Samira Mahammadrahim Rustamova

Place of birth

Azerbaijan Republic, Gusar district

Date of birth

26.06.1980

Education

Baku State University

Scientific degree

PhD in Biology

Academic rank

Associate Professor

Speciality code and title for PhD thesis

2415.01

Molecular biology

“Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of drought resistance of wheat genotypes”

Total number of printed scientific publications

161

Number of scientific publications printed abroad

23 articles and 30 abstracts

Number of papers published in journals indexed and abstracted in international databases

33

Number of patents and certificates of authorship

Staff training:

-          number of PhD

1

Key scientific achievements

For the first time in Azerbaijan, the dynamics of changes in the antioxidant system responding to drought stress (SOD, CAT, APX, GR, etc.) throughout ontogenesis in wheat genotypes were investigated, and a relationship between antioxidant enzyme activity and the stress tolerance of the genotypes was established.

DREB1 transcription factor genes, which are the major cis-regulatory elements associated with drought tolerance in different wheat genomes, were identified using functional molecular markers.

As a result of molecular screening based on STS, SCAR, and SSR markers in bread and durum wheat genotypes belonging to the national wheat gene pool of Azerbaijan, the genes Lr9, Lr19, Lr34, Yr9, Yr18, Sr11, Sr26, and Sr31 associated with resistance to leaf rust, yellow rust, and stem rust were identified.

For the first time in Azerbaijan, wheat germplasm was genotyped using KASP technology, and effective sources of resistance genes against the TKTTF race group of stem rust were identified.

The molecular-genetic diversity of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici populations distributed across different regions of Azerbaijan was investigated, and SNP-based analyses revealed that the Ug99 race group was not present.

The expression dynamics of the DREB1 transcription factor gene in response to drought stress were comparatively investigated in contrasting wheat genotypes originating from Azerbaijan and Germany.

DREB transcription factor genes were isolated, sequenced, and comparatively analyzed in silico from the wild diploid species Triticum urartu (Au), Aegilops speltoides (B), and Aegilops tauschii (D), which are considered genome donors of bread wheat, as well as from the Barakatli 95 and Azamatli 95 genotypes. Structural analyses of the AP2/ERF domain revealed SNPs, microindels, conserved functional amino acid residues, nuclear localization signals, and structural motifs. The obtained nucleotide sequences were registered in the NCBI GenBank database under accession numbers MZ935737–MZ935740.

In Azerbaijan, a genome-wide association analysis was conducted on 187 bread wheat genotypes grown under rainfed conditions, based on high-yield digital phenotyping across 25 vegetation indices and 25K SNP genotyping. A wide genetic variation was identified for phenotypic traits, and the heritability coefficient was shown to vary within the range of H² = 0.19–0.95. A total of 812 Bonferroni-significant marker–trait associations were detected across the A, B, and D genomes.

As a result of GWAS, a major QTL hotspot located on chromosome 2A was identified, which was associated with 17 vegetation indices. This hotspot was tagged by the SNP marker wsnp_Ex_c36049_44083089 and explained up to 20% of the genotypic variation in key digital phenotypes such as greenness and pigment indices. Within this locus, genes related to stress signaling and metabolic adaptation, including LEA_2/NDR1-like and lectin receptor-like kinase genes, were identified as candidate genes.

Using RNA-seq, which is considered one of the most advanced transcriptomic analysis tools, transcriptome profiling was performed in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive wheat genotypes under drought and heat stress conditions.

Titles of publications

1.Rustamova S. M., Aliyeva D. R., Isgandarova T. Y., Huseynova I. M. (2025) Leaf Senescence in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Triggered by Drought Stress. Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations, Vol. 2, 39-66.

2.Kamruzzaman M., Siddiqui M.N., Rustamova S., Ballvora A., Léon J., Naz A.A. (2025) Genome-wide association analyses identify hydrogen peroxide-responsive loci in wheat diversity. Plant Direct, 9:e70067.

3.Shahbazov E., Zulfugarova S., Mammadova R., Rustamova S., Huseynova I. (2025) Transcriptional Profiling of ERF027 in Gossypium hirsutum under Salt Stress and Calcium Treatment. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies MSE AR, vol. 9, No 1, p.72-77.

