THE successful PARTICIPATION OF INSTITUTE OF GENETICS AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY'S RESEARCHERS AT the NATO PROGRAM SCIENCE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY 

Through two for grants collaborative (Collaborative Linkage Grants – CLG) obtained in the NATO Program Science for Peace and Security, the researchers of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology have succeeded in developing sustainable relationships for international scientific cooperation with partners from the Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA). So, under the leadership of Dr. hab. in Biology Catherine Emnova, the young researchers from Mineral Nutrition and Plant Hydric Regime Laboratory, together with the team of American scientists, Professor Robert TATE and Prof. Daniel GIMENEZ, have successfully formulated the aim and objectives of the 2 projects CLG: 

1. CLG 980441 Impact of Bacterial Exopolysaccharides on Environmental Security (2003 - 2006). 

The overall research objective was to evaluate the effect of high level of Cu in soil  on accumulations of Cu resistant edaphic microbes and on enhancing of exopolysaccharides (EPS)  productivity. The basic objectives included 1) evaluation and extension of research approaches to the mechanism of production of microbial exopolysaccharides in soil and rhizosphere with different content of Cu, 2) determining the changes of rhizosphere soil macropores volume and appropriate physical and chemical properties as a result of exopolysaccharides production , and 3) determination of changes in the rhizosphere microbial community  (Cu resistant population) and the effect on plant growth and development. It was presumed that this research will lead to development of methods for regulating the soil exopolysaccharides synthesis  as a means of restoring the metal contaminated soils and increase their quality and ecosystem stabilization. Cu has been selected for this research due to its high level in some regions of Moldova where vines are grown as a result of intensive application to combat fungal diseases. The total Cu concentration can reach values of 600 mg / kg in vineyards and orchards. 

2. CLG 982852 Mitigation of water stress in agricultural soils by bio-indicators (2007 - 2009). 

The overall object of the research was to evaluate the effect of reduced water content in soil on rhizospheric soil biochemistry. The basic objectives included 1) determining changes in the rhizosphere soil enzymatic activity in reduced water content conditions, 2) evaluate the effect of rhizosphere soil inoculation with exopolysaccharides produsing pseudomonad of soil biochemical processes, plant nutrition and productivity and 3) determination volume changes of rhizosphere soil macropores and related soil physical and chemical properties as a result of EPS production under water stress conditions . It was assumed that these researches will lead to the development of methods for regulating the EPS synthesis in soil as a means of restoring the land affected during the drought, increase their quality and ecosystem stabilization. 
Under the terms CLG, between 2003 - 2009, were made mutual working visits
to coordinate the process of implementing the provisions specified in the grant proposal. Thus, in 2004, 2007 and 2009 Prof. Robert Tate and Prof. Daniel Gimenez, co-directors from U.S., visited the Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology. In turn, Dr. hab. Catherine Emnova visited the laboratories of Rutgers University in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Also in 2008 the project participant and scientific researcher of Institute of Soil Science Agrochemistry "N. Dimo" Ludmila BULAT got acquainted with the methods applied in Soil Physics Laboratory of Rutgers University. 

However, the implementation of CLG-2 provided opportunities for 2 Ph.D.in Biochemistry (Oxana Daraban) and Agrochemistry (Iana Druta) specialties from the Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology to gain experience participating in international projects. In 2006 Ph.D. Oxana DARABAN made a stage for 1.5 months in the U.S. to become familiar with the research methods applied in Rutgers Unversity laboratories. Enforcement of the young researcher training period had a positive effect on the quality of PhD thesis and a tendency to broaden the thematic research areas necessary for implementation in Moldova. Advanced methods of molecular analysis of microbial communities in soil provides a more integrated and comprehensive understanding about the possible effects of environment and human activity on soil microorganisms and biochemical processes. Young researchers intention become obvious to continue the international scientific cooperation through the implementation of project proposals to the NATO Program Science for Peace and Security. 

The results obtained from international scientific cooperation in the CLGs were presented at 6 international forums (Spain, Austria, Romania and Moldova) and 11 articles were published in reviewed national magazines (ex. environment, Studia Universitatis, State Agrarian University from Moldova Scientific Studies) mentioning the support provided by NATO Program Science for Peace and Security.

At the present moment all the scientific results obtained are generalized for the final report presented to NATO's Foundation it, is being prepared for publication a common summary article in the journal impact factor 1.998 "Plant and Soil": Emnova E., Tate III, R., Gimenez D., Daraban O., L. Bulat, Budac A., Nagacevschi T. 2009. Mitigation of water stress in agricultural soil by seed inoculation with extracellular polysaccharide producing rhizobacteria Pseudomonas aureofaciens, which constitutes an important means of integration in international scientific community. New proposals are developed through competitive participation in the NATO Program Science for Peace and Security.