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Centre forAgriculturalResearchMartonvásárHungarian Academy of Sciences

Thenetwork of research institutesmaintained by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences achieves nationaland international success and makes a valuable contribution toHungarian and universal science through a combination of excellentlyqualified researchers, authentic science and social commitment. As partof the only network in Hungary devoted purely to scientific research, theMartonvásár-based institute aims principally to play an active role inserving the public good and laying a foundation for the future by achievingvaluable results of an international standard, based on Hungarian researchtraditions.

The Centre for Agricultural Research of the Hungarian Academyof Sciences, the largest agricultural research complex in Hungary,carries out basic and applied research and development in thefield of agricultural sciences, participates in the dissemination ofprofessional and scientific knowledge, and works in cooperation withorganisations involved in agriculture, animal health, the food industry,rural development, environment protection and sustainable development,at both national and international levels.The Centre cooperates with other research institutes in Hungary, andmaintains contacts both with scientific institutions in other countriesand with international scientific societies. It promotes the integration ofHungarian research results obtained in agriculture, soil and environmentalscience and veterinary science into international scientific life.In cooperation with various institutions of higher education, it is activelyinvolved in teaching, participating in joint research, education andfurther training tasks.1

The Centre for Agricultural Researchof the Hungarian Academy of Scienceswww.agrar.mta.huE-mail address: atk@agrar.mta.huHas its headquarters atH-2462 Martonvásár, Brunszvik u. 2.Director-General:D r Z o l t á n B e d ôMember of the Hungarian Academy of Sciencesbedo.zoltan@agrar.mta.huFinancial Director:D r Á g n e s G a á lgaal.agnes@agrar.mta.huInstitutes making up the Centre forAgricultural ResearchAgricultural InstituteAddress: H-2462 Martonvásár, Brunszvik u. 2.E-mail: mgi@agrar.mta.huPlant Protection InstituteAddress: H-1022 Budapest, Herman Ottó út 15.andH-1029 Budapest, Nagykovácsi út 26−30.E-mail: novi@agrar.mta.huInstitute for Soil Science andAgricultural ChemistryAddress: H-1022 Budapest, Herman Ottó út 15.E-mail: taki@agrar.mta.huInstitute for VeterinaryMedical ResearchAddress: H-1143 Budapest, Hungária krt. 21.E-mail: aoti@agrar.mta.hu2

Academy members at the Centrefor Agricultural ResearchErvin BalázsBeáta BarnabásBalázs BarnaTibor JermyZoltán BedôTamás KômívesZoltán KirályBéla NagyJános MészárosMiklós TóthTamás NémethGyörgy Várallyay3

AgriculturalInstitute4

Plant Cell Biology DepartmentHead of Department:B e á t a B a r n a b á sMember of the MTAPhone: (+36-22) 569-526E-mail: barnabas.beata@agrar.mta.huThe development of the grain in cultivatedcereal species starts with double fertilisation.The quantity and quality of the yield dependon a great extent on the success of this process,which is influenced by numerous environmentalfactors. Plant reproduction biology is one of thefoundation pillars of plant breeding. The mainprofile of the department is the investigationof reproductive processes in cereal speciesat the cellular and molecular level, and thebiotechnology of sexual plant reproduction. Upto-datein vitro micromanipulation techniquesand genomic methods facilitate detailedinvestigations on the various phases in plantembryo development, thus allowing solutions tobe found for problems of basic importance forgeneral developmental biology. High efficiencyhaploid induction methods are used to examinethe factors involved in the initiation of in vitroembryogenesis in microspores, with specialregard to the symmetry of the first microsporemitosis and the accompanying changes in cellstructure. The effects of extreme environmentalstresses associated with global climate change6

Components of those signal transductionpathways which might play role in changingthe expression patterns of candidate genes areidentified. Beside investigating the molecularbackground of stress adaptation, associationmapping experiments are also performed inwhich genetic factors with great influence onmicronutrient content and nitrogen use efficiencyof winter wheat and barley are studied.Researchers with scientific degrees:Gábor Kocsy, DSc(+36-22) 569-501kocsy.gabor@agrar.mta.huFerenc Marincs, PhD(+36-22) 569-528marincs.ferenc@agrar.mta.huAlexandra Soltész, PhD(+36-22) 569-501soltesz.alexandra@agrar.mta.huFruzsina Szira, PhD(+36-22) 569-525szira.fruzsina@agrar.mta.huBalázs Tóth, PhD(+36-22) 569-501toth.balazs@agrar.mta.huIldikó Vashegyi, PhD(+36-22) 569-528vashegyi.ildiko@agrar.mta.huAttila Vágújfalvi, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/189vagujfalvi.attila@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Soltész, A., Smedley, M., Vashegyi, I., Galiba, G., Harwood, W., Vágújfalvi, A. (2013) Transgenic barley linesprove the involvement of TaCBF14 and TaCBF15 genes in the cold acclimation process and in frost tolerance. Journal ofExperimental Botany, 64 (7): 1849-1862; IF=5,364• Vashegyi, I., Marozsán-Tóth, Zs., Galiba, G., I. Dobrev, P., Vankova, R., Tóth, B. (2012) Cold response ofdedifferentiated barley cells at the gene expression, hormone composition and freezing tolerance levels: studies on calluscultures. Molecular Biotechnology, 54 (2): 337-349; IF=2,091• Dhillon, T., P. Pearce, S., J. Stockinger, E., Distelfeld, A., Li, C., K. Knox, A., Vashegyi, I., Vágújfalvi, A., Galiba, G.,Dubcovsky, J. (2010) Regulation of freezing tolerance and flowering in temperate cereals: The VRN-1 connection. PlantPhysiology 153 (4): 1846-1858; IF=6,451• Kocsy, G., Athmer, B., Perovic, D., Himmelbach, A., Szûcs, A., Vashegyi, I., Schweizer, P., Galiba, G., Stein, N.(2010) Regulation of gene expression by chromosome 5A during cold hardening in wheat. Molecular Genetics and Genomics283 (4): 351-363; IF=2,838• Bálint F., A., Szira, F., Röder S., M., Galiba, G., Börner, A. (2009) Mapping of loci affecting copper tolerance in wheat –The possible impact of the vernalization gene Vrn-A1. Environmental and Experimental Botany 65 (2-3) 369-375; IF=2,985• Galiba, G., Vágújfalvi, A., Li, C., Soltész, A., Dubcovsky, J. (2009) Regulatory genes involved in the determination offrost tolerance in temperate cereals. Plant Science 176 (1) 12-19; IF=2,8649

Department ofApplied GenomicsHead of Department:A n g é l a J u h á s zPhdPhone: (+36-22) 569-531E-mail: juhasz.angela@agrar.mta.huSeed protein researchGluten proteins play key roles in defining end-usequality and also health related consequences.Food containing gluten proteins from wheat, ryeor barley can cause allergy or celiac disease fora significant number of people. The knowledgeof the composition and factors affecting expressionlevels of these proteins at genotype level is crucialin the quality research, in the determination ofenvironment on protein composition and also inthe allergy research. The combined use of toolsof bioinformatics, genomics, epigenetics andproteomics results a better understanding of thefactors determining sustainable quality and alsothe level of allergen components present in thefood produced from different cereals.Bioinformatics and computationalstructural biology support for genomicand proteomic researchWide range of bioinformatics and molecularmodelling tools are available to our department inorder to analyse genomic and proteomic researchfindings in the light of structural biologicalaspects. These methods provide the possibilityto unravel the molecular background of theinvestigated biological phenomenon, like themolecular modelling of virus and plant proteininteractions, to study of cereal epitopes bound tothe human HLA antigen presenting proteins. Thesemethods can also be used to compare the bindingaffinities of the smoke-derived compounds in thenewly discovered strigolactone receptor.10

Molecular genetic regulation of germinationThere are many active components in smokewhich have positive or negative effects on thegermination and seedling vigour of many plantspecies, including agricultural crops. By usingthe high tech of molecular biology the potentialtarget genes and their promoters are studied todetermine the role of these compounds in seedgermination with the intension of using thesecomponents in the future agricultural practice.Researchers with scientific degrees:Ervin Balázs, Member of the MTA(+36-22) 569-520balazs.ervin@agrar.mta.huVilmos Soós, PhD(+36-22) 569-520soos.vilmos@agrar.mta.huÁkos Gellért, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/317gellert.akos@agrar.mta.huGyöngyvér Gell, PhD(+36-22) 569-521gell.gyongyver@agrar.mta.huEndre Sebestyén, PhD(+36-22) 569-521sebestyen.endre@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Juhász, A., Makai ,Sz., Sebestyén, E., Tamás, L. and Balázs, E. (2011): Role of conserved non-coding regulatoryelements in LMW glutenin gene expression. PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029501• Juhász, A., Gell, Gy., Bekes, F., Balázs, E. (2012): The epitopes in wheat proteins for defining toxic units relevant tohuman health. Functional and Integrative Genomics, 12(4) 585-598, DOI 10.1007/s10142-012-0302-3• Soós, V., Sebestyén, E., Juhász, A., Light, M., Kohout, L., Szalai, G., Tandori, J., van Staden, J. and Balazs, E.(2010): Transcriptome analysis of germinating maize kernels exposed to smoke-water and the active compound KAR1.BMC Plant Biology 10:236doi:10.1186/1471-2229-10-236• Soós, V., Sebestyén, E., Posta, M., Kohout, L., Light, M., VanStaden, J., Balázs, E. (2012): Molecular Aspects of theCompetitive Action of Butenolides from Plant-Derived Smoke on the Germination Process of Grand Rapids Lettuce Achenes.New Phytologists DOI.10.1111/j1469-8137.2012.04358• Gellért, Á., Salánki, K., Tombácz, K., Tuboly, T., Balázs, E. (2012): A cucumber mosaic virus based expression systemfor the production of porcine circovirus specific vaccines PLoS ONE 7(12): e52688. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.005268811

Department of Plant PhysiologyHead of Department:T i b o r J a n d aDScPhone: (+36-22) 569-509E-mail: janda.tibor@agrar.mta.huDue to the extreme continental climate, there arehardly any years when Hungary does not facesevere economic losses related to environmentalfactors. In order to develop such crops capableof tolerating environmental changes with as littledamage as possible, knowledge of plant defencemechanisms and regulatory processes is essential.The main aims of the Department of PlantPhysiology to study the effect of abiotic stressfactors (low or high temperature, drought, toxicmetals, UV-B, etc.) and the defence mechanismsdeveloped to counteract them with special regardto the antioxidant systems that neutralise thereactive oxygen species formed in the course ofstress processes.Work has long been in progress on the effectof low temperature and of the photoinhibitionexperienced under stress condition, particularlyat the level of photosynthetic processes and ofvarious biochemical or biophysical stress markers.Investigations are also in progress on the roleof light in the development of stress tolerance ofplants.12

