On June 29, a defense session of the dissertation work entitled “The flora of the Daridag area and its utilization prospects” submitted by Aysel Rovshan gizi Heydarova for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences in the field of 2417.01 – “Botany” was held at the meeting of the FD 1.26 Dissertation Council operating under the Institute of Botany PLE of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

 

The meeting of the Dissertation Council was held under the chairmanship of Professor Sayyara Ibadullayeva.

 

The scientific supervisor of the research is Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Dashgin Ganbarov.

 

The official opponents were Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Sevda Ahmadova, Doctor of Biological Sciences Humira Huseynova and PhD in Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Gulnara Shiraliyeva.

 

The applicant stated while presenting the dissertation that 46 rare and endangered plant species belonging to 33 genera were identified in the study area. During the field studies, the distribution of the species Hedysarum atropatanum Bunge ex Boiss. in this area was recorded for the first time, and thus a new locality was added to its regional range. The populations of H. atropatanum and Onobrychis buhseana Bunge ex Boiss. were assessed, and the average value of the regeneration index, age index, efficiency index, and other parameters of individuals were studied. For the first time, the carrying capacity of pastures in the Daridag area was calculated, and the highest winter grazing capacity per hectare was determined in the fragrant wormwood phytocenosis. The uses of 134 useful plant species in the flora of Daridag were studied and classified according to their application areas. The main objective of the research is to provide a modern taxonomic analysis of gymnospermous and angiospermous plants distributed in the Daridag flora, to analyze their life forms and botanical-geographical distribution characteristics, to conduct a detailed study of the current state of vegetation cover, to classify vegetation types according to typological units, and to investigate the phytocenological structure of some promising plant species.

 

After the speeches of the official opponents were heard, an extensive discussion was held on the dissertation work. Based on the results of the secret voting, a decision was made to submit a petition to the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the awarding of the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology to Aysel Heydarova.