evolution, and genetic diversity of plants such as cotton and wheat. We use a diverse set of molecular markers and approaches to explore the manner in which genomes change over evolutionary time, as well as the relationship between genotypes. I have also interest in the genomic characterization, phylogenetics and genetic variations of plant pathogens, especially plant viruses.

I worked on molecular cotton breeding to improve its fiber yield and quality. We did some transcriptome analysis for determination of candidate drought responsive genes in cotton and also, the researches on cotton breeding are still going on. Nowadays, we focus on the new approach “Genomic Selection” for cotton breeding.

In addition to molecular cotton breeding, I work on plant viruses; fig, grapevine, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry for identification and determination of genetic variations. Next generation sequencing approach which is the new technique for viral indexing and virus discovery is integrated to our studies.  

I have involved more than ten national and international projects so, international collaborations are continue.