In recent years abundant evidence has beenamassed on the role of salicylic acid in stresseffects. The exact action mechanism of salicylicacid and its derivatives is not known yet. Onthe grounds of the above, the research is aimedprimarily at studying the uptake and metabolismof exogenous salicylic acid and relatedcompounds and the effects of various stressorson the endogenous salicylic acid-related signaltransduction processes.It is expected that the results will enable topinpoint processes that could be manipulatedeither by conventional plant breeding orusing biotechnology to achieve more efficientimprovements in plant stress tolerance.Researchers with scientific degrees:Gabriella Szalai, DSc(+36-22) 569-502szalai.gabriella@agrar.mta.huMagda Pál, PhD(+36-22) 569-502pal.magda@agrar.mta.huÉva Darkó, PhD(+36-22) 569-502darko.eva@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Szalai, G., Pap, M., Janda, T. (2009): Light-induced frost tolerance differs in winter and spring wheat plants. J. PlantPhysiol. 166: 1826-1831.• Szalai, G., Horgosi, S., Soós, V., Majláth, I., Balázs, E., Jand, T. (2011): Salicylic acid treatment of pea seeds inducesits de novo synthesis. J Plant Physiol. 168: 213-219.• Majláth, I., Szalai, G., Papp, I., Vanková, R., Janda, T. (2011): Atnoa1 mutant Arabidopsis plants induce compensationmechanisms to reduce the negative effects of the mutation. J. Plant Physiol. 168: 1184–1190• Pál, M., Janda, T., Szalai, G. (2011): Abscisic acid may alter the salicylic acid-related abiotic stress response in maize.J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 368-377.• Majláth, I., Szalai, G., Soós, V., Sebestyén, E., Balázs, E., Vanková, R., Dobrev, PI., Tandori, J., Janda, T. (2012):Effect of light on the gene expression and hormonal status of winter and spring wheat plants during cold hardening. Phys.Plant. 145: 296-314.• Pál, M., Kovács, V., Vida, Gy., Szalai, G., Janda, T. (2013): Changes induced by powdery mildew in the salicylic acid andpolyamine contents and the antioxidant enzyme activities of wheat lines. European Journal of Plant Pathology 135: 35-47.13

Department of Plant GeneticResources and Organic BreedingHead of Department:M á r t a M o l n á r - L á n gDScPhone: (+36-22) 569-505E-mail: molnar.marta@agrar.mta.huThe main tasks of the Department of PlantGenetic Resources and Organic Breeding arethe exploitation of genetic resources of wildspecies and related cultivated species for wheatimprovement (pre-breeding), the maintenanceof Martonvásár Cereal Gene Bank and organicbreeding. In the course of pre-breeding wheatalienintrogression lines are developed from thebackcrossed intergeneric and interspecific hybrids.Triticum, Aegilops and Agropyron species, aswell as rye and barley are crossed with wheat. Itis planned to transfer genes responsible for bioticand abiotic resistance and favourable qualityparameters from these species to wheat.Genome composition of the hybrids and theirderivatives are determined by molecular geneticand cytogenetic methods. Identification of the alienchromosomes is carried out using fluorescencein situ hybridisation and is confirmed withmolecular markers. In an internationalcooperation the department participates inflow cytometric sorting and sequencing ofchromosomes of Aegilops species which facilitatesthe development of Aegilops-specific molecularmarkers.14

The Martonvásár Cereal Gene Bank stores wheatrelated species and genetic materials. Cytogeneticmaterials are especially important as many ofthem can be found only here. The task of theOrganic Breeding Group is the developmentof new organic breeding methods and production ofalternative wheat and maize species. Breedingof species suitable for organic farming, first of allthose that can be grown in marginal areas hasbeen started.Researchers with scientific degrees:András Cseh, PhD(+36-22) 569-504cseh.andras@agrar.mta.huGabriella Linc, PhD(+36-22) 569-504linc.gabriella@agrar.mta.huIstván Molnár, PhD(+36-22) 569-504molnar.istvan@agrar.mta.huAnnamária Schneider, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/309schneider.annamaria@agrar.mta.huAdél Sepsi, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/309sepsi.adel@agrar.mta.huÉva Szakács, CSc(+36-22) 569-500/309szakacs.eva@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Molnár-Láng, M., Cseh, A., Szakács, É., Molnár, I. 2010. Development of a wheat genotype combining the recessivecrossability alleles kr1kr1kr2kr2 and the 1BL.1RS translocation, for the rapid enrichment of 1RS with new allelic variation.Theor. Appl. Genet 120(8):1535–1545. DOI:10.1007/S00122-010-1274-0. IF.: 3.264• Szakács, É., Molnár-Láng, M. 2010. Identification of new winter wheat – winter barley addition lines (6HS and 7H) usingfluorescence in situ hybridization and stability of the whole ‘Martonvásári 9 kr1’-‘Igri’ addition set. Genome, 53(1): 35-44.DOI: 10.1139/G09-085. IF.: 1.662• Molnár, I., Cifuentes, M., Schneider, A., Benavente, E., Molnár-Láng, M. 2011. Association between simple sequencerepeat-rich chromosome regions and intergenomic translocation breakpoints in natural populations of allopolyploid wildwheats. Annals of Botany, 107:65-76. IF: 4.03• Cseh, A., Kruppa, K., Molnár, I., Rakszegi, M., Doleel, J., Molnár-Láng, M.. 2011. Characterization of a new4BS.7HL wheat/barley translocation line using GISH, FISH and SSR markers and its effect on the µ-glucan content of wheat.Genome 54:(10) 795-804. DOI: 10.1139/g11-044 IF.: 1.662• Molnár, I., Kubaláková, M., Šimková, H., Cseh, A., Molnár-Láng, M., Doleel, J. 2011. Chromosome isolation byflow sorting in Aegilops umbellulata and Ae. comosa and their allotetraploid hybrids Ae. biuncialis and Ae. geniculata.PLOS ONE, 6(11): e27708 IF: 4.092• Linc, G., Sepsi, A., Molnár-Láng, M. 2012. A FISH karyotype to study chromosome polymorphisms for the Elytrigiaelongata E genome. Cytogenetic and Genome Research136: 138-144. DOI: 10.1159/000334835 IF: 1.783• Molnár-Láng, M., Kruppa, K., Cseh, A., Bucsi, J., Linc, G. (2012) Identification and phenotypic description of newwheat- six-rowed winter barley disomic additions. Genome 55(4): 302-311, DOI: 10.1139/g2012-013 IF.: 1.66215

Cereal Breeding DepartmentHead of Department:L á s z l ó L á n gDScPhone: (06 22) 569-550E-mail: lang.laszlo@agrar.mta.huThe aim of breeding research on cereals is todescribe and preserve valuable genotypes, todevelop new basic breeding stock (pre-breeding),to elaborate new methods for improving selectionefficiency, and to breed new varieties especiallygenotypes adapted to the continental climateof the Carpathian Basin. Although the researchis concentrated mainly on winter wheat,experiments are also underway on spring wheat,durum wheat, winter and spring barley, triticale,rye, oats and spelt.Wheat breedingTo date, 92 winter wheat varieties have beenbred in Martonvásár, 36 of them over the last10 years. Thanks to their traditionally good stresstolerance and quality, they are competitive notonly in Hungary and neighbouring countries, butin all wheat-growing regions where the plantsare exposed to cold winters and dry summers. Inrecent years, wheat varieties with premium qualityhave gained popularity since these are able tomeet local and export market quality demands.For more than two decades, Martonvásár wheatvarieties have topped the list of wheat seed salesin Hungary.Molecular breedingIn addition to conventional breeding methods,the application of molecular biological toolsalso contributes to the birth of new varieties.Among the possibilities offered by biotechnology,tissue culture has been successfully utilised sincethe 1980s. Advances in genetic knowledge andmethodology have opened up the way for thedirect analysis of DNA allowing selection forseveral monogenic traits by using molecular(DNA) markers.16

Martonvásár wheat varieties cultivatedin HungaryResearch on qualityBreeding in the Martonvásár research institute istraditionally aimed at developing hard-grainedwheat with excellent bread-making quality. Everyyear the quality of several thousand of wheat linesis tested in the technology laboratory. In additionto continual improvements in the quality andquality stability of bread wheat, investigationsare now underway on endosperm structure andstarch properties, wholemeal flour, and the fibrecontent of the grain.Research on genetic resourcesA collection of cereals, primarily winter wheat,is maintained under refrigeration for mediumtermstorage. In addition to the lines developed inthe Martonvásár breeding programme, the over10 000 accessions also include many genotypesfrom many countries.Variety Pedigree Year of registrationMv Magdaléna Jubilejnaja-50/F29//MvMA 1996Mv Csárdás Jubilejnaja-50/F29//MvMA 1999Mv Verbunkos Gt2412-12/Mv15//Fatima 2001Mv Marsall Mv15-91/Kalaka//Mv15-91/Fatima 2001Mv Ködmön Mir29/Magdaléna//Magdaléna 2002Mv Suba Eryt1778/Magdaléna//Magdaléna 2002Mv Süveges Mir29/Magdaléna//Magdaléna 2002Mv Walzer Magdaléna//MvMA/BIPE/3/Magdaléna 2003Mv Mazurka MvM53-91/Magdaléna 2003Mv Béres Eryt352/Magdaléna 2003Mv Toborzó Eryt336/Magdaléna 2003Mv Kolo Mir-Ostistaya/Atay85//Alföld 2006Mv Bodri GT6687-12K/Eryt162 2008Mv Toldi Mir-Ostistaya/Atay85//Alföld 2008Mv Petrence Amanda/Vilma 2009Mv Karizma BKT-9086-95/Ukrainka//Ukrainka 2009Mv Kolompos Eureka/Vekni 2009Mv Menüett F1959W1-2/MV22 2009Mv Kikelet Marsall/Tamara 2010Mv Tallér ANDY-2/F15//Gore/3/Mambo 2010Mv Apród Pálma/Kaláka//Pálma/Fatima/3/Magdaléna 2010Mv Karéj F29K422211/F30K2/3/MVMA/MV12//F2098W22011Mv Lepény MMS 2011Mv Kokárda Fleming/Amanda 2012Mv Pengô Marsall/CF621 2012Mv Nádor DI9812/Vekni 2012Mv Pántlika Mv10-2000/Marsall 2012Researchers with scientific degrees:Zoltán Bedô,Member of the MTA(+36-22) 569-515bedo.zoltan@agrar.mta.huMariann Rakszegi, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/142rakszegi.mariann@agrar.mta.huKlára Mészáros, PhD(+36-22) 569-547meszaros.klara@agrar.mta.huCsaba Kuti, PhD(+36-22) 569-560kuti.csaba@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Bedô, Z., Láng, L., Rakszegi, M.: Breeding for grain quality traits. In: Wrigley CW, Batey IL (eds.) Cereal Grains:Assessing and managing quality. Boca Raton: CRC PRESS, 2010. pp. 369-392.• Bedô, Z., Veisz, O., Vida, Gy., Rakszegi, M., Láng, L. (2011): Semi-intensive wheat – Hungarian example. In: BonjeanAP, Angus WJ, van Ginkel M (szerk.) The World Wheat Book: A History of Wheat Breeding. Paris: Lavoisier Publ., 2011.pp. 521-541. (Vol. 2.)• Kuti, Cs., Láng, L., Gulyás, G., Karsai, I., Mészáros, K., Vida, Gy., Bedô, Z.: Integration of molecular genomic datainto the Martonvásár breeding information system. ACTA AGRONOMICA HUNGARICA 58:(4) pp. 333-342. (2010)• Rakszegi, M., Bognár, Z., Li Z., Békés, F., Láng, L., Bedô, Z.: Effect of milling on the starch properties of winter wheatgenotypes. STARCH-STARKE 62: pp. 115-122. (2010)• Rakszegi, M., Kisgyorgy, BN., Tearall, K., Shewry, PR., Láng, L., Phillips, A., Bedô, Z.: Diversity of agronomic andmorphological traits in a mutant population of bread wheat studied in the Healthgrain program. EUPHYTICA 174:(3) pp.409-421. (2010)• Uhrin, A., Szakács, É., Láng, L., Bedô, Z., Molnár-Láng, M.: „Molecular cytogenetic characterization and SSR markeranalysis of a leaf rust resistant wheat line carrying a 6G(6B) substitution from Triticum timopheevii (Zhuk.)”. EUPHYTICA186: (1)45-55 (2012)17

