A project led by Dr. Yılmaz Kaya of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at Ondokuz Mayıs University’s (OMU) Faculty of Agriculture has been selected for funding following the scientific evaluation process conducted under TÜBİTAK’s 2026 KUTUP-1001 and KUTUP–Participation in Foreign Research Bases calls.

Submitted on behalf of OMU under project number 125G071, the study is titled “Isolation and Characterisation of Endophytic Bacteria in Antarctic Vascular Plants and Evaluation of Their Biotechnological Potential.”

The project aims to characterise endophytic bacteria isolated from native Antarctic vascular plants using culture-based methods and assess their potential applications in agricultural biotechnology. It offers an original scientific model for integrating biological data obtained through Türkiye’s National Antarctic Science Expeditions into sustainable agricultural practices.

A Strong Multidisciplinary and International Consortium

The project brings together expertise in agricultural biotechnology, plant protection, biochemistry, and bioinformatics.

Alongside project leader Dr. Yılmaz Kaya, the OMU research team includes Dr. Ayşe Feyza Tufan-Dülger from the field of agricultural biotechnology and Prof. Dr. Hasan Murat Aksoy from plant protection.

The team will adopt an integrated approach encompassing microbial isolation, functional characterisation, plant–microorganism interactions, and biological control mechanisms. This structure will enable the project’s fundamental and applied research dimensions to be addressed comprehensively.

The international research team includes Prof. Dr. Roswanira Abd Wahab of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She will contribute particularly to bioinformatics analyses, including molecular data analysis, sequence evaluation, and functional genomic interpretation.

The collaboration is expected to create valuable academic synergy by facilitating the exchange of advanced molecular analysis expertise and infrastructure.

Prof. Dr. İbrahim İlker Özyiğit of Marmara University will also contribute his expertise in plant biotechnology. Model-plant experiments and in vivo validation studies will play a critical role in evaluating the potential integration of Antarctic microorganisms into agricultural systems.

By bringing together researchers from different universities, countries, and disciplines, the project establishes a coordinated national and international research consortium.

The developing collaboration between OMU and UTM is also expected to strengthen scientific relations between Türkiye and Malaysia. Joint publications, researcher mobility, and the sharing of advanced analytical infrastructure are among the anticipated scientific and international outcomes of the project.

Contributing to Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Introducing microorganisms adapted to extreme environments such as Antarctica into agricultural systems may offer biologically based solutions to the environmental stresses intensified by climate change.

The findings are expected to provide new perspectives on the development of biological agricultural inputs, improved productivity, environmentally friendly production systems, and climate-resilient farming practices.

By connecting OMU’s growing capacity in polar research with agricultural biotechnology, the project is expected to enhance the research team’s national and international visibility while contributing to innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions.