A preliminary discussion of the dissertation submitted by Saida Tofig Zulfugarova, a researcher at the Bioadaptation Laboratory of the Institute of Molecular Biology under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the field of Molecular Biology (2415.01), entitled “Investigation of Heat Shock Proteins and Antioxidant Enzymes Gene Expression in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes Differing in Stress Sensitivity” was held on October 8.

The scientific supervisor of the dissertation is Academician Irada Huseynova. The official reviews of the dissertation were provided by Doctor of Biological Sciences and Head of the Department of Biochemical Genetics and Technology at the Institute of Genetic Resources of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hamlet Sadigov and Doctor of Biological Sciences and Acting Head of the Laboratory of Photosynthetic Water Oxidation at the Institute of Basic Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences Tatyana Savchenko.

After Doctor of Philosophy in Biology, Associate Professor, and Scientific Secretary of the Institute Durna Aliyeva had familiarized the participants with the candidate’s biographical details, Saida Zulfugarova proceeded to present her dissertation research.

The candidate delivered a comprehensive presentation of her dissertation, highlighting the relevance of the research, outlining its key objectives, and the principal scientific findings and results obtained. It was mentioned that the obtained results of the dissertation expand current scientific knowledge of the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and ultrastructural mechanisms underlying heat stress adaptation in bread wheat. The key scientific provisions of the research may serve as a theoretical and methodological foundation for research in molecular biology, plant physiology, genetics, and plant breeding.

The dissertation was discussed in detail and an exchange of views was held on the key scientific aspects of the dissertation. The candidate addressed the questions raised during the discussion and responded to the comments and suggestions received. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was deemed appropriate for the dissertation to proceed to the next stage of the defense process and a corresponding decision was adopted.