Cereal ResistanceBreeding DepartmentHead of Department:O t t ó V e i s zDScPhone: (+36-22) 569-506E-mail: veisz.otto@agrar.mta.huThe main profile of the department is theinvestigation of the physiological effects inducedby biotic and abiotic stress factors, studyingthe genetic background and the development ofgenotypes resistant to these factors.The main aim of research on biotic stress resistanceis to improve the resistance of the varieties bred inMartonvásár by means of building in resistancegenes via molecular marker assisted selectionand to identify DNA-based markers linked toresistance against Fusarium head blight.Research on abiotic stress resistance includesthe investigation of the ecological, genetic andphysiological background of winter hardiness,frost resistance, heat and drought tolerance.Mapping populations are created for theidentification of genes responsible for resistanceto heat stress. Investigations are carried out onthe interactions between abiotic stress factorsand disease infections, and on cross-tolerance.The possible effects of global climate change arestudied under field conditions, in the glasshouseand in controlled model experiments in thePhytotron. Research is underway to reveal theexact water use of plants so that the negativeeffects of precipitation extremes on cropproduction could be reduced. The changes in thedevelopment of barley and wheat in response18

to the environment are investigated by meansof combining molecular genetic approach andsystematic studies on phenotypic traits. Wheatgenotypes reacting to weather extremes with thelowest grain yield loss and quality deteriorationare selected.The department is responsible for the breedingand variety maintenance of high-yielding, goodquality varieties of winter durum wheat withwinter hardiness similar to that of winter barleyand spring and winter oats having excellent grainquality.Researchers with scientific degrees:Ildikó Karsai, DSc(+36-22) 569-551karsai.ildiko@agrar.mta.huKrisztina Balla, PhD(+36-22) 569-549balla.krisztina@agrar.mta.huSzilvia Bencze, PhD(+36-22) 569-549bencze.szilvia@agrar.mta.huBalázs Varga, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/145varga.balazs@agrar.mta.huGyula Vida, PhD(+36-22) 569-544vida.gyula@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Balla, K., Karsai, I., Kiss, T., Bencze, S., Bedô, Z., Veisz, O. (2012): Productivity of a doubled haploid winter wheatpopulation under heat stress. Cent. Eur. J. Biol, 7: (6), 1084-1091.• Bencze, S., Bamberger, Z., Janda, T., Balla, K., Bedô, Z., Veisz, O. (2011): Drought tolerance in cereals in terms ofwater retention, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities. Cent. Eur. J. Biol. 6: (3) 376-387.• Karsai, I., Vida, Gy., Petrovics, S., Petcu, E., Kobiljski, B., Ivanovska, S,. Bedô, Z., Veisz, O. (2012): Assessmentof the spatial genotypic and phenotypic diversity present in the various winter wheat breeding programmes of SoutheastEurope. Euphytica 186: 139-151.• Varga, B., Janda, T., László, E., Veisz O. (2012): Influence of abiotic stresses on the antioxidant enzyme activity ofcereals. Acta Physiol. Plant. 34: 849-858.• Vida, Gy., Gál, M., Uhrin, A., Veisz, O., Syed, N.H., Flavell, A.J., Wang, Z.L., Bedô, Z. (2009): Molecular markersfor the identification of resistance genes and marker-assisted selection in breeding wheat for leaf rust resistance. Euphytica,170: 67-76.• Allard, V., Veisz, O., Kôszegi, B., Rousset, M., Le Gouis, J., and Martre, P. (2012): The quantitative response of wheatvernalization to environmental variables indicates that vernalization is not a response to cold temperature. J. Exp. Bot.63: (2) 847-85719

Maize Breeding DepartmentHead of Department:C s a b a L . M a r t o nDScPhone: (+36-22) 569-537E-mail: marton.csaba@agrar.mta.huThe most important task of the departmentis to produce competitive maize hybrids withagronomic value based on the current knowledgeof breeding, plant genetics and biotechnology inorder to meet the requirements of the producers.Our objective is to collect genetic resources,preserve them in gene banks and evaluate in fieldand laboratory tests. DUS tests of inbred linesand hybrids are also performed based on themethodology of UPOV directives including thecharacterization and identification of genotypeswith morphologic and genetic markers. The coldand drought tolerance and yield stability of maizeis tested in abiotic and biotic stress-resistancetrials. The researches aimed to improve resistanceagainst pests and diseases are well emphasized.Ripening dynamics is studied to define thematurity period of hybrids and increase the rateof grain filling and water loss of kernel. For asuccessful breeding programme, it is essentialto discover and use unique genetic resourcesin the selection of new inbred lines. Monoploidand in vitro dihaploid methods are used toreduce the time of inbred line selection process.20

Seed production technologies are elaborated forthe newly bred grain, silage and industrial-usehybrids using cytoplasmic male sterile parentallines and including seed vigour tests. The chemicalcomposition and quality of silage maize hybridsis also studied as well as their availability forbioenergy production.Researchers with scientific degrees:Tamás Berzy, PhD(+36-22) 569-516berzy.tamas@agrar.mta.huGéza Hadi, CSc(+36-22) 569-539hadi.geza@agrar.mta.huJános Pintér, CSc(+36-22) 569-536pinter.janos@agrar.mta.huTamás Spitkó, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/168spitko.tamas@agrar.mta.huCsaba Szôke, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/133szoke.csaba@agrar.mta.huZsuzsanna Tóthné Zsubori, PhD(+36-22) 569-500/419zsubori.zsuzsanna@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Pintér, J., Glenn, F., Pen, S., Pók, I., Hegyi, Zs., Tóthné Zsubori, Zs., Hadi, G., Marton L., Cs. (2011): Utilizing Leafygenes as resources in quality silage maize breeding MAYDICA 56:243-250.• Marton L., Cs., Szôke, Cs., Pintér, J., Bodnár, E. (2009): Studies on the tolerance of maize hybrids to western cornrootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) MAYDICA 54:217-220.• Bónis, P., Árendás, T., Micskei, G., Szôke, Cs., Marton L., Cs.: Effect of post-emergence herbicides on the chlorophyllcontent of maize inbred lines JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 50: pp. 127-131. (2012)• Magyar, D., Szôke, Cs., Koncz, Z., Szécsi, Á., Bobvos, J. (2012): Identification of airborne propagules of the Gibberellafujikuroi species complex during maize production AEROBIOLOGIA 28:263-271.• Berzy, T., Záborszky, S., Varga, P., Hegyi, Z., Pintér, J. (2013): Seedling vigour and seed deterioration in case of somemaize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes Advanced Crop ScienceNo 3:218-22421

Crop Production DepartmentHead of Department:N á n d o r F o d o rPhDPhone: (+36-22) 569-532E-mail: fodor.nandor@agrar.mta.huThe main research profile of the departmentconsists of basic research carried out in theform of long-term experiments set up byBéla Gyôrffy 40–50 years ago which are thus theoldest long-term experiments in Hungary. Theycan be considered as living field laboratoriesrepresenting a vital part of the national heritage.The sustainability of crop production technologiescan only be satisfactorily investigated in longtermexperiments.Wide-ranging studies are performed in bi- andmulti-factorial experiments on the agronomicresponses (fertiliser utilisation, plant density andsowing date responses, herbicide tolerance) ofnewly bred maize hybrids and wheat varieties inorder to determine or predict optimum treatmentranges and expected yields.The effects of various agronomic and ecologicalfactors on the yield formation process aremeasured not only in terms of the end-product(grain yield, biomass), but also by means22

of growth analysis and eco-physiologicalmeasurements (photosynthetic efficiency, lightutilisation, nutrient utilisation).In addition to field experiments, models nowplay an increasing role in analysing the effectof crop production factors since they make itpossible to investigate relationships between theenvironment and the yield, and to predict theserelationships under diverse ecological conditions.The combination of experimentation, monitoringand models represent an effective approach tounderstand the interactions between plants,the soil, the weather and technological factorsthus promoting the sustainability of productionsystems.Researchers with scientific degrees:Tamás Árendás, PhD(+36-22) 569-530arendas.tamas@agrar.mta.huZoltán Berzsenyi, DSc(+36-22) 569-554berzsenyi.zoltan@agrar.mta.huPéter Bónis, PhD(+36-22) 569-530bonis.peter@agrar.mta.huGyörgyi Micskei, PhD(+36-22) 569-535micskei.gyorgyi@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Berzsenyi, Z., Tokatlidis I., S. 2012. Density dependence rather than maturity determines hybrid selection in drylandmaize production. Agronomy Journal. 104: 1-6 ()• Berzsenyi, Z., Árendás, T., Bónis, P., Micskei, Gy., Sugár, E. 2011. Long-term effect of crop production factors on theyield and yield stability of maize (Zea mays L.) in different years. Acta Agron. Hungarica. 59. 191-200.• Micskei, Gy., Árendás, T., Berzsenyi, Z. 2012. Relationships between maize yield and growth parameters in a long-termfertilization experiment. Acta Agronomica Hungarica. 60 (3) 209-219.• Fodor, N., Mika, J. 2011. Using analogies from soil science for estimating solar radiation. Agricultural and ForestMeteorology 151: 78-85.• Árendás, T., Bónis, P., Csathó, P., Molnár, D., Berzsenyi, Z. 2010. Fertiliser responses of maize and winter wheat as afunction of year and forecrop. Acta Agronomica Hungarica. 58. 109-114.• Bónis, P., Árendás, T., Jócsák, I., Mikecz, C., Micskei, G., Marton L., Cs. 2011. Effect of abiotic stress factors on thechlorophyll content of maize inbred lines. Acta Agronomica Hungarica. 59. 201-207.23