4.Cavalet-Giorsa E., González-Muñoz A., Athiyannan N., Holden S., Salhi A., Gardener C., Rustamova S. ... Krattinger S.G. (2024) Origin and evolution of the bread wheat D genome. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07808-z.

5.Isgandarova T.Y., Rustamova S.M., Aliyeva D.R., Rzayev F.H., Gasimov E.K., Huseynova I.M. (2024) Antioxidant and Ultrastructural Alterations in Wheat During Drought-Induced Leaf Senescence. Agronomy, 14(12), 2924.

6.Isgandarova T., Rustamova S., Allahverdiyev T., Huseynova I. (2024) Proline accumulation and WRKY14/WRKY36 gene expression dynamics during drought-induced flag leaf senescence. Journal of Life Sciences & Biomedicine, vol. 6(79), No 2, p.06-12.

7.Aliyeva N., Rustamova S., Hüseynova I.M. (2024) Non-invasive phenotyping of drought response in bread wheat genotypes using GM2 and MCARI1 indices. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies of MSE AR, vol. 8, No 2, p.03-07.

8.Zulfugarova S.T., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2023) Comparison of gene expression changes in bread wheat varieties with different susceptibilities to heat stress. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, MSE AR, vol. 7, No 1, p.04-08.

9.Rustamova S., Abdullayeva G., Shahmuradov I., Huseynova I. (2023) Isolation and data analysis of partial DREB gene from Azerbaijan wheat genotypes. Journal of Life Sciences & Biomedicine (Special Issue).

10.Aliyeva Kh., Rustamova S., Huseynova I. (2023) Designing of specific primers for different allelic forms of the DREB gene in bread wheat. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, MSE AR, vol. 7, No 2.

11.Rustamova S.M., Abdullayeva G.R., Huseynova I.M. (2022) Isolation and characterization of DREB gene in ancestral diploid wheat species from wheat domestication center. Genetics and Molecular Research. DOI: 10.4238/gmr19035.

12.Зульфугарова С.Т., Рустамова С.М., Гусейнова И.М. (2022) Активность антиоксидантных ферментов и термостабильность мембран у генотипов твердой пшеницы при тепловом стрессе. Аграрная наука, (2):56-61.

13.Aliyeva G., Ojaghi J., Rustamova S. (2021) Molecular diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Azerbaijan oaks (Quercus spp.) revealed by RAPD markers. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, v.19(3), p.457-468.

14.Rustamova S.M. (2021) In silico analysis of Dreb transcription factor genes in bread wheat. Journal of Life Sciences & Biomedicine, v.3(76), No 1, p.60-66.

15.Rustamova S.M. (2021) Assessment of post-drought recovery process among diverse wheat genotypes using vegetation indices. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of ANAS, v.5, p.23-27.

16.Alibayova G.R., Akhundova L.A., Mustafayev N.Sh., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2021) Impact of angiotensin-1 converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism on diabetes mellitus susceptibility among Azerbaijan population. Ambiance In Life-International Scientific Journal, p.63-68.

17.Rustamova S., Shrestha A., Naz A.A., Huseynova I. (2020) Expression profiling of DREB1 and evaluation of vegetation indices in contrasting wheat genotypes exposed to drought stress. Plant Gene, 25.

18.Rustamova S.M. (2020) Designing specific primers for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of DREB genes in wheat. The Reports of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, V. LXXXVI, №1-2, p.59-65.

19.Rustamova S.M. (2020) Evaluation of renormalized difference vegetation index and carotenoid reflectance in contrasting wheat genotypes under drought and rewatering. Transactions of Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of ANAS, v.4, p.38-43.

20.Alibayova G.R., Rustamova S.M., Akhundova L.A., Mustafayev N.Sh., Huseynova I.M. (2020) Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in Azerbaijan population. Journal of Life Sciences & Biomedicine, vol.2(75), No 2, p.7-16.

