A scientific seminar on the topic "Molecular-Genetic Study of Cotton Genotype Resistance to Salt Stress" was held at the Faculty of Biology of Baku State University (BSU) in honor of Science Day on March 27.

The seminar featured a presentation by Shader Alizade, a doctoral student in the Department of Genetics and a research fellow at the Research Institute of Genetic Resources of the Ministry of Science and Education.

Opening the event, Associate Professor Afet Mamedova, Dean of the Faculty, emphasized the increasing challenges posed by global climate change. She noted that salinity, drought, and other stress factors have intensified, significantly affecting ecosystems. As a result, approximately one-third of the world's agricultural land suffers from salinity, which increases osmotic pressure in the soil, reducing plants' ability to absorb water and altering their physiological and biological processes. Developing salt-tolerant plant genotypes and incorporating them into breeding programs is a critical priority in global agriculture.

In his presentation, Shader Alizade explained that 48 cotton genotypes were subjected to various experiments to evaluate their responses to salinity stress. The study assessed changes in gene expression, biochemical responses, biomass production, and germination parameters under stress conditions at NaCl concentrations of 100 mM and 200 mM. Based on the findings, resistant and sensitive genotypes were identified, and the most effective resistance indices for cotton were proposed. Alizade emphasized that the results of this research will facilitate the identification of new salt-tolerant cotton genotypes for breeding programs, ultimately contributing to mitigating the issue of soil salinity in agriculture.

The seminar concluded with a discussion on the study’s effectiveness and a Q&A session, where participants engaged in an in-depth exchange of ideas.