Phytotron DepartmentHead of Department:N o é m i H a r n o sPhDPhone: (+36-22) 569-508E-mail: harnos.noemi@agrar.mta.huIn the 50 plant growth chambers of the Phytotronin Martonvásár, air temperature, humidity,CO 2concentration, light intensity and lengthas well as moisture-content of the soil can becontrolled irrespectively of the external weatherconditions. Applying Phytotron chambers, theeffects of climatic factors that are difficult tounderstand in nature or can be defined only vialong-term experiments can be separated into theircomponents.Controlled environment means a methodologicallink in investigating the relationship betweenplant and environment and unfold part-laws andtheir rebuilding process. In the past 40 years morethan 4000 experiments were carried out in the24

Phytotron in Martonvásár and several worldclassscientific results developed.Cereals, maize, tobacco, sunflower were bred,fruit trees, paprika, tomato were examined andplant protection researches were carried out. Inthe last few years, researches in connection withclimate change came into prominence alongwith molecular plant genetics and physiology,molecular breeding, plant gene banking,agroecological researches, molecular and cellbiological investigations of plant sexed processes.Phytotron Department also deals withinvestigating the effects of climatic factors on plantproduction and the determining physiologicalprocesses with simulation modelling helped bythe meteorological station, the member of thenational meteorological observing network of theHungarian Meteorological Service.Technical parameters of Phytotron units*Photosynthetic Photon Flux DensityPhytotron unit Growth PPFD* TemperatureDesignation Type Quantity surface height max. min. max.(m 2 ) (m) (mol/m 2 s) (°C) (°C)Autumn-winter chamber PGV-36 12 3,3 1,9 750 –10 +40Spring-summer cabinet PGR-15 16 1,4 1,8 750 +4 +45Growth bench PGB-96 6 9,0 2,6 600 +10 +40Growth bench GB-48 6 4,3 2,8 325 +15 +35Cold room C-812 2 10,8 0,5 — –25 +20Gradient chamber GRD-01 1 3,3 1,5 400 +5 +35Germination cabinet G-30 5 1,5 0,3 65 +4 +40Vernalisation chamber J-01 1 13,5 0,4 10 +2 +20Tissue culture chamber TCL 2 25,0 0,3 90 +20 +3025

Plant ProtectionInstitute26

Main activities of the institute:• biology and control of plant pathogens and weedsusing conventional, biotechnological and ecologicalmethods;• development of methods for environmental analysisand monitoring;• physiological, biochemical and molecular backgroundof plant resistance against viral, fungal and bacterialpathogens; ecological studies on biodiversity andsustainable development in agricultural areas;chemical ecology, population ecology, and thetaxonomy of arthropod pests and beneficial organisms;• development of behaviour-regulating, info-chemicalcommunication systems to regulate arthropod pestpopulations in agricultural and horticultural fields aswell as in urban areas;• computer-aided (in silico) investigation of structure–activity relationships in order to search for possiblelead-compounds to be used as active agents inselective, environment-friendly pesticides; synthesisof pesticide active ingredients and the elaboration ofnew synthetic pathways.Institute Director:L e v e n t e K i s sDScScientific departments working in the Plant Protection Institute:Department of ZoologyHead: Gábor SzôcsDepartment of BiotechnologyHead: Lóránt KirályDepartment of AppliedChemical EcologyHead: Miklós TóthDepartment of PathophysiologyHead: József FodorDepartment of Plant PathologyHead: Levente KissLendület EvolutionaryEcology Research GroupLeader: Attila Hettyey27

Department of ZoologyHead of Department:G á b o r S z ô c sPhDPhone: (+36-1) 391-8631E-mail: szocs.gabor@agrar.mta.huThe main task of the department is to carryout research for the development of newplant protection methods against pest insects,competitive and safe food-production, sustainabledevelopment of agricultural areas and also forsolving plant protection problems in urban areas.The main research activities include developmentof integrated pest management methods, ecofaunisticstudies in landscape, road and urbanecology and revealing info-chemicals controllinginsects behaviour. Special attention is paid tothe spread of alien, invasive and/or quarantinearthropod pests, the role of natural enemies of thesepests, the study of disease vectors, taxonomy ofselected groups of arthropods using traditional andmolecular methods, identification of pheromonesand kairomones mediating mating as well ashost finding of pests, followed by deeper insightin their mode of action. The study of hormonal(neuropeptide) regulation of biosynthesis of sexpheromones is a new approach to suppressreproduction of pests.The department is equipped with a special setof instruments including a gas chromatographwith electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD)28

and insect flight tunnels for pheromone studies.Electropenetrograph (EPG) is used for measuringfeeding of sucking pests, while the vibratorycommunication of insects can be characterizedby a laser vibrometer. The Observer system helpsethological studies in the lab while field surveysare evaluated by geo-informatic systems.Researchers with scientific degrees:Klára Balázs, PhD(+36-1) 391-8645balazs.klara@agrar.mta.huZsuzsanna Basky, DSc(+36-1) 391-8618basky.zsuzsa@agrar.mta.huZsolt Kárpáti, PhD(+36-1) 391-8613karpati.zsolt@agrar.mta.huBalázs Kiss, PhD(+36-1) 391-8610kiss.balazs@agrar.mta.huJenô Kontschán, PhD(+36-1) 391-8617kontschan.jeno@agrar.mta.huFerenc Kozár, DSc(+36-1) 391-8624kozar.ferenc@agrar.mta.huGábor Lengyel, PhD(+36-1) 391-8621lengyel.gabor@agrar.mta.huPéter Béla Molnár, PhD(+36-1) 391-8620molnar.bela@agrar.mta.huAdrien Fónagy, DSc(+36-1) 391-8612fonagy.adrien@agrar.mta.huFerenc Samu, DSc(+36-1) 391-8626samu.ferenc@agrar.mta.huKitti Sipos, PhD(+36-1) 391-8612sipos.kitti@agrar.mta.huÉva Szita, PhD(+36-1) 391-8626szita.eva@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Fónagy, A., Moto, K., Ohnishi, A., Kurihara, M., Kis, J., Matsumoto, S., 2011: Studies of sex pheromone productionunder neuroendocrine control by analytical and morphological means in the oriental armyworm, Pseudaletia separata,Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 172: 62-75. IF: 3.108• Jenser, G., Almási, A., Fail, J., Tóbiás, I. 2011: Differences in the vector efficiency of Thrips tabaci in Europe and NorthAmerica. Acta Phytopathol. Entomol. Hung. 46, 311-317.• Kárpáti, Z., Olsson, S., Hansson, BS., Dekker, T., 2010: Inheritance of central neuroanatomy and physiology related topheromone preference in the male European corn borer. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: Paper 286. IF: 3.702• Kárpáti, Z., Dekker, T., Hansson, BS., 2008: Reversed functional topology in the antennal lobe of the male European cornborer. J. Expt. Biol. 211: 2841-2848. IF: 2.981• Kiss, B., Rédei, D., Koczor, S., 2008: Occurrence and feeding of hemipterans on common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)in Hungary. Bull. Insectology. 61: 195-196.• Molnár, B., Kárpáti, Z., Szôcs, G., Hall D.R., 2009: Identification of female-producedsex pheromone of the honey locust gall midge, Dasineura gleditchiae.J. Chem. Ecol., 35: 706-714. IF: 2.32729

Department of BiotechnologyHead of Department:L ó r á n t K i r á l yPhDPhone: (+36-1) 487-7527E-mail: kiraly.lorant@agrar.mta.huThe main task of the department is theapplication of biotechnological methods in basicand applied pest management research. Researchactivities are focused on the following threeissues: biotechnology-driven control of plantdiseases caused by phytoplasmas and bacteria,role of reactive oxygen species and programmedcell death in plant disease resistance, andphytoremediation studies.The first research field refers to studies on crossprotectioneffects of pre-infection of host plantswith an antagonist strain of ‚CandidatusPhytoplasma mali’ to induce immunity againstclosely related, virulent phytoplasmas. Anotherarea is the control of Erwinia amylovora, thecausal agent of fire blight of rosaceous plants,using bacteriophage treatments.As a part of the study of reactive oxygen speciesand programmed cell death in plant diseaseresistance, the early accumulation of superoxide30

is used as a biochemical marker for non-hostresistance and also for other effective plantresistance forms. In addition, an unexpectedpleiotropic effect of the tobacco resistance geneN that controls Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)infection was recently discovered: the geneenhanced the susceptibility and programmed celldeath during infection by Tobacco necrosis virus(TNV).Phytoremediation research activities includestudies on rehabilitation of polluted soils withplants and also on biochemical and molecularmechanisms of plant stress resistance to soilpollutants.Researchers with scientific degrees:András Bittsánszky, PhD(+36-1) 487-7538/512bittsanszky.andras@agrar.mta.huTamás Kômíves,Member of the MTA(+36-1) 487-7506komives.tamas@agrar.mta.huAndrás Künstler, PhD(+36-1) 487-7527kunstler.andras@agrar.mta.huRenáta Márfi-Bacsó, PhD(+36-1) 487-7530bacso.renata@agrar.mta.huEmese Mergenthaler, PhD(+36-1) 487-7527mergenthaler.emese@agrar.mta.huIldikó Sulyokné Schwarczinger, PhD(+36-1) 487-7544/527schwarczinger.ildiko@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Hafez, Y.M., Bacsó, R., Király, Z., Künstler, A., Király, L. 2012. Up-regulation of antioxidants in tobacco by lowconcentrations of H2O2 suppresses necrotic disease symptoms. Phytopathology 102, 848-856.• Bordás, B.; Bélai, I.; Kômives, T. 2011. Theoretical Molecular Descriptors Relevant to the Uptake of Persistent OrganicPollutants from Soil by Zucchini. A QSAR Study. J. Agric. Food Chem., 59, 2863-2869.• Höller, K., Király, L., Künstler, A., Müller, M., Gullner, G., Fattinger, M., Zechmann, B. 2010. Enhanced glutathionemetabolism is correlated with sulfur induced resistance in Tobacco mosaic virus-infected genetically susceptible Nicotianatabacum plants. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 23, 1448-1459.• Baltruschat, H., Fodor, J., Harrach, B. D., Niemczyk, E., Barna, B., Gullner, G., Janeczko, A., Kogel, K. H., SchäferP., Schwarczinger I., Zuccaro A., Skoczowski A. (2008): Salt tolerance of barley induced by the root endophytePiriformospora indica is associated with a strong increase in antioxidants. New Phytologist, 180, 501-510.• Király, L., Hafez, Y.M., Fodor, J., Király, Z. 2008. Suppression of tobacco mosaic virus-induced hypersensitive-typenecrotisation in tobacco at high temperature is associated with down-regulation of NADPH oxidase and superoxide andstimulation of dehydroascorbate reductase. J. Gen. Virol. 89, 799-808.31