21.Rustamova S.M., Suleymanova Z.J., Isgandarova T.Y., Zulfugarova S.T., Mammadov A.C., Huseynova I.M. (2019) Identification of Stress Responsive Genes by Using Molecular Markers to Develop Tolerance in Wheat. Wheat Production in Changing Environments. Springer, pp.421-442.

22.Zulfugarova S.T., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2019) Identification of HSP16.9 gene in local wheat genotypes using an allele-specific primer. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, ANAS, v.3, p.49-56.

23.Rustamova S.M., Abdullayeva G.R., Huseynova I.M. (2018) Application of PCR-based functional molecular markers to identify Dreb1 Genes in Triticum aestivum L. SciFed Biotech and Bioengineering Journal.

24.Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M., Aliyev J.A. (2018) Molecular Analysis of Resistance Genes to Brown Rust Lr9, Lr19, Lr34, Lr35 and Yellow Rust Yr9, Yr18 in Azerbaijan Wheat Germplasm. Proceedings of ANAS (Biological and Medical Sciences), v.72(3), p.13-26.

25.Isgandarova T.Y., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2018) Validation of QTL for the flag leaf senescence in wheat under drought. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, ANAS, v.73, p.70-75.

26.Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2018) Isolation and Structural Analysis of Partial DREB Gene from Azerbaijan Local Wheat Genotype. Proceedings of ANAS (Biological and Medical Sciences), 73, p.70-75.

27.Зульфугарова С.Т., Омарова С.А., Рустамова С.М., Гусейнова И.М. (2018) Изучение сортспецифической термостабильности мембран у пшеницы при гипертермии. Труды Центрального Ботанического Сада НАН Азербайджана, Том XV, стр.9-14.

28.Abdullayeva G.R., Rüstəmova S.M., Hüseynova İ.M. (2018) Azərbaycanın yerli buğda genotipindən DREB geninin ayrılması və molekulyar xarakterizə olunması. AMEA Mərkəzi Nəbatat Bağının Elmi Əsərləri, XVI cild, səh.35-40.

29.Rustamova S.M., Isgandarova T.Y., Huseynova I.M. (2017) Assessment of wheat genotypes using TRAP9 marker linked to cell membrane stability. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, ANAS, v.1, p.44-49.

30.Rustamova S.M., Sadigov Sh.F., Mammadov A.Ch., Huseynova I.M. (2017) Identification Of Stem Rust Resistance Genes Sr11, Sr26 And Sr31 In Azerbaijani Wheat Germplasm Using Molecular Techniques. Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnologies, ANAS, v.1, p.24-32.

31.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Suleymanov S.Y., Aliyeva D.R., Aliyev J.A. (2016) Drought-induced changes in photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant components of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties. Photosynthesis Research, v.130(1-3):215-223.

32.Huseynova I.M., Allahverdiyev T.I., Babayev H.G., Aliyeva D.R., Rustamova S.M., Aliyev J.A. (2016) Wheat: approaches to improve under water stress. Water Stress and Crop Plants: A Sustainable Approach, John Wiley, UK, pp.506-542.

33.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Aliyeva D.R., Babayev H.G., Aliyev J.A. (2016) Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Protection and Drought Tolerance in Plants. Drought Tolerance in Plants, Physiology and Biochemistry, Vol.1, pp.349-378.

34.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Guliyeva F.B., Aliyev J.A. (2015) Wheat Rusts in Azerbaijan: Effective Genes for Resistance. Advances in Environmental Research, Volume 44, Nova Science Publishers, pp.193-220.

35.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Nasrullayeva M.Y., Aliyev J.A. (2015) Screening of barley genotypes for drought tolerance using molecular markers. International Journal of Plant Research, Vol.1, No.3, pp.88-92.

36.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Guliyeva F.B., Aliyev J.A. (2015) Evaluation of winter wheat varieties for resistance to yellow and brown leaf rust in Azerbaijan. Global Journal for Research Analysis, V.4(1), pp.5-9.

37.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Guliyeva F.B., Aliyev J.A. (2015) Molecular assessment of the allelic state of Lr34 leaf rust resistance gene in bread wheat germplasm in Azerbaijan. Reports of ANAS, v.LXXI, N2, pp.106-111.

