Written by Ivan Dulgerov

Professor Dr. Tsanko Gechev

Assos.Professor Dr. Tsanko Gechev

 

 

 

 

 

Position: Director of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB)

Department: Head of Department of Molecular Stress Physiology, CPSBB

Person-in-Charge of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) for the PlantaSYST project

 

Tsanko Gechev is Professor at the University of Plovdiv, where he teaches Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics. Since 2015, he is the Director of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB).

Dr. Gechev obtained a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Plovdiv. He had specializations at the University of Gent (Belgium), Plant Research International and the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich, Switzerland), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (USA), University of Potsdam and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (Germany).

Current research interests of Dr. Gechev include: Plant Genomics, Reactive oxygen species as modulators of plant stress responses and programmed cell death, Molecular mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in Haberlea rhodopensis.

Dr. Gechev is member of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) and the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria.

In 2017, Dr. Gechev received the Pythagoras prize awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

2026
Ain M., Hameed A., Muzammil S., Gechev T., Faisal M. (2026)
Bacillus subtilis isolated from medicinal plants rhizosphere effectively controls Cercospora leaf spot and improves plant growth in mung bean (Vigna radiata).
Frontiers in Microbiology. 17: 1850863. • IF 5.8
Angelov M., Ivanova V., Wittenberg M., Stoyanov P., Mladenov R., Mladenova T., Gyuzeleva D., Radoukova T., Todorov K., Gechev T. (2026)
Comparative metabolome and metallomic analyses of three organs from Cistus creticus.
Planta. 263: 115. • IF 4.4
Asad F., Zeb A., Shahid S., Ahmad S., Wittenberg M., Angelov M., Yaseen T., Ali A., Gechev T., Ali S. (2026)
Biostimulants from Rosa alba L. optimize growth and physiological processes of Zea mays L.
Frontiers in Plant Science. 17: 1731231. • IF 5.9
Beedubail SPS., Farrona S., Wittenberg M., Gechev T., Sujeeth N. (2026)
Biostimulant seed priming enhances germination, early field emergence and osmotic stress responses, accompanied by a distinct metabolic signature in Brassica napus L.
Plant Stress. 22: 101448 • IF 8.1
Dhanuskodi R., Dong Y., Matthew C., Gechev T., Dijkwel P. (2026)
The Rhizobium symbiosis in Medicago truncatula induces a priming-like response and enhances drought tolerance.
Plant Stress. 19: 101229. • IF 8.1
Feuli C., Kabwe E., García L., Petrov V., Marano M.R., Gechev T. (2026)
A rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn) extract promotes oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 238: 111615. • IF 6.2
Ilieva Y., Gupta S.,Wittenberg M., Ivanova V., Kazakov P., Alseekh S., Sujeeth N., Gechev T. (2026)
A plant biostimulant from Ascophyllum nodosum protects raspberry from heat-induced sunburn.
Plant Stress. 20: 101315. • IF 8.1
Kanojia A., Sujeeth N., Gupta S., Alseekh S., Petrov V., Gechev T. (2026)
Integration of physiological and molecular analyses reveals that a plant-based biostimulant delays drought-induced leaf senescence & improves maize yield.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 234: 111328. • IF 6.2
Kazakov P., Atanasov D., Beluhova R., Mircheva-Topalova M., Ivanova A., Kazashka V., Gechev T. (2026)
Impact of leading plant research centers of excellence on the scientific and socio-economic development in Europe.
Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. 11: 1770226. • IF 3.1
Kirkovski D., Gechev T. (2026)
Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of nine resurrection plant species: conserved regulation versus structural paralog capacity in desiccation tolerance.
Genes. 17(10): 1202. • IF 3.2
Mashabela M.D., Sibanyoni N.R., Mmotla K., Dubery I.A., Terefe T., Gechev T., Mhlongo M.I. (2026)
Integrated transcriptomics-metabolomics framework for predictive and translational biostimulant design: Insights into smart systems for sustainable agriculture.
Current Plant Biology. 48: 100639. • IF 5.1
Minkov P., Gechev T., Kanojia A. (2026)
Terrestrial plant- and algal-derived biostimulants as modulators of ROS and hormone networks in crop abiotic stress resilience.