Department of AppliedChemical EcologyHead of Department:M i k l ó s Tó t hCorresponding Member of the MTAPhone: (+36-1) 391-8639E-mail: toth.miklos@agrar.mta.huThe main activities of the department havebeen focused on entomological problems inplant protection studied from a chemicalecological point of view. These include basicresearch studies on insect pests, developmentof potential solutions of problems raised bythese insects and technology transfer activities.The most important activity fields are behaviouralstudies in connection with chemical and visualcommunication of insects, isolation and extractionof semiochemicals, elucidation of their chemicalstructures, evaluation of their applicability basedon laboratory experiments and field studies,development of new insect trapping devices andtheir evaluation in the everyday plant protectionpractice. A technology transfer product of thedepartment is the CSALOMON ® pheromone trapfamily. The department manages the year-byyearproduction of trapping devices, continuousintroduction of new tools and their quality controlwhich are presented to the growers through theextension service of the institute.32

Researchers with scientific degrees:Éva Bálintné Csonka, PhD(+36-1) 391-8637csonka.eva@agrar.mta.huTibor Zoltán Imrei, PhD(+36-1) 391-8637imrei.zoltan@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Vuts, J., Kardan, M.B., Yarimbatman, A., Tóth, M. 2012. Field catches of Oxythyrea cinctella using visual and olfactorycues. Physiol. Entomol. 37:92-96.• Vuts, J., Tolasch, T., Furlan, L., Bálintné-Csonka, É., Felföldi, T., Márialigeti, K., Toshova, T.B., Subchev, M.,Xavier, A., Tóth, M. 2012. Agriotes proximus and A. lineatus (Coleoptera: Elateridae): a comparative study on thepheromone composition and Cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene sequence. Chemoecology 22:23-28.• Koczor, S., Szentkirályi, F., Birkett, M.A., Pickett, J.A., Voigt, E., Tóth, M. 2010. Attraction of Chrysoperla carneacomplex and Chrysopa spp. lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to aphid sex pheromone components and a syntheticblend of floral compounds in Hungary. Pest Management Science 66:1374-1379.• Tóth, M., Szarukán, I., Dorogi, B., Gulyás, A., Nagy, P., Rozgonyi, Z. 2010. Male and female noctuid moths attractedto synthetic lures in Europe. J. Chem. Ecol. 36:592-598.• Vuts, J., Baric, B., Razov, J., Toshova, T.B., Subchev, M., Sredkov, I., Tabilio, R., DiFranco, F., Tóth, M. 2010.Performance and selectivity of floral attractant-baited traps targeted for cetoniin scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) inCentral and Southern Europe. Crop Prot. 29:1177-1183.• Tóth, M., Szentkirályi, F., Vuts, J., Letardi, A., Tabilio, M.R., Jaastad, G., Knudsen, G. K. 2009. Optimization of aphenylacetaldehyde-based attractant for common green lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea s.l.). J. Chem. Ecol. 35:449-458.33

Department of PathophysiologyHead of Department:J ó z s e f F o d o rPhDPhone: (+36-1) 487-7520E-mail: fodor.jozsef@agrar.mta.huResearch activities are focused on physiological,biochemical and molecular aspects of microbialplant diseases in order to understand themechanisms of plant disease resistance andsusceptibility. One of the crucial topics is theinduction of plant resistance against bacterial,fungal and viral pathogens. Disease resistancecan be induced in plants by various pre-treatmentsthat do not include direct antimicrobial effectsbut enhance plant natural resistance againstpathogens. Induced resistance was found to beassociated with induction of defence-relatedhormones, changes in cellular redox balance andlevels of reactive oxygen species and antioxidantsor induction of defence-related enzymes. Thesestudies provide a better understanding of plantdefence mechanisms that may lead to thedevelopment of new, disease-resistant cropcultivars.Plants also possess an array of preformedantimicrobial compounds that act directly againstpathogens. Numerous antibacterial compoundswere isolated from medicinal herbs such aschamomile and identified by chromatography,bioautography and mass spectrometry methods.Biological and molecular characterization of34

important plant pathogens, such as Xanthomonascampestris pv. vesicatoria, Plum pox virus andnew, resistance-breaking strains of Tomatospotted wilt virus are also in focus.Researchers with scientific degrees:Asztéria Almási, PhD(+36-1) 391-8614almasi.aszteria@agrar.mta.huBalázs Barna,Corresponding Memberof the MTA(+36-1) 487-7534barna.balazs@agrar.mta.huEszter Besenyei, PhD(+36-1) 487-7532besenyei.eszter@agrar.mta.huZoltán Bozsó, PhD(+36-1) 487-7532bozso.zoltan@agrar.mta.huGábor Gullner, PhD(+36-1) 487-7552gullner.gabor@agrar.mta.huGyörgy Kátay, PhD(+36-1) 487-7513katay.gyorgy@agrar.mta.huZoltán Király,Member of the MTA(+36-1) 487-7533kiraly.zoltan@agrar.mta.huKonta Boáz KrisztiánnéBorbála Harrach, PhD(+36-1) 487-7534harrach.borbala@agrar.mta.huÁgnes Móricz, PhD(+36-1) 487-7515moricz.agnes@agrar.mta.huPéter Ott, PhD(+36-1) 487-7535ott.peter@agrar.mta.huMiklós Pogány, PhD(+36-1) 487-7588pogany.miklos@agrar.mta.huIstván Tóbiás, DSc(+36-1) 391-8616tobias.istvan@agrar.mta.huOrsolya Viczián, PhD(+36-1) 487-7530viczian.orsolya@agrar.mta.huÁgnes Zsichláné Szatmári, PhD(+36-1) 487-7532szatmari.agnes@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Harrach, B. D., Baltruschat, H., Barna, B., Fodor, J., Kogel, K-H.: The mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica protectsbarley roots from a loss of antioxidant capacity caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Fusarium culmorum. MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions 26: 599-605. (2013) IF = 4,431• Tyihák, E., Mincsovics, E., Móricz, Á. M.: Overpressured layer chromatography: From the pressurized ultramicrochamber to BioArena system: Selected Papers from the 36th International Symposium on High-Performance Liquid PhaseSeparations and Related Techniques. Journal of Chromatography A 1232: 3-18. (2012) IF: 4.531• Barna, B., Fodor, J., Harrach, B. D., Pogány, M., Király, Z.: The Janus face of reactive oxygen species in resistance andsusceptibility of plants to necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 59: SI 37-43. (2012)IF = 2,838• Szabó, E., Szatmári, Á., Hunyadi-Gulyás, E., Besenyei, E., Zsiros, L. R. , Bozsó, Z., Ott, P. G.: Changes in apoplastprotein pattern suggest an early role of cell wall structure remodelling in flagellin-triggered basal immunity. BiologiaPlantarum 56: 551-559. (2012) IF = 1,974• Tyihák, E., Móricz, Á. M., Ott, P. G.: BioArena Studies: Unique function of endogenous formaldehyde and ozone in theantibiotic effect. Medicinal Chemistry 8: 75-84. (2012) IF: 1.49635

Department of Plant PathologyHead of Department:L e v e n t e K i s sDScPhone: (+36-1) 487-7521/566E-mail: kiss.levente@agrar.mta.huThe main task of the department is to conductresearch on the identification, biology, ecologyand control of fungi and fungal-like organismsthat cause crop diseases. In addition, diseases ofornamentals and other plants grown in urbanareas as well as problems in forest pathologyand plant diseases in natural reserves are alsoinvestigated. The development of plant protectiontechnologies based on the use of fungicides andother methods and the application of microbesthat may control plant pathogens and weedsas biocontrol agents are in focus as well.Special attention is paid to the etiology andthe epidemiology of apple scab, monilia andPhytophthora diseases, fusarioses, especially inrelation to mycotoxin production, and diseasescaused by powdery mildew and rust fungi.Molecular analyses are used to investigate theprecise identification, phylogeny and intraspecificand interspecific variability of Fusarium, powderymildew, Monilinia, Pyrenophora, Phytophthoraand rust species as well as fungicide resistance insome plant pathogenic fungi.36

Researchers with scientific degrees:Attila Ádám, PhD(+36-1) 487-7575adam.attila@agrar.mta.huJózsef Bakonyi, PhD(+36-1) 487-7562bakonyi.jozsef@agrar.mta.huZsolt Bereczky, PhD(+36-1) 487-7571bereczky.zsolt@agrar.mta.huJános Imre Holb, DSc(+36-1) 487-7549holb.imre@agrar.mta.huTünde Jankovics, PhD(+36-1) 487-7564jankovics.tunde@agrar.mta.huGábor M. Kovács, PhD(+36-1) 487-7548kovacs.gabor@agrar.mta.huEszter Orsolya Molnár, PhD(+36-1) 487-7564molnar.orsolya@agrar.mta.huÁrpád Zoltán Nagy, PhD(+36-1) 487-7560nagy.zoltan@agrar.mta.huAlexandra Pintye, PhD(+36-1) 487-7548pintye.alexandra@agrar.mta.huZoltán Kálmán Váczy, PhD(+36-1) 487-7562vaczy.kalman@agrar.mta.huPál Vági, PhDvagi.pal@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Nechwatal, J., Bakonyi, J., Cacciola, SO., Cooke, DEL., Jung, T., Nagy, Z.Á., Vannini, A., Vettraino, A.M., Brasier,Major C.M. publications:(2013) The morphology, behaviour and molecular phylogeny of Phytophthora taxon Salixsoil and its redesignation asPhytophthora lacustris sp. nov.. Plant Pathology 62: 355–369.• Juhász A., Makai Sz., Sebestyén E., Tamás L. and Balázs E. (2011): Role of conserved non-coding regulatory elements• Pintye, LMW A., glutenin Bereczky, gene expression. Z., Kovács, PLoS G.M., ONE Nagy, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029501L.G., Xu, X., Legler, S.E., Váczy, Z., Váczy, K.Z., Caffi, T., Rossi,V., Kiss, L. (2012) No indication of strict host associations in a widespread mycoparasite: Grapevine powdery mildew(Erysiphe necator) is attacked by phylogenetically diverse Ampelomyces strains in the field. Phytopathology 102: 707-716.• Kiss, L., Pintye, A., Kovacs, G. M., Jankovics, T., Fontaine, M. C., Harvey, N., Xu, X. M., Nicot, P. C., Bardin, M.,Shykoff, J. A., Giraud, T. (2011) Temporal isolation explains host-related genetic differentiation in a group of widespreadmycoparasitic fungi. Molecular Ecology 20: 1492-1507.• Kovács, G. M., Jankovics, T., Kiss, L. (2011) Variation in the nrDNA ITS sequences of some powdery mildew species: doroutine molecular identification procedures hide valuable information? European Journal of Plant Pathology 131: 135-141.• Szécsi, Á., Szekeres, A., Bartók, T., Oros, G., Bartók, M., Mesterházy, Á. (2010) Fumonisin B1-4-producing capacityof Hungarian Fusarium verticillioides isolates. World Mycotoxin Journal 3: 67-76.37