38.Nasrullayeva M.Y., Rustamova S.M., Aliyeva D.R., Aliyev J.A. (2014) Differential responses of antioxidative system to soil water shortage in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. Advances in Biological Chemistry, v.4, pp.351-359.

39.İbrahimov E.R., Təlai C.M., Rüstəmova S.M., Hüseynova İ.M., Əliyev C.Ə. (2014) Azərbaycanda sarı pas (Puccinia striiformis West.) törədicilərinin yumşaq buğda sortlarının inkişaf dinamikası, morfofizioloji xüsusiyyətləri, dənin keyfiyyət göstəriciləri və məhsuldarlığına təsiri. AMEA-nın Xəbərləri, c.69, N1, s.97-103.

40.Hüseynova I.M., Nəsrullayeva M.Y., Rüstəmova S.M., Əliyeva D.R., Əliyev C.Ə. (2014) Quraqlıq stresinin təsirinə məruz qalmış arpa genotiplərinin yarpaqlarında antioksidant fermentlərin fəallığının və izoenzim tərkibinin tədqiqi. AMEA-nın Xəbərləri, c.69, N2, s.5-12.

41.Huseynova I.M., Guliyeva F.B., Rustamova S.M., Aliyev J.A. (2013) PCR-based molecular markers linked to the leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 in different bread wheat cultivars. Advances in Biological Chemistry, v.3, N1, pp.153-158.

42.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Mammadov A.Ch. (2013) Identification of Dreb 1 genes involved in drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum L.). Photosynthesis Research for Food, Fuel and Future, Springer, pp.552-555.

43.Rustamova S.M., Babayev H.G., Suleymanov S.Y., Huseynova I.M. (2013) Antioxidant defense system and photochemical characteristics of chloroplasts in wheat genotypes subjected to water stress. Photosynthesis Research for Food, Fuel and Future, Springer, pp.568-571.

44.Suleymanov S.Y., Bayramova K.H., Rustamova S.M., Maharramova E.H., Huseynova I.M. (2013) Antioxidant enzymes and functional state of PS II in plants grown under various radium (226Ra) concentrations. Photosynthesis Research for Food, Fuel and Future, Springer, pp.560-563.

45.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Suleymanov S.Y., Aliyev J.A. (2012) Biochemical and molecular aspects of drought tolerance in wheat Triticum L. Genotypes. Crop Production for Agricultural Improvement, Springer Part 2, pp.443-476.

46.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M. (2010) Screening for Drought Stress Tolerance in Wheat Genotypes Using Molecular Markers. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Biological Sciences), V.65, N5-6, pp.132-139.

47.Huseynova I.M., Suleymanov S.Y., Rustamova S.M. (2010) Response of photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant defense systems in Triticum aestivum L. cultivars subjected to drought stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Biological Sciences), V.65, N5-6, pp.49-59.

48.Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Mammadov A.Ch., Aliyev D.A. (2010) Dreb 1 genes that positively regulate drought-resistance in wheat genotypes. Reports of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, v.LXVI, №2, pp.92-100.

49.Гусейнова И.М., Рустамова С.М., Мамадов А.Ч., Алиев Д.А. (2010) RAPD маркеры, ассоциированные с засухоустойчивостью в генотипах пшеницы Triticum L. Доклады НАН Азербайджана, т.LXVI, №1, с.104-110.

50.Rüstəmova S.M., Qasımova G.N. (2010) Quraqlıq stresi zamanı Triticum aestivum L. buğda genotiplərində zülalların keyfiyyət və kəmiyyət dəyişiliklərinin öyrənilməsi. Azərbaycan Aqrar Elmi, N1-2, s.154-156.

51.Рустамова С.М., Гусейнова И.М. (2009) Молекулярные механизмы устойчивости растений к водному стрессу. Известия НАН Азербайджана, №3-4, с.12-25.

52.Рустамова С.М., Сулейманов С.Ю., Бабаев Г.Г., Гусейнова И.М. (2009) Динамика функционирования антиоксидантных ферментов у различных генотипов пшеницы при дефиците воды. Доклады НАН Азербайджана, т.LXV, №5, с.79-86.