Plants. 15(7): 992. • IF 4.7
Qureshi M.K., Gechev T. (2026)
The nuclear interactome of ATR7 implicates a chromatin-based repression mechanism controlling oxidative stress tolerance and programmed cell death in Arabidopsis.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 27(16): 7445. • IF 5.6
Rahman A., Habib Y., Jara Quispe A., Elguera J.P., Krecsák H., Khan I., Pál M., Balla K., Gechev T., Majláth I. (2026)
Genotype-specific antioxidant, reactive-carbonyl and polyamine responses underlying heat tolerance in six winter wheat cultivars.
Frontiers in Plant Science. 17: 1973386. • IF 5.9
Rai A., Vatov E., Georgieva A.W., Bogdanova S., Wittenberg M., Anachkov N., Tripodi P., Todorova V., Tringovska I., Ganeva D., Petrov V., Gechev T., Alseekh S. (2026)
Integrated genome-wide association and QTL mapping elucidate the genetic basis of fruit yield and quality traits in pepper under water stress.
Journal of Experimental Botany. erag385. • IF 6.5
Tonchev L., Staykov N., Gechev T. (2026)
Formation and properties of the glassy matrix: vitrification mechanism in Haberlea rhodopensis and the resurrection plants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 27(21): 9405. • IF 5.6
Wittenberg M., Ilieva Y., Gechev T. (2026)
Metabolome reprogramming during fruit ripening and post-harvest storage in ten crop species.
Metabolites. 16(2): 133. • IF 4.5
2025
Ali A., Usman M., Ali W., Khan N.Z., Aasim M., Staykov N., Ali A., Munir I., Gechev T. (2025)
Heterologous Expression of Bacterial Dehydrin Promotes Arabidopsis Tolerance to Cadmium and Arsenic Stress.
Genes. 16(12): 1413. • IF 2.8
Angelov M., Ivanova V., Stoyanov P., Mladenov R., Mladenova T., Gyuzeleva D., Zhelyazkova S., Radoukova T., Todorov K., Bogdanova S., Ivanova A., Wittenberg M., Petrov V., Gechev T. (2025)
Metabolome and essential element analyses of five underutilized European crops reveal their nutritional properties and potential to diversify the European food system.
Metabolites 15: 720. • IF 4.5
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 6.2
Gechev T. (2025)
Genomics control of biostimulant-induced stress tolerance and crop yield enhancement.
Plant Journal. 123: e70382. • IF 6.2
Hameed A., Khan M.A., Tahir MH.N., Lodhi M.S., Muzammil S., Shafiq M., Gechev T., Faisal M. (2025)
In Silico identification and characterization of SOS gene family in soybean: Potential of calcium in salinity stress mitigation.
PLoS One. 20(2): e0317612. • IF 2.9
Ivanova A., Bogdanova S., Petrov V., Gechev T. (2025)
Plants from Bulgarian botanical gardens: some selected species with potential for health food and medical applications.
Plants. 14(14): 2176. • IF 4.7
Khan S., Rahama K.U., Gul H., Rauf M., Gechev T., Arif M., Ali A., Ali S. (2025)
Integrated biocontrol strategies using indigenous fungal endophytes Aspergillus fumigatus and Curvularia lunata against wheat stripe rust.
Frontiers in Microbiology. 16: 1683295. • IF 5.9
Munir S., Shahzad A.N., Rai A., Petrov V., Gechev T., Shokat S., Qureshi M.K. (2025)
Reactive oxygen species production and signal transduction in response to stress triggered by Alternaria elicitors in Brassicaceae.
Plant Molecular Biology. 115(6): 113. • IF 3.8
Qureshi M.K., Rai A., Rasul F., Staykov N., Sujeeth N., Gechev T. (2025)
Molecular priming by a biostimulant derived from Ascophyllum nodosum mitigates drought stress in vegetable crops.
In: Plant Stress Physiology Days Scientific Booklet, Eds.: Seckin Dinler B., Gul V., Sefaoglu F. Iksad Publications, ISBN: 978-625-378-277-1.
Ruseva M., Kazashka V., Kazashka T., Kantardzhieva E., Gechev T., Ivanova A., Tabakova-Komsalova V. (2025)
The role of demographic factors in career motivation in a regional crop production cluster.
KNOWLEDGE – International Journal. 72(1): 125 –130.
Shahid S., Ambrin., Bibi B., Sharipova V., Asad F., Gechev T. (2025)
Bioprotective role of Cladosporium tenuissimum counteracting heavy metal (Cr) stress in Triticum aestivum L
Frontiers in Microbiology. 16: 1685402. • IF 5.9
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. 16: 1655340. • IF 5.9
Vatov E., Gechev T. (2025)
Delay in flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 under water deficit and in the ddc triple methylation knockout mutant Is correlated with shared overexpression of BBX16 and BBX17.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 26(17): 8360. • IF 5.6
Vatov E., Gechev T. (2025)
Recent evidence for transgenerational adaptation resulting from stress induced changes in the cytosine methylation landscape of plants.