Lendület EvolutionaryEcology Research GroupLeader of the research group:A t t i l a H e t t y e yPhDPhone: (+36-1) 391-8652E-mail: hettyey.attila@agrar.mta.huThe research group focuses on phenotypicplasticity which is the ability of genotypes tochange their phenotype according to alteredenvironmental conditions. In plants it has beenknown for decades that chemical defencesare adjusted to environmental changes in asophisticated and effective way. However,similar studies on plastic responses in chemicaldefenses of animals have remained extremelyscarce despite of their potential importance forfitness, interspecific interactions, populationdemography and speciation. Our research groupstudies whether toxin production of vertebrates– larvae of anuran amphibians – is adjustedto the presence and abundance of predators,competitors or pathogens. While we are38

focusing on plastic responses in the productionof biogenic and bioactive cocktails of toxins,we will not miss assessing the potential of thedetected toxin components for agricultural andmedical applications. Apart from our interestin phenotypic plasticity, our research is alsoconcerned with causes and consequences of interandintraspecific sexual coercion, the evolutionarybackground of animal personality, the analysis ofanimal social networks and the effects of multiplestress factors during early life-stages of anurans.While our group is mainly doing basic research,our studies are highly relevant for conservationbiology and have the potential to contribute toimportant developments in applied sciences.Researcher with scientific degree:Zoltán Tóth, PhD(+36-1) 391-8653toth.zoltan@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Hettyey, A., Vági, B., Penn, DJ., Hoi, H. & Wagner, R.H. (2012): Post-meiotic intra-male sperm senescence in a wildvertebrate. Public Library of Science One, 7: e50820. Impact factor: 4.09• Tóth, Z. & Griggio, M. (2011): Leaders are more attractive: birds with bigger yellow breast patches are followed by moregroup-mates in foraging groups. Public Library of Science One, 6: e26605. Impact factor: 4.09• Hettyey, A., Vincze, K., Zsarnóczai, S., Hoi, H. & Laurila, A. (2011): Costs and benefits of defences induced bypredators differing in dangerousness. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24: 1007-1019. Impact factor: 3.28• Hettyey, A., Zsarnóczai, S., Vincze, K., Hoi, H. & Laurila, A. (2010): Interactions between the information content ofdifferent chemical cues affect induced defences in tadpoles. Oikos, 119: 1814-1822. Impact factor: 3.15• Hettyey, A., Baksay, S., Vági, B. & Hoi, H. (2009): Counterstrategies by female frogs to sexual coercion by heterospecifics.Animal Behaviour, 78: 1365-1372. Impact factor: 2.89• Hettyey, A., Vági, B., Hévizi, G. & Török, J. (2009): Changes in sperm stores, ejaculate size, fertilization success, andsexual motivation over repeated matings in the common toad, Bufo bufo (Anura: Bufonidae). Biological Journal of theLinnean Society, 96: 361-371. Impact factor: 2.0439

Institute for Soil Scienceand AgriculturalChemistry40

Main activities of the institute:• studies on the effects of land-use changes, various landusesystems and climate change on processes involvedin the soil, water, material and energy cycles and on thequality of surface waters, including modelling at the fieldand watershed levels using various spatial and timescales;• research on the role of interactions betweenmicroorganisms, higher plants and the soil in soilprocesses, plant nutrition and soil remediation, andthe characterisation of the ecological status of theenvironment;• mathematical modelling of the water and nutrient cyclesand the biological processes taking place in the soil–plant–atmosphere system;• use of digital soil mapping and spatial modelling toolsto study soil processes and soil functions over time andspace in order to characterise and prevent soil degradationprocesses, or to moderate their damaging effects.Institute Director:É v a L e h o c z k yDScScientific departments working in the Institute for Soil Scienceand Agricultural Chemistry:Department of AgriculturalChemistry and Plant NutritionHead: Márk RékásiDepartment of EnvironmentalInformaticsHead: József SzabóDepartment of Soil Biologyand BiochemistryHead: Nikolett UzingerDepartment of Soil ScienceHead: Kálmán Rajkai41

Department of AgriculturalChemistry and Plant NutritionHead of Department:R é k á s i M á r kPhDPhone: (+36-30) 961-7514E-mail: rekasi.mark@agrar.mta.huIn the field of agricultural chemistry and plantnutrition, the main research task of the departmentis the analysis of the principles and methods offertilization advisory service, partly through theuse of different models. Additionally, on-goingresearches reveal the impact of nutrition oncultivated crops (plant development, yield, qualitycharacteristics, disease resistance, fodder value;the diversity of grasslands) and the relationshipsbetween soil test data and nutrient elementeffects. The calculation of nutrient balances onfield, farm, regional and national scale is alsoamong the activities of the department.In the field of agro-ecology research is carried outon the relationships between the characteristics ofagro-ecosystems and soil properties determiningsoil fertility; the effect of weeds on the moisture andsubstance regime of soils; the influence of nutrientsupply on weediness, the species composition ofweed flora, the competition, water and nutrientwithdrawal of weeds.In the field of agro-environmental science trialsare conducted to determine the agriculturaluse of sewage sludge and other wastes as wellas the “toxic” and “tolerable” limit values forthe concentrations of microelement pollutants– with special regard to the contamination ofthe groundwater and food chain –, to studytheir mobility in the soil–plant system, andthe influencing soil and biological factors42

and to reveal the remediation possibilities ofcontaminated soils.From the point of view of professionalmanagement, the research stations and longtermfield experiments of the institute thatare situated in the Mezôföld (Nagyhörcsök),the Danube–Tisza Interfluve (Ôrbottyán) and theNyírség (Nyírlugos) regions are supervised bythe department.Researchers with scientific degrees:Éva Lehoczky, DSc(+36-30) 961-7491lehoczky.eva@agrar.mta.huKrisztina Rajkainé Végh, CSc(+36-1) 212-2265rajkaine.vegh.krisztina@agrar.mta.huGellért Gólya, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265golya.gellert@agrar.mta.huPéter Csathó, DSc(+36-30) 845-5174csatho.peter@agrar.mta.huTibor Filep, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265filep.tibor@agrar.mta.huLászló Márton, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265marton.laszlo@agrar.mta.huImre Kádár, DSc(+36-30) 908-6129kadar.imre@agrar.mta.huPéter Ragályi, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265ragalyi.peter@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Csathó, P., Radimszky, L. Two worlds within EU27: sharp contrasts in organic and mineral NP use, NP balances and soilP status. Widening and deepening gap between Western and Central Europe. Communications in Soil Science and PlantAnalysis 2009;40:999-1019.• Filep, T., Rékási, M. Factors controlling dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and DOC/DON ratio in arable soils based on a dataset from Hungary. Geoderma 2011;162:312-318.• Ragályi, P., Kádár, I. Effect of organic fertilizers made from slaughterhouse wastes on yield of crops. Archives of Agronomyand Soil Science 2012;58(1):122-126.• Kádár, I. Environmental effects of main contaminant microelemennts (In Hungarian) MTA ATK TAKI. Akaprint. Budapest.2012;359 p.• Lehoczky, É., Kismányoky, A., Lencse, T., Németh, T. Effect of different fertilization methods and nitrogen doses on theweediness of winter wheat. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 2012;43(1-2):341-345.• Lehoczky, É., Németh, T., Gólya, G., Gyulai, B. The effect of soil properties on weeds. In: The 5th national weed surveyon arable lands in Hungary (In Hungarian) (szerk.: Novák R. et al.). Vidékfejlesztési Minisztérium. Budapest. 2012;507-560.• Lehoczky, É, Busznyák, J, Gólya, G. Study on the spread, biomass production, and nutrient content of ragweed(Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) with high-precision GNSS and GIS device system. Communications in Soil Science and PlantAnalysis 2013;44(1-4):535-545.43

Department of EnvironmentalInformaticsHead of Department:J ó z s e f S z a b óPhDPhone: (+36-30) 961-7465E-mail: szabo.jozsef@agrar.mta.huThe primary research activities of the departmentare based on data management and services inthe field of environmental informatics and thetypically spatial analysis of the data related toenvironmental resources.The manifold demands on soil relatedinformation are sufficed by the integration ofself-developed spatial soil information systems,recent soil assessment based on up-to-date surveytechnology and digital soil mapping methods.Spatial assessment and mapping of naturalresources, processes and ecosystem servicesare carried out by spatial modelling and theelaboration of map based environmentaldatabases.The management and co-ordination ofpedological, agrochemical and soil biologicaldata and information collection concerning theenvironmental state of soils, and their degradationprocesses are carried out in close co-operationwith competent professional organizations. Thecomplex environmental effects of pressures withagricultural origin on soils are investigated withthe aid of indication procedures.Special emphasis is laid on the characterisationof the ecological state of soils by bio-indicationmethods in laboratory as well as by an automatedfield monitoring system based on a recently selfdevelopedsensor.44

The results of the environmental analysis arepublished in the frame of internet-based mapservices thus (i) supporting both nationaland international duties on the supply of soiland environment related data, (ii) helping thepreparation of decision making in the field ofagro-environment and rural development, and(iii) aiding soil and environmental awareness.Researchers with scientific degrees:Miklós Dombos, PhD(+36-30) 858-2816dombos.miklos@agrar.mta.huZsófia Bakacsi, PhD(+36-30) 844-7718bakacsi.zsofia@agrar.mta.huPéter László, PhD(+36-30) 961-7389laszlo.peter@agrar.mta.huLászló Pásztor, PhD(+36-30) 961-7416pasztor.laszlo@agrar.mta.huOxána Bánszegi, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265banszegi.oxana@agrar.mta.huMarianna Magyar, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265magyar.marianna@agrar.mta.huCsongor Gedeon, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265gedeon.csongor@agrar.mta.huSándor Koós, PhD(+36-30) 961-7493koos.sandor@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Bakacsi, Zs., Kuti, L., Pásztor, L., Vatai, J., Szabó, J., Müller, T. Method for the compilation of a stratified andharmonized soil physical database using legacy and up-to-date data sources. Agrokémia és Talajtan 2010:59:39-46.• Pásztor, L., Szabó, J., Bakacsi, Zs. Digital processing and upgrading of legacy data collected during the 1:25.000 scaleKreybig soil survey. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica Hungarica 2010:45:127-136.• Pásztor, L., Szabó, J., Bakacsi, Zs. Application of the Digital Kreybig Soil Information System for the delineation ofnaturally handicapped areas in Hungary. Agrokémia és Talajtan 2010:59:47-56.• Pásztor, L., Szabó, J., Bakacsi, Zs., Matus, J., Laborczi, A. Compilation of 1:50,000 scale digital soil maps for Hungarybased on the Digital Kreybig Soil Information System. Journal of Maps 2012;8(3):215-219.• Pásztor, L., Szabó, J., Bakacsi, Zs., Laborczi, A. Elaboration and applications of spatial soil information systemsand digital soil mapping at Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy ofSciences. Geocarto International 2013:28(1):13-27.• Bispo, A., Cluzeau, D., Creamer, R., Dombos, M., Graefe, U., Krogh, P. H., Sousa, J. P., Peres, G., Rutgers,M, Winding, A., Römbke, J. Indicators for monitoring soil biodiversity. Integrated Environmental Assessment andManagement 2009;5:717-719.45