53.Гусейнова И.М., Сулейманов С.Ю., Рустамова С.М., Алиев Д.А. (2009) Индуцированные засухой изменения в фотосинтетических мембранах различных генотипов пшеницы Triticum aestivum L. Биохимия, том 74, вып.8, с.1109-1116.

54.Гусейнова И.М., Сулейманов С.Ю., Азизов И.В., Рустамова С.М., Магеррамова Э.Г., Алиев Д.А. (2008) Влияние высоких концентраций хлорида натрия на фотосинтетические мембраны генотипов пшеницы. Труды Института ботаники НАНА, том XXVIII, с.230-238.

55.Гусейнова И.М., Рустамова С.М., Сулейманов С.Ю. (2005) РНК-редактирование: посттранскрипционное изменение генетической информации. Известия НАН Азербайджана, №3-4, с.16-33.

Membership in national, international, and foreign scientific organizations

Pedagogical activity

From 2016 to 2025, she successfully carried out pedagogical and methodological activities as the Head of the Education Department, including the organization of the educational process at the institute, coordination of the academic and scientific activities of master’s and doctoral students, organization of attestations, doctoral admission and doctoral examinations, master’s examinations, as well as the preparation of educational and methodological documents.

 From 2015 to 2022, she taught the courses “Molecular Mechanisms of Genetic Information Expression Regulation” and “Molecular Biology of Photosynthesis” in the master’s programs in “Molecular Biology,” “Biochemistry,” and “Plant Physiology” at Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and in 2023 she taught these subjects in the master’s program in “Molecular Biology” at Baku State University.

 Since 2023, she has been serving as a member of the teacher selection commission for the bachelor’s and master’s levels of the “Molecular Biology” specialty within the “SABAH” groups.

 In 2024–2025, she supervised the scientific research internship of second-year master’s students specializing in “Molecular Biology” within the “SABAH” groups.

 Under her supervision, 2 master’s theses and 1 PhD dissertation have been successfully defended. Currently, she supervises 2 PhD dissertations.

Other activities

2025

Postdoctoral researcher in the project “Fusarium Test for Seeds: A Simple and Rapid Method to Detect Fusarium Infection and Its Effect on the Health of Wheat Seeds”, implemented in collaboration with SeedAlive GmbH and Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.

2020–2025

Principal investigator of the project “Creation of infrastructure for the development of new directions of genetic engineering in Azerbaijan, application of genome editing methods in biomedical research and genome selection” financed by the Presidium of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Education.

2020–2022

Principal investigator of the scientific-research project “Developing a conceptual model for drought stress tolerance mechanism based on the identification of the interrelation between the expression of key genes and the metabolome in wheat” funded by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, EİF-ETL-2020-2(36)-16/15/3-M-15.

2019

Postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Germany.

2017–2019

Principal investigator of the scientific-research project “Improving drought and salt tolerance of wheat using molecular-genetic, cell biotechnological and proteomic approaches to ensure food security in Azerbaijan” funded by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, EİF-KETPL-2-2015-1(25)-56/35/3-M-10.

2013–2014

Manager of the scientific-research project “Evaluation of the tolerance potential of wheat genotypes, grown in the various regions of Azerbaijan and preserved in GenBank, to yellow and brown rust using molecular-genetic methods” funded by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, EİF/GAM-2-2013-2(8).

2010–2012

Principal investigator of the scientific-research project “Screening of drought tolerance of the wheat genotypes collected in Azerbaijan GenBank by molecular markers and investigation of physiological, biochemical and biophysical parameters in tolerant genotypes” funded by the Science Development Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, EIF-2010-1(1)-24.

Awards and prizes

The badge “Advanced education worker of the Republic of Azerbaijan” (2019)

Place of work and its address

Institute of Molecular Biology of the Ministry of Science and Education, 11 Izzat Nabiyev, Baku, AZ1073, Azerbaijan

Position

Leading researcher

Head of the Projects and Grants Sector

Office phone

(+994 12) 5381164

Mobile

 (+994 50) 4500416

Home

Fax

 (+994 12) 5102430

E-mail

s.rustamova@imbb.science.az

samirarustamova80@gmail.com

babaliyevasamira@mail.ru