Plant Stress. 16: 100812. • IF 8.1
2024
Ali A., Zareen S., Park J., Khan HA., Lim CJ., Bader ZE., Hussain S., Chung WS., Gechev T., Pardo JM., Yun DJ. (2024)
ABI2 promotes flowering by inhibiting OST1/ABI5-dependent FLC activation in Arabidopsis.
Journal of Experimental Botany. 75(8): 2481 –2493. • IF 6.9
Afzal A., Khan M.A., NadeemTahir M.H., Khan Z., Hassan Z., Gechev T., Ali Z., Faisal M. (2024)
Antimicrobial effect of green synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles against Cercospora canesces growth in mung bean.
Journal of Agriculture and Biology. 2(2): 3007-1755.
Gupta S., Petrov V., Garg V., Mueller-Roeber B., Fernie A.R., Nikoloski Z., Gechev T. (2024)
The genome of Haberlea rhodopensis provides insights into the mechanisms for tolerance to multiple extreme environments.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 81(1): 117. • IF 8
Kanojia A., Lyall R., Sujeeth N., Alseekh S., Martínez-Rivas F., Fernie A.R., Gechev T., Petrov V. (2024)
Physiological and molecular insights into the effect of a seaweed biostimulant on enhancing fruit yield and drought tolerance in tomato.
Plant Stress. 14: 100692. • IF 6.8
Kazakov P., Alseekh S., Ivanova V., Gechev T. (2024)
Biostimulant-based molecular priming improves crop quality and enhances yield of raspberry and strawberry fruits.
Metabolites. 14(11): 594. • IF 3.4
Kazashka V., Ivanova A., Mircheva-Topalova M., Ruseva M., Gechev T. (2024)
Challenges and opportunities for the eu center of excellence in plant systems biology and biotechnology in plovdiv, bulgaria.
Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business. 4: 7-14.
Stavrakeva K., Metodieva K., Benina M., Bivolarska A., Dimov I., Choneva M., Kokova V., Alseekh S., Ivanova V., Vatov E., Gechev T., Mladenova T., Mladenov R., Todorov K., Stoyanov P., Gyuzeleva D., Popova M., Apostolova E. (2024)
Metabolic composition of methanolic extract of the Balkan endemic species Micromeria frivaldszkyana (Degen) Velen and Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect on Male Wistar Rats.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 25(10): 5396. • IF 5.6
Steimker J., Tripodi P., Wendenburg R., Tringovska I., Nankar A., Stoeva V., Pasev G., Klemmer A., Todorova V., Bulut M., Tikunov Y., Bovy A., Gechev T., Kostova D., Fernie A.R., Alseekh S. (2024)
The genetic architecture of the pepper metabolome and the biosynthesis of its signature capsianoside metabolites.
Current Biology. 34(18): 4209-4223.e3. • IF 8.1
2023
Ali A., Petrov V., Yun DJ., Gechev T. (2023)
Revisiting plant salt tolerance: Novel components of the SOS-pathway.
Trends in Plant Science. 28: 1060 –1069. • IF 22.012
Dong Y., Gupta S., Wargent J., Putterill J., Macknight R., Gechev T., Mueller-Roeber B., Dijkwel P. (2023)
Comparative transcriptomics of multi-stress responses in Pachycladon cheesemanii and Arabidopsis thaliana.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(14): 11323. • IF 6.208
Gechev T., Kazakov P., Ivanova A., Ivanova T., Mircheva M., Kolev V., Ganeva D., Kosmalova T.V., Ruseva M., Kantardjiev E., Kazashka V. (2023)
Establishment and development of the center of plant systems biology and biotechnology in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Open Research Europe. 3:140.
Kazakov P., Atanasov D., Gechev T. (2023)
The teaming initiative: Establishing of new european centers of excellence in plant biology and medicine.
Austin Journal of Plant Biology. 9(2): 1040. • IF 1.50
Petrov V., Gechev T. (2023)
ROS and abiotic stress in plants 2.0.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(15): 11917. • IF 6.208
Shoaib M., Shah B., El-Sappagh S., Ali A., Ullah A., Alenezi.F., Gechev T., Hussain T., Ali F. (2023)
An advanced deep learning models-based plant disease detection: A review of recent research.
Frontiers in Plant Science. 14: 1158933. • IF 6.627
2022
Gechev T., Petrov V. (2022)
Plant systems biology in 2022 and beyond.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23: 4159. • IF 6.208
Hussain T., Shoaib M., Shah B., Ali A., Ullah A., Alenezi F., Gechev T., Farman Ali F., Syed I. (2022)
Deep learning-based model for plant lesion segmentation, subtype identification, and survival probability estimation.
Frontiers in Plant Science.13: 1095547. • IF 6.627
Sujeeth N., Petrov V., Guinan K.J., Rasul F., O’Sullivan J., Gechev T. (2022)