Department of Soil Biologyand BiochemistryHead of Department:N i k o l e t t U z i n g e rPhDPhone: (+36-30) 871-5048E-mail: uzinger.nikolett@agrar.mta.huScientific research carried out in the departmentfocuses on the quantitative and qualitativeassessment of the biological characteristics ofthe soil–plant–microorganism system by trackingspatial and temporal changes in both naturaland agro-ecosystems.Monitoring methods have been developed recentlyfor the evaluation of soil quality characterised bythe biological and degradation state of the soil.Owing to the increased emission of greenhousegases research is conducted to reveal the detailsof microbiological processes responsible forsoil carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics andpossibilities of their biological regulation.For better understanding of interactions betweenplants and microorganisms the mutually beneficialforms of coexistence between soil microorganismsof the root environment (bacteria and fungienhancing plant growth) and higher plants arestudied. The role of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungiin microelement uptake, phosphorus supply andstress reactions of plants is investigated.Functions of soil enzymes participating in themineralization of nitrogen and phosphorouscompounds are examined in the aspect of nutrientregimes of ecosystems.46

For the remediation of contaminated soils and thereduction of their environmental risks biologicalmethods (bioremediation) combined (also) withenvironmentally sound chemical immobilizationare developed. This is achieved by using plantsadapted to pollution as well as by promoting andapplying different phytoremediation techniquesprimarily on heavy metal contaminated soils.Researchers with scientific degrees:Attila Anton, CSc(+36-30) 961-7461anton.attila@agrar.mta.huAttila Murányi, DSc(+36-1) 212-2265muranyi.attila@agrar.mta.huTünde Imréné Takács, PhD(+36-30) 961-7436takacs.tunde@agrar.mta.huBorbála Biró, DSc(+36-30) 845-4787biro.borbala@agrar.mta.huTibor Szili-Kovács, CSc(+36-30) 961-7452szili-kovacs.tibor@agrar.mta.huAnna Füzy, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265fuzy.anna@agrar.mta.huPéter Csontos, DSc(+36-30) 683-0544csontos.peter@agrar.mta.huLászló Ködöböcz, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265kodobocz.laszlo@agrar.mta.huKlára Ádámné Pokovai, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265pokovai.klara@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Anton, A., Rékási, M., Uzinger, N., Széplábi, G., Makó, A. Modelling the potential effects of the Hungarian red muddisaster on soil properties. Water, Air & Soil Pollution 2012;223(8):5175-5188.• Azcon, R., Medina, A., Roldán, A., Biró, B., Vivas, A. Significance of treated agrowaste residue and autochthonousinoculates (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Bacillus cereus) on bacterial community structure and phytoextraction toremediate soils contaminated with heavy metals. Chemosphere 2009;75:327-334.Major publications:• Füzy, A., Tóth, T., Biró, B. Soil-plant factors, others than the type of salt-specific anions are affecting the mycorrhizaJuhász A., Makai Sz., Sebestyén E., Tamás L. and Balázs E. (2011): Role of conserved non-coding regulatory elementscolonisation of some halophytes. Community Ecology 2008;9:125-130.in LMW glutenin gene expression. PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029501• Ködöböcz, L., Halbritter, A., Mogyoróssy, T., Kecskés, M. L. Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of rhizobia in croppingareas under intensive and organic agriculture in Hungary. Europ. J. Soil. Biol. 2009;45:394-399.• Leitgib, L., Gruiz, K., Fenyvesi, É., Balogh, G., Murányi, A. Development of an innovative soil remediation:“cyclodextrin-enhanced combined technology”. Sci Total Environ. 2008;392(1):12-21.• Máthé-Gáspár, G., Sipter, E., Szili-Kovács, T., Takács, T., Máthé, P., Anton, A. Environmental impact of soil pollutionwith toxic element from the lead and zinc mine at Gyöngyösoroszi (Hungary). Communications in Soil Science and PlantAnalysis 2009;40:324-332.• Samu, F., Csontos, P., Szinetár, Cs. From multi-criteria approach to simple protocol: Assessing habitat patches forconservation value using species rarity. Biological Conservation 2008;141(5):1310-1320.47

Department of Soil ScienceHead of Department:K á l m á n R a j k a iDScPhone: (+36-30) 961-7428E-mail: rajkai.kalman@agrar.mta.huThe scientific research task of the department isstudying soil physical, chemical and structuralaspects of soil water management, the carbonand mineral element cycles and their changes dueto environmental stresses.As one of the main soil physical factorsinfluencing soil water management is thehydraulic conductivity of soils. A well-definedmeasuring method was worked out and itspractical applicability and representativity hasbeen demonstrated.An electrical bioindication measuring methodwas applied for detecting the environmentalstresses (e.g. pesticide or drought) on plants inthe soil.Studies were launched on the alteration of saltcontent and ground water flow in soils of flatareas due to (af)forestation.A modelling tool – based on the created soildatabase lying on field and lab data – is underdevelopment for the risk estimation of salinizationon forested sites.Models are also applied for predicting theeffects of climate and land use changes, extremehydrological situations and different soilcultivation systems on soil water and carbon flowprocesses for introducing alternative adaptationstrategies.48

The role of soil in different meteorologicalsituations is studied using weather forecastmodels.The modelled soil moisture content, convectiveprecipitation and planetary boundary layer heightdata are to be compared with their measuredvalues as the next program step.Researchers with scientific degrees:György Várallyay,Member of the MTA(+36-30) 961-7483varallyay.gyorgy@agrar.mta.huSándor Molnár, PhD(+36-1) 224-3659molnar.sandor@agrar.mta.huGyôzô Jordán, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265jordan.gyozo@agrar.mta.huTibor Tóth, DSc(+36-1) 212-2265toth.tibor@agrar.mta.huKitti Balog, PhD(+36-1) 212-2265balog.kitti@agrar.mta.huCsilla Farkas, PhD(+36-30) 961-7512farkas.csilla@agrar.mta.huEszter Hubainé Tóth, PhD(+36-30) 844-6077toth.eszter@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Cseresnyés, I., Takács, T., Végh, K. R., Anton, A., Rajkai, K. Electrical impedance and capacitance method: A newapproach for detection of functional aspects of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in maize. European Journal of SoilBiology 2013;54:25-31.• Fodor, N., Sándor, R., Orfanus, T., Lichner, L., Rajkai, K. Evaluation method dependency of measured saturatedhydraulic conductivity. Geoderma 2011;165:60-68.• Farkas, Cs., Alberti, G., Balogh, J., Barcza, Z., Birkás, M., Czóbel, Sz., Davis, K. J., Führer, E., Gelybó, Gy,Grosz, B., Kljun, N, Koós, S., Machon, A., Marjanović, H., Nagy, Z., Peresotti, A., Pintér, K., Tóth, E., Horváth, L.Measurements and estimations of biosphere-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases. Part II, Chapter 5: Methodologies,In: Haszpra L (Ed.) Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases: The Hungarian Perspective, Dordrecht – London - New York. Springer-Science, 2011;65-90. (ISBN:978-90-481-9949-5)• Tóth, E., Koós, S., Farkas, Cs. Soil carbon dioxide efflux determined from large undisturbed soil cores collected in differentsoil management systems. Biologia 2009;64(3):643-647.• Virágh, K., Tóth, T., Somodi, I. Effect of slight vegetation degradation on soil properties in Brachypodium pinnatumgrasslands, PLANT AND SOIL 2011;345:(1-2) 303-313• Reimann, C., de Caritat, P., Fugedi, U., Jordan, G., Wygralak, A. New soil composition data for Europe and Australia:Demonstrating comparability, identifying continental-scale processes and learning lessons for global geochemical mapping,Science of the Total Environment 2012;416:239-252.49

Institute for VeterinaryMedical ResearchE-mail: ppppppp@mail.huTelephone: 0000000050

Main activities of the institute:• investigations on infectious diseases occurring indomesticated and wild animals and on the pathogenscausing them (viruses, bacteria and parasites);• research in the fields of environment protection, molecularbiology, biotechnology, immunology and pathologyaimed at developing diagnostic and vaccinationtechniques to improve the control of animal diseases, toprovide practical assistance to veterinary surgeons andto increase food safety;• the identification of the pathogens responsible for majordiseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans(zoonoses) and of their animal reservoir species in orderto diminish or prevent the risk of infection;• monitoring the emergence or re-emergence of vectorbornepathogens (possibly related to climate change)and the identification, isolation and characterisation ofnew pathogens;• promoting the practical application of the resultsobtained in veterinary science, and participation innational efforts to overcome infectious diseases.Institute Director:T i b o r M a g y a rCScScientific groups working in the Institute for Veterinary Medical Research:Molecular VirologyResearch GroupHead: Mária BenkôComparative VirologyResearch GroupHead: Balázs HarrachFunctional VirologyResearch GroupHead: Zoltán ZádoriLendület Pathogen DiscoveryResearch GroupHead: Krisztián BányaiEnteric Bacteriologyand Foodborne ZoonosesResearch GroupHead: István TóthRespiratory BacteriologyResearch GroupHead: Tibor MagyarLendület Zoonotic Bacteriologyand Mycoplasmology Research GroupHead: Miklós GyuraneczFish Parasitology Research GroupHead: Edit EszterbauerFish Pathology andParasitology Research GroupHead: Csaba Székely51

