Written by Ivan Dulgerov

Dr. Nikola Staykov

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position: Postdoctoral researcher

Department: Molecular Stress Physiology, CPSBB

His early work focused on: Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins and their application as a plant defense mechanism against specific insect pests.

The main area of recent Nikola Staykov’s research interests is identifying the mode of action of a biostimulant, isolated from the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum.

 

Nikola Staykov is also interested in studying the following topics:

  • The atr mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, resistant to oxidative stress, their corresponding genes and mechanisms, as well as possibilities for practical application.
  • Deciphering the underlying model(s) of tolerance to multiple stressors of the Balkan “resurrection” endemite Haberlea rhodopensis.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Cetinkaya H., Staykov N., Gechev T., Secin Dinler B. (2025) Investigation of physiological, metabolomic analysis, and HvSOS1 genes of priming with azelaic acid in barley seeds under salt stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 229(Pt D): 110728. (IF 5.7)
Staykov N., Kanojia A., Lyall R., Ivanova V., Alseekh S., Petrov V., Gechev T. (2025) Sustainable agriculture through seaweed biostimulants: A two-year study demonstrates yield enhancement in pepper and eggplant. Frontiers in Plant Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1655340. (IF 4.8)

Staykov N.S., Angelov M., Petrov V., Minkov P., Kanojia A., Guinan K.J., Alseekh S., Fernie A.R., Neerakkal S., Gechev T.S. (2021) An Ascophyllum nodosum-derived biostimulant protects model and crop plants from oxidative stress. Metabolites. 11(1): 24. (4.097)

Neerakkal S., Mehterov N., Gupta S., Qureshi M.K., Fischer A., Proost S., Omidbakhshfard M.A., Obata T., Benina M., Staykov N., Balazadeh S., Walther D., Fernie A.R., Mueller-Roeber B., Hille J., Gechev T.S. (2019). A novel seed plants gene regulates oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. pp 1–14. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-019-03202-5. (IF 6.496)

Durgud M., Gupta S., Ivanov I., Omidbakhshfard A., Benina M., Alseekh A., Staykov N., Hauen-stein M., Dijkwel P.P., Hortensteiner S., Toneva V., Brotman Y., Fernie A.R., Mueller-Roeber B., Gechev T. (2018). Molecular mechanisms preventing senescence in response to prolonged darkness in a desiccation–tolerant plant. Plant Physiology. 177(3):1319–1338. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.18.00055. (IF 6.305)

de Maagd R.A., Bakker P., Staykov N., Dukiandjiev S., Stiekema W., Bosch D. (1999) Identification of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin Cry1C domain III amino acid residues involved in insect specificity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Vol. 65 p 4369-4374. http://www.ask-force.org/web/Bt/de-Maagd-Identification-Bt-1999.pdf