Current insights into the molecular mode of action of seaweed-based biostimulants and the sustainability of seaweeds as raw material resources.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(14): 7654. • IF 6.208
Tong H., Nankar A.N., Liu J., Todorova V., Ganeva D., Grozeva S., Tringovska I., Pasev Gancho., Radeva-Ivanova V., Gechev T., Kostova D., Nikoloski Z. (2022)
Genomic prediction of morphometric and colorimetric traits in Solanaceous fruits.
Horticulture Research. 9: uhac072. • IF 7.3 (Q1)
2021
Gechev T., Lyall R., Petrov V., Bartels D. (2021)
Systems biology of resurrection plants.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 78: 6365 –6394. • IF 9.261
Rasul F., Gupta S., Olas J.J., Gechev T., Sujeeth N., Mueller-Roeber B. (2021)
Priming with a seaweed extract strongly improves drought tolerance in Arabidopsis.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22: 1469. • IF 6.208
Staykov N.S., Angelov M., Petrov V., Minkov P., Kanojia A., Guinan K.J., Alseekh S., Fernie A.R., Neerakkal S., Gechev T. (2021)
An Ascophyllum nodosum-derived biostimulant protects model and crop plants from oxidative stress.
Metabolites. 11(1): 24. • IF 4.932
2020
Faisal M., Gechev T., Mueller-Roeber B., Dijkwel P. (2020)
Putative alternative translation start site-encoding nucleotides of CPR5 regulate growth and resistance
BMC Plant Biology 20(1): 295. • IF 4.215
Gechev T., Georgiev M.I., Fernie A.R. (2020)
PlantaSYST: Teaming-up for systems biology and biotechnology
Trends in Plant Science. 25(7): 621-624. • IF 18.313
Gechev T., Petrov V. (2020)
Reactive oxygen species and abiotic stress in plants
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21: 7433. • IF 5.923
Kanojia A., Gupta S., Benina M., Fernie A.R., Mueller-Roeber B., Gechev T., Dijkwel P. (2020)
Developmentally controlled changes during Arabidopsis leaf development indicate causes for loss of stress tolerance with age
Journal of Experimental Botany. 71: 6340 –6354. • IF 6.992
Kerchev P., van der Meer T., Sujeeth S., Verlee A., Stevens C.V., Van Breusegem F., Gechev T. (2020)
Molecular priming as an approach to induce tolerance against abiotic and oxidative stresses in crop plants
Biotechnology Advances. 40: 107503. • IF 14.227
Lyall R., Gechev T. (2020)
Multi-omics insights into the evolution of angiosperm resurrection plants
Annual Plant Reviews Online. 3(1): 77-110.
Lyall R., Nikoloski Z., Gechev T. (2020)
Comparative analysis of ROS network genes in extremophile eukaryotes
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21: 9131. • IF 5.923
Omidbakhshfard M.A., Sujeeth N., Gupta S., Omranian N., Guinan K.J., Brotman Y., Nikoloski Z., Fernie A.R., Mueller-Roeber B., Gechev T. (2020)
A biostimulant obtained from the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum protects Arabidopsis thaliana from severe oxidative stress
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(2): 1 –26. • IF 5.923
Sujeeth N., 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. (2020)
A novel seed plants gene regulates oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 77: 705 –718. • IF 9.261
2019
Dong Y., Gupta S., Sievers R., Wargent J., Wheeler D., Putterill J., Macknight R., Gechev T., Mueller-Roeber B., Dijkwel P. (2019)
Genome draft of the Arabidopsis relative Pachycladon cheesemanii reveals novel strategies to tolerate New Zealand’s high ultraviolet B radiation environment.
BMC Genomics. 20(1): 838. • IF 3.594
Gupta S., Dong Y., Dijkwel P., Mueller-Roeber B., Gechev T. (2019)
Genome-wide analysis of ROS antioxidant genes in resurrection species suggest an involvement of distinct ROS detoxification systems during desiccation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20(12): 3101. • IF 4.556
2018
Durgud M., Gupta S., Ivanov I., Omidbakhshfard A., Benina M., Alseekh S., Staykov N., Hauenstein M., Dijkwel P.P., Hörtensteiner 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. • IF 6.305
Petrov V., Qureshi, M.K., Hille, J., Gechev T. (2018)
Occurrence, biochemistry and biological effects of host-selective plant mycotoxins
Food and Chemical Toxicology. 112: 251 –264. • IF 3.775
2015
Benina M., Ribeiro DM, Gechev T., Mueller-Roeber B., Schippers JH (2015)
A cell type-specific view on the translation of mRNAs from ROS-responsive genes upon paraquat treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.
Plant Cell and Environment. 38(2): 349-63. • IF 7.228
Petrov V., Hille J, Mueller-Roeber B., Gechev T. (2015)
ROS-mediated abiotic stress-induced programmed cell death.
Frontiers in Plant Science. 6: 69. • IF 5.753