Adela Halmagyi
Research Scientist I - Department lead Experimental Biology
Biography
Specialist in plant biotechnologies, including micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, cell culture and synthetic seed technology, as well as ex-situ conservation strategies such as cryopreservation (-196°C) of plant genetic resources.
Publications
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article
Structural Characterization Of Dna From Allium Leaves And E. Coli By Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Sers) |
Tosa Nicoleta; Dina Nicoleta E.; Cozar Bogdan I.; Coste Ana; Halmagyi Adela; Parvu Marcel; Muntean Cristina M. | Analytical Letters, 2024 | |
AbstractThe label-free detection of biological molecules was demonstrated for different types of DNA. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) investigation on nucleic acids extracted from leaves of different Allium cepa cultivars (cvs.) De Buz & abreve;u, Aurie de Buz & abreve;u, Rubiniu, Ro & scedil;ie de Arie & scedil; as well as taxa A. ursinum, A. senescens subsp. montanum, A. schoenoprasum, A. obliquum, and A. fistulosum was performed using 532-nm laser excitation. Main SERS vibrations of these nucleic acids have been characterized, highlighting those at 658, 704, 1089, and 1125 cm-1 attributed to dG and dA phosphodiester groups as well as deoxyribose, specific constituents of DNA. The mild basic pH conditions of the samples can induce a partial breaking of the hydrogen bonds from the dsDNA, which affects the A = T/T = A as well as C equivalent to G/G equivalent to C base pairs and causes the aggregation of AgNPs mixed with DNA of the Allium cultivars and species. Also, SERS profiles of genomic DNA from E. coli 1559 were analyzed at decreasing pHs from 7 to 4. Protonation of the nitrogen N3 of the aromatic six-membered ring of both deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine, respectively, induces the decrease of the peak's intensity at 1588 cm-1. Furthermore, SERS characteristics of plasmidic DNA from E. coli 7832 and of chromosomal DNA from E. coli MG 1655 are provided, with specific SERS modes indicated and new SERS bands found upon nucleic acids in vitro aging. Principal component analysis (PCA) in the full SERS spectrum range of bacterial DNA was performed. |
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article
High Frequency Direct Organogenesis In Five Romanian Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) Cultivars |
Halmagyi Adela; Coste Ana; Deliu Constantin; Bacila Ioan | Horticulturae, 2023 | |
AbstractTomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) as the most economically important vegetable crop worldwide has been investigated intensively for the development of new and improved varieties. Most of these technologies require efficient protocols for in vitro regeneration and propagation of plant material. In the present study, an efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration system for five Romanian tomato genotypes (cvs. 'Capriciu', 'Darsirius', 'Kristin', 'Pontica' and 'Siriana') has been established. The tomato genotypes were selected based on their horticultural and economically valuable traits. To study the in vitro morphogenic response, various explants, such as cotyledons, cotyledonary nodes, hypocotyls, leaf explants, internodes, stem nodes and apical buds have been selected. The highest efficiency in terms of direct shoot organogenesis was obtained in cv. 'Capriciu' (98% for apical buds and 94% for stem nodes) on culture media with zeatin and indole-3-butyric acid. One advantage of this regeneration procedure is beside its feasibility in handling, the high percentage of regenerated shoots and their rooting. The present protocol contributes to the existing information regarding the response of tomato cultivars to in vitro culture conditions. |
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article
Impact Of Arieş River Contaminants On Algae And Plants |
Halmagyi A.; Butiuc-Keul A.; Keul M.; Dobrotă C.; Fodorpataki L.; Pintea A.; Mocan A.; Pop V.; Coste A. | Toxics, 2023 | |
AbstractThe Arieş River (Western Romania) represents one of the most important affluents of the Mureş River, with great significance in the Mureş Tisza basin. The environmental quality of the Arieş basin is significantly affected by both historic mining activities and contemporary impacts. Thus, an evaluation of the effects of the main contaminants found in water (organochlorine pesticides—OCPs, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—MAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs, and metals) on cyanobacteria and plants was performed. Among OCPs, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and derivatives were detected in plants while admissible concentrations were detected in water. Among MAHs, high levels of benzene were detected both in water and in plants. The levels of PAHs exceeded the allowable values in all samples. Increased concentrations of metals in water were found only at Baia de Arieş, but in plants, all metal concentrations were high. The pH, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates, as well as metals, pesticides, and aromatic hydrocarbons, influenced the physiological characteristics of algae, test plants, and aquatic plants exposed to various compounds dissolved in water. Considering that the Arieş River basin is the site of intense past mining activities, these data provide information about the impact on water quality as a consequence of pollution events. © 2023 by the authors. |
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article
Cryo-Technologies For Ex Situ Conservation Of Rosa Germplasm |
Halmagyi Adela; Valimareanu Sergiu; Sovarel Gabriela; Coste Ana | Plants-Basel, 2022 | |
AbstractIn this study, we compare two rapid cryopreservation (-196 degrees C) procedures, droplet-vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration for rose (Rosa x hybrida L., cultivars 'loana', 'Mariana', 'Vulcan'). Significant factors for cryopreservation, such as sucrose concentration during osmoprotection, treatment duration with plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) in droplet-vitrification, duration of air desiccation and moisture content of alginate beads in encapsulation-dehydration, were investigated. In addition, the morphogenetic response to in vitro culture and to liquid nitrogen storage and the content in photosynthetic pigments have been assessed. The in vitro cultures were initiated from plant material originating from field collection. The highest regeneration frequencies were obtained for cv. 'Vulcan' in both of the cryopreservation procedures tested, 72% in droplet-vitrification and 65% following encapsulation-dehydration. The morphogenetic response (multiplication index and height of shoots) to liquid nitrogen storage was direct multiple shoot formation per initial shoot tip for all genotypes. The content in chlorophyll a and b was statistically comparable in plant material resulting from cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved shoot tips in all cultivars. The findings expand the information on Rosa's response to in vitro culture conditions and cryopreservation, providing protocols with a high regeneration capacity for the storage of genotypes with high ornamental value. |
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article
Ex Situ Conservation Of Plant Diversity In Romania: A Synthesis Of Threatened And Endemic Taxa |
Hurdu Bogdan-Iuliu; Coste Ana; Halmagyi Adela; Szatmari Paul-Marian; Farkas Anca; Puscas Mihai; Turtureanu Pavel Dan; Rosca-Casian Oana; Tanaseh Catalin; Oprea Adrian; Mardari Constantin; Radubtoiu Daniel; Camen-Comanescu Petronela; Sirbu Ioana-Minodora; Stoie Andrei; Lupoae Paul; Cristea Victoria; Jarda Liliana; Holobiuc Irina; Goia Irina; Catana Corina; Butiuc-Keul Anca | Journal For Nature Conservation, 2022 | |
AbstractRomania hosts a relatively high species diversity, including 3,829 vascular and 979 non-vascular spontaneous plant taxa. Multiple national red lists exist, with the number of taxa assessed as threatened varying greatly between them, from 548 to 1,438, and with number of taxa assigned to a given threat category also varying between the different sources. A composite list including all taxa mentioned in at least one of the selected red listings from Romania is required in order to compensate for this lack of consensus and to assess their ex situ conservation status. In this study, we synthesized data from the national red lists and counted 1,220 spontaneous vascular plant species and 201 subspecies, of which 77 are endemic and 76 subendemic for Romania. In addition, 18 non-red-listed endemics and 14 subendemics have been added, bringing the total to 1,453 threatened and (sub)endemic plant taxa, representing almost 38% of the total native vascular flora of Romania. Despite the large network of protected areas in Romania, many taxa are still being threatened with extinction in the region mainly due to anthropogenic pressure. Several ex situ conservation measures have been employed to assure a more substantial buffer against plant extinction in the wild, supported by thorough and adequate conservation strategies and multiple means to reintroduce taxa back to their natural habitats. Consequently, our second aim was to evaluate the ex situ conservation status of these threatened and (sub)endemic plants from Romania, focussing on both conventional methods (cultivation in botanic gardens, seed banking) and biotechnological approaches (in vitro tissue culture, medium-term storage and cryostorage). Of the 1,453 taxa included in our list, 642 (44.2%) are conserved by ex situ approaches. Of these, 524 are harboured in the most important botanic gardens throughout Romania, while 156 are currently held in long-term seed banks locally or in the Millennium Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew (UK). Conversely, only 64 taxa from the list are preserved at the national level through in vitro cultures, and cryopreservation protocols have been developed for only 8 taxa. Overall, more than half of the threatened and (sub)endemic vascular flora from Romania remains unprotected outside the classical in situ conservation measures. For red-listed bryophytes, only 0.6% are preserved in national ex situ collections. Moreover, some aspects related to population genetic studies and the genetic stability of ex situ conserved plants are also briefly discussed, as essential prerequisites for applied biodiversity conservation programs. Finally, considering the distribution range of targeted taxa, we included a synthesis of biotechnological approaches at both national and international level. Our study presents not only a first assessment of the ex situ conservation status of national red listed flora, but also, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive and updated overview of the rare, threatened and (sub)endemic taxa from Romania. This evaluation will provide a supporting tool for national decision-and policy-making actions for biodiversity conservation, using both in situ and ex situ approaches. We also highlight the need for an updated red list for the Romanian flora that accurately follows the IUCN assessment criteria and protocols. |
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article
Molecular Characterization Of Prunus Cultivars From Romania By Microsatellite Markers |
Butiuc-Keul Anca; Coste Ana; Postolache Dragos; Laslo Vasile; Halmagyi Adela; Cristea Victoria; Farkas Anca | Horticulturae, 2022 | |
AbstractIn Romania, Prunus species have great economic and social importance. With the introduction of new cultivars arises the need to preserve and characterize the local Prunus germplasm. Thus, a set of 24 polymorphic SSRs were selected for the overall characterization, including 10 peach, 11 apricot and 5 nectarine cultivars. The average number of alleles per locus (Na = 1.958), in addition to overall observed (Ho = 0.299) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.286) were lower or comparable to those reported in similar studies, probably explained by the smaller number of analyzed cultivars restricted to a smaller geographic area. Among 26 genotypes a total of 101 alleles were identified, of which 46 alleles were in peach, 55 in apricot and 40 in nectarine, respectively. Six alleles from six loci (CPPCT-030, Pchgms-003, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-010, UDP97-401, UDP98-405) were common to all taxonomic groups. The most informative loci were BPPCT-025, Pchgms-021 and UDP96-001 in peach; BPPCT-025, BPPCT-001 and UDP96-001 in nectarine; and BPPCT-002, BPPCT-025, Pchgms-004, Pchgms-020 and Pchgms-021 in apricot. Clustering and genetic similarity analysis indicated that the degree of interspecific divergence in peach and nectarine cultivars was less than that in peach and apricot. These results will be useful to prevent confusion between cultivars, to improve breeding strategies and to benefit the management of Prunus cultivars bred in Romania. |
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article
Structure And Surface Dynamics Of Genomic Dna As Probed With Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Trace Level Sensing Of Nucleic Acids Extracted From Plants |
Dina Nicoleta E.; Muntean Cristina M.; Bratu Ioan; Tican Andreea; Halmagyi Adela; Purcaru Monica A. P.; Coste Ana | Spectrochimica Acta Part A-Molecular And Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2022 | |
AbstractIn this work surface-enhanced Raman spectra of nucleic acids from in vitro grown Solanum tuberosum L. cultivars and populations (Buzau population, Lazarea population, Patraque d'Auvergne, RFA Roclas Clone 2.6 Ferma, Vitelotte Negresse, Roclas Clone C, Blue Congo) were measured with 532 nm laser line. Main surface-enhanced Raman modes of these DNAs have been analyzed. Also, DNA from two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties were studied at acidic pHs by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Modified SERS intensities and wavenumber shifts of nucleic acids bands were observed upon lowering the pH, being a proof of binding affinity changes of DNA with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and of structural modifications induced at acidic pHs in DNA molecular groups. Furthermore, the (sub)picosecond surface dynamics of DNA extracted from leaf tissues of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties was investigated. In this work, the bands full widths at half-maximum (FWHMs) have values in the wavenumber range from 8 to 34 cm(-1). (Sub)picosecond molecular dynamics of DNA groups with global relaxation times between 0.31 ps 1.33 ps has been found. |
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article
Effects Of Femtosecond Uv Laser Pulses On The Structure And Surface Dynamics Of Medicinal Plants Dna, Monitored By Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
Muntean Cristina M.; Dina Nicoleta E.; Bratu Ioan; Falamas Alexandra; Nitu (Nastase) Sorina; Halmagyi Adela; Coste Ana | Journal Of Molecular Structure, 2021 | |
AbstractPotential medical application of UV laser pulses for cancer treatment is one of the main motivations behind this study. Surface-enhanced Raman signatures-based structural and (sub)picosecond dynamical characterization of genomic DNAs from different medicinal plants are presented. Moreover, structural and surface dynamical changes induced in genomic DNAs from selected medicinal plants species by UV femtosecond laser pulses (lambda = 280 nm, 170 fs) were investigated between 300 and 1800 cm(-1). As a general observation, after nucleic acids irradiation some modes became higher in intensity especially in the wavenumber range between 1050 cm(-1)-1650 cm(-1) or new profiles appeared in this interval in the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) characteristics. Changes in the structure of dA, dG, dC dT residues, nucleic acid backbone and deoxyribose or unstacking of DNA bases were found. Large wavenumber shifts of the marker bands, which appear in the SERS spectra upon nucleic acids irradiation might be associated with loss of essential structural organization of DNA. As far as surface dynamics of DNA is concerned, for control nucleic acids functional groups, the global relaxation times varied between 0.39-1.77 ps and for UV femtosecond laser pulses-irradiated DNAs, this parameter was slower than 0.35 ps and faster than 1.63 ps. A decrease of the limit values of global relaxation times variation interval is to be observed upon UV treatment of nucleic acids. This faster surface dynamics might be explained by the presence of broken bonds (lesions) in DNA systems after laser pulses irradiation. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
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article
In Situ Genetic Variability And Micropropagation Of Cerastium Banaticum (Rochel) Heuff. (Caryophyllaceae) - A Rare And Endemic Species From Romania |
Cristea Victoria; Besenyei Eniko; Jarda Liliana; Farkas Anca; Marcu Delia; Clapa Doina; Halmagyi Adela; Butiuc-Keul Anca | Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica, 2019 | |
AbstractRare and endemic plant species represent important components of plant biodiversity which require protection to ensure their sustainable conservation. Cerastium banaticum (Rochel) Heuff. is such an endemic and rare species from Romania, for which the genetic variability of two natural populations was studied by SSR markers. Shannon's information index revealed low levels of genetic diversity in both populations (I = 0.296). As the first attempt in a conservation program a reproducible micropropagation protocol was established starting from seeds. followed by multiplication, rooting. and ex vitro acclimatization. Among the various plant growth regulators tested the highest multiplication coefficient was achieved on a culture medium with 0.5 mg L-1 6-furfurylaminopurine (K) and 1 mg L-1 alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). On this PGRs concentration a number of 26.6 shoots/individual explant with a mean length of 7.9 cm for new generated shoots was registered. The highest number of roots/individual initiated shoot was 2.6 and it was recorded on a culture medium with 0.5 mg L-1 2-isopentyl-adenine (2iP) and 0.1 mg L-1 NAA. The outdoor acclimatization was successfully performed in a specially designed rocky area in the 'Alexandru Borza' Botanical Garden, Cluj-Napoca (Romania). |
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article
Molecular Characterization Of Apple (Malus X Domestica Borkh.) Genotypes Originating From Three Complementary Conservation Strategies |
Butiuc-Keul Anca; Coste Ana; Farkas Anca; Cristea Victoria; Isac Valentina; Halmagyi Adela | Turkish Journal Of Agriculture And Forestry, 2019 | |
AbstractApple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) genotypes originating from different plant collections (field collection, in vitro plant collections undergoing or not undergoing cryopreservation) were screened and characterized by SSR markers. Shoot tips excised from plants grown in vitro were successfully cryopreserved by encapsulation-dehydration. 'the highest regrowth frequency (69%, cultivar Goldrush) of cryopreserved apices was achieved after 24 h of osmoprotection in 0.5 M sucrose, 3 h of desiccation, and 24% water content of alginate beads. No differences in morphological characteristics including shoot length and number and length of roots were observed between controls and plants recovered after cryopreservation. SSR markers were used for calculation of genetic similarities between plants from the field collection, in vitro-micropropagated plants, or plants regenerated after liquid nitrogen storage. The set of microsatellite markers showed a low level of polymorphism among the studied genotypes, which could be distinguished by a specific combination of alleles generated by CH03g07, CH05c02, CH05d11, and CH05e03 primers. The CH03g07, CH05c02, CH05d11, CH05e03, GD96, GD147, and GD162 SSR markers exhibited low levels of polymorphism, while CH04AE07, CH04g10, GD100, and GD142 were nonpolymorphic. The Dice coefficient confirmed the effectiveness of SSRs for distinguishing between plants from ex situ collections and preserved plants. No major differences between ex situ plants, micropropagated plants, and plants recovered after cryopreservation were observed. |
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