MolecularVirology Research GroupLeader of the research group:M á r i a B e n k ôDScPhone: (+36-1) 467-4083E-mail: benko.maria@agrar.mta.huRecently, our group works on the moleculargenetic characterization of different DNA virusesof lower vertebrates. We completed the genomesequencing of the single fish adenovirus, knownto date, and found numerous new putativegenes with yet unknown function. Upon ourofficial proposal, a new adenovirus genus(Ichtadenovirus) was established. A new memberof another genus (Siadenovirus) – proposed alsoby our group earlier – was also subjected to wholegenome sequencing and analysis. This virus hasbeen found in dead specimens of raptorial birds.The first full genomes of adenoviruses from turkeyand goose were also sequenced and published.The herpesviruses occurring in fish are nowclassified in a new family, Alloherpesviridae.We have determined and studied several52

alloherpesviral sequences and – based on theirphylogenetic analyses – we made proposals forfurther subdivision of the family. The samplecollection, established for adeno- and herpesviralscreening of fishes, amphibians and reptiles, isnow used to find novel representatives of otherDNA viruses (such as circo- and parvoviruses)by PCRs published by others or designed by us.During the past years, three PhD and severalgraduate diploma theses were prepared on thesetopics. Thanks to our international collaborations,foreign experts often spend shorter or longer visitsin our laboratory. I am the National Representativefor Hungary in the International Committee onTaxonomy of Viruses. I was reelected as chair ofthe Adenoviridae Study Group when the mandateof my colleague expired.Researchers with scientific degrees:Andor Doszpoly, PhD(+36-1) 467-4084doszpoly.andor@agrar.mta.huGyôzô Kaján, PhD(+36-1) 467-4091kajan.gyozo@agrar.mta.huEndre Kovács, PhD(+36-1) 467-4091kovacs.endre@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Kaján, G.L., Davison, A.J., Palya, V., Harrach, B., Benkô, M. (2012) Genome sequence of a waterfowl aviadenovirus,goose adenovirus 4. J Gen Virol 93, 2457-2465• Doszpoly, A., Somogyi, V., LaPatra, S.E., Benkô, M. (2011) Partial genome characterization of acipenserid herpesvirus2: taxonomical proposal for the demarcation of three subfamilies in Alloherpesviridae. Arch Virol 156, 291-296• Kovács, E.R., Benkô, M. (2011) Complete sequence of raptor adenovirus 1 confirms the characteristic genome organizationof siadenoviruses. Infect Genet Evol 11, 1058-1065• Kaján, G.L., Stefancsik, R., Ursu, K., Palya, V., Benkô, M. (2010) The first complete genome sequence of a non-chickenaviadenovirus, proposed to be turkey adenovirus 1. Virus Res 153, 226-233• Kovács, E.R., Jánoska, M., Dán, Á., Harrach, B., Benkô, M. (2010) Recognition and partial genome characterizationby non-specific DNA amplification and PCR of a new siadenovirus species in a sample originating from Parus major, agreat tit. J Virol Methods 163, 262-268• Kovács, E.R., Benkô, M. (2009) Confirmation of the existence of a novel siadenovirus species detected in raptors: partialsequence and phylogenetic analysis. Virus Res 140, 64-7053

ComparativeVirology Research GroupLeader of the research group:B a l á z s H a r r a c hDScPhone: (+36-1) 467-4081E-mail: harrach.balazs@agrar.mta.huWe study the adenoviruses of veterinaryimportance. We aim at the assessment of thediversity and exploration of the evolution ofthese viruses. For the comparative analysesof adenoviruses of the domesticated and wildanimals and the man, molecular techniques andbioinformatic methods are applied. Our maingoal is to unveil the cause and understand thereason of the seemingly elevated pathogenicityof certain animal adenoviruses. We hope tounderstand the evolutionary history as well aspredict the eventual occurrence of host switchesand other changes in the future. We try to find andcharacterize on the molecular level (preferably bywhole genome sequencing) novel adenoviruses intaxonomically highly divergent hosts. We expectto discover extreme number of new adenovirusesin the representatives of the two mammalianorders (rodents and bats) that are richest inspecies. We study the virus-host coevolution54

and try to clarify the cause of eventual rapidchanges in the genome organization such as genedeletion, capture or duplication. We also aim tounderstand the function of novel genes found inthe genome of animal adenoviruses especiallyin comparison with human adenoviruses.My website with the collection of every adenovirussequence determined to date is daily visited byresearchers from all over the world. Based on ourknowledge concerning the adenoviral genomeorganization and experience in bioinformatics,we participate in the analyses and annotationof adenoviral genome sequences obtainedby foreign laboratories using next-generationsequencing approach. In a consortium withseveral Western European laboratories – underthe framework of an EU financed project startingin 2013 – we study the possible use of differentanimal adenoviruses as gene expression systemin human medicine.Publications:• Kohl, C., Vidovszky, M.Z., Mühldorfer, K., Dabrowski, P.W., Radonic, A., Nitsche, A., Wibbelt, G., Kurth, A.,Harrach, B. (2012) Genome analysis of bat adenovirus 2: indications of interspecies transmission. J Virol 86, 1888-1892• Doszpoly, A., Benkô, M., Bovo, G., LaPatra, S.E., Harrach, B. (2011) Comparative analysis of a conserved gene blockfrom the genome of the members of the genus Ictalurivirus. Intervirology 54, 282-289• Harrach, B., Benkô, M., Both, G.W., Brown, M., Davison, A.J., Echavarría, M., Hess, M., Jones, M.S., Kajon, A.,Lehmkuhl, H.D., Mautner, V., Mittal, S.K., Wadell, G. (2011) Family Adenoviridae. King AMQ, Adams, M.J.,, Carstens,E.B., Lefkowitz, E.J. (eds) Virus Taxonomy: Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses. Ninth Report of the InternationalCommittee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Elsevier, San Diego pp. 125-141• Hemmi, S., Vidovszky, M.Z., Ruminska, J., Ramelli, S., Decurtins, W., Greber, U., Harrach, B. (2011) Genomic andphylogenetic analyses of murine adenovirus 2. Virus Res 160, 128-135• Arnold, J., Jánoska, M., Kajon, A.E., Metzgar, D., Hudson, N.R., Torres, S., Harrach, B., Seto, D., Chodosh, J.,Jones, M.S. (2010) Genomic characterization of the human adenovirus 36, a putative obesity agent. Virus Res 149, 152-161• Walsh, M.P., Chintakuntlawar, A., Robinson, C., Madisch, I., Harrach, B., Hudson, N.R., Torres, S., Schnurr, D.,Heim A., Chodosh, J., Seto, D., Jones, M.S. (2009) Evidence of molecular evolution driven by recombination eventsinfluencing tropism and virulence in a novel human adenovirus that causes epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. PLoS ONE 4, e563555

Functional VirologyResearch GroupLeader of the research group:Z o l t á n Z á d o r iPhDIn order to help to develop more efficient strategiesand tools against economically important viralpathogens our group investigates a number ofnovel and less studied aspects of the molecularregulation of the viral life cycle.Currently we concentrate our efforts on themembers of the parvoviridae family and thenidovirales order.Phone: (+36-1) 467-4069E-mail: zadori.zoltan@agrar.mta.huParvovirus Research1. The role of alternative ORFs in the GPVMDPV infectionA large genus-specific ORF (LGORF) was foundto overlap the VP ORF in all members of theDependovirus genus. We want to understand itsfunction in GPV and MDPV by creating mutantviruses and studying their phenotypes in tissueculture and in the host.2. The effect of methylation PPV replicationCpG methylation is involved in gene regulationand silencing in viruses and their hosts and also,in pathogen recognition as well as activationof the innate immune systems in vertebrates.The PPV genome contains significantly lessCpG dinucleotides (around ¼) than expected56

from its nucleotide composition. We study theevolutionary origin of this pattern and its effectfor the viral life cycle.Nidovirus researchSeveral economically important viruses areclassified in the Nidovirales order (e.g. PRRSV, EAVin the arteriviridae family and FIPV, TGEV, IBV in thecoronaviridae family). Although bacterial infectiousclones are available for a number of nidovirusestheir large sizes hinder the genetic manipulationof the nidoviral genomes by traditional cloningmethods such as the use of bacterial cloningplasmids, restriction endonucleases. In order toovercome the difficulties posed by the large genomesize we are developing a novel reverse geneticsystem which can be used not only for nidovirusesbut to any system where the manipulation of largesize transcripts is necessary.Researcher with scientific degree:Péter Horváth, PhD(+36-1) 467-4061horvath.peter@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Bálint, A., Farsang, A., Zádori, Z., Hornyák, A., Dencso, L., Almazán, F., Enjuanes, L., Belák, S. Molecularcharacterization of feline infectious peritonitis virus strain DF-2 and studies on the role of ORF3abc in viral cell tropism.J Virol. 2012 Mar 21.• Miklós, I., Zádori Z. Positive Evolutionary Selection of an HD Motif on Alzheimer Precursor Protein Orthologues Suggestsa Functional Role. PLoS Comput Biol. 2012 Feb;8(2):e1002356• Liu, K.Y., Li, F., X., Jousset, Z., Zadori, J., Szelei, Q., Pham, Yu, H., T., Lépine, F., Bergoin, M., Tijssen, P.The Acheta domesticus densovirus, isolated from the European house cricket, has evolved an expression strategy uniqueamong parvoviruses. J Virol. 2011 Oct;85(19):10069-78• Szelei, J., Woodring, J., Goettel, M.S., Duke, G., Jousset, F., X., Liu, K., Y., Zadori, Z., Styer, Y., Li, E., Boucias,D., G., Kleespies, R., G., Bergoin, M., Tijssen, P. Susceptibility of North-American and European crickets to Achetadomesticus densovirus (AdDNV) and associated epizootics. J Invertebr Pathol. 2011 Mar;106(3):394-957

Lendület PathogenDiscovery Research GroupLeader of the research group:K r i s z t i á n B á n y a iPhDPhone: (+36-1) 467-4060/154E-mail: banyai.krisztian@agrar.mta.huOur research group was established in 2011 byqualified young researchers with expertise indifferent areas of microbiology. The researchgroup focuses on several, partly overlappingresearch topics. These include new pathogendiscovery with the primary objective to describethe diversity of pathogenic viruses, bacteria andprotozoa by determining their whole genomes.Such whole genome characterization studies ofvarious viruses and microbes may help us betterunderstand their epidemiological features andtheir evolutionary mechanisms as well. Therefore,those studies where we aim at describing themolecular epidemiology of selected pathogens arealso based on whole genome sequence data. Weperform experiments to explore the associationof newly recognized viruses and microbes withdifferent disorders. Co-infections with multiplepathogens could make it difficult to determinetheir role in the induction and progression ofthe diseases they are responsible for; thus,comparison of the microbiome in healthy anddiseased individuals is obligatory. However,detecting all microorganisms simultaneouslyor those being fastidious is often complicatedor practically impossible by using classicalmicrobiological methods. Metagenomic studies58

with high-throughput next generation sequencinggive us the opportunity to solve this problem andcould help gather new information about thecomposition of viral and microbial populations.Researchers with scientific degrees:László Egyed, PhD(+36-1) 467-4060/123egyed.laszlo@agrar.mta.huSzilvia Farkas, PhD(+36-1) 467-4060/154farkas.szilvia@agrar.mta.huEnikô Fehér, PhD(+36-1) 467-4060/171feher.eniko@agrar.mta.huSzilvia Marton, PhD(+36-1) 467-4060/167marton.szilvia@agrar.mta.huBoglárka Sellyei, PhD(+36-1) 467-4060/130sellyei.boglarka@agrