Head of laboratory

Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor Aghayeva Dilzara Nadir 

Directions of activity

• Fundamental-theoretical issues related to the morphology, systematics, geography, biology and evolution of fungi: research into the diversity of fungi across the country as a component of biodiversity, conducting taxonomic, nomenclatural and molecular-phylogenetic analyses, and enriching the herbarium collection.
• Theoretical and practical foundations of effective use of mushrooms: preparation of maps of occurrence of food and medically important species in the country and creation of a culture collection, experimental research of biologically active substances.
• Assessment of rare and pathogenic species of fungi: monitoring of species exposed to the influence of environmental factors, including anthropogenic influences, and study of related risks, preparation of brochures, booklets, and posters for educational propaganda.

Scientific achievements

• The mycobiota of terrestrial ecosystems in Azerbaijan, especially the Goygol National Park in the Lesser Caucasus, Dashkфsan and Gadabey districts, has been studied and species lists have been developed. About 11 micromycetes collected from Ganja and Goygol (Peronospora conglomerata Fuckel, P. stigmaticola Raunk., Podosphaera leucotricha (Ellis & Everh.) E.S. Salmon, P. tridactyla f. pruni Golovin, P. clandestina (Wallr.) Lév., P. pannosa (Wallr.) de Bary, Sphaerulina rehmiana Jaap, Gymnosporangium globosum (Farl.) Farl., G. asiaticum Miyabe ex G. Yamada, Ramularia agrestis Sacc., Didymella pinodella (L.K. Jones) Qian Chen & L. Cai) are indicated as new for the area.
• A new parasitic species Cryphonectria carpinicola D. Rigling, T. Cech, Cornejo & L. Beenken, belonging to the genus Cryphonectria (Sacc.) Sacc. & D. Sacc, was found on European hornbeam and European chestnut trees in Guba, Gakh, and Zagatala districts of the Republic. It is the third species of the same genus to be discovered in this country, after C. parasitica (Murrill) M.E. Barr and C. radicalis (Schwein. ex Fr.) M.E. Barr. The possibility of biological control of the population of the pathogenic fungus C. parasitica, which is widespread in chestnuts, has been demonstrated.
• The macromycetes Fomitopsis betulina (Bull.) B.K.Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai, Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Grey from Goygol, Sarcosphaera coronaria (Jacq.) J. Schröt from Shaki, Morchella semilibera DC. from Shaki and Nakhchivan, and Pisolithus arhizus (Scop.) Rauschert from Absheron have brrn newly reported for Azerbaijan.
• A list of 226 fungal species associated with forest trees in the country has been compiled. In addition, the taxonomic status of 193 species belonging to the Ascomycota phylum found on forest trees and shrubs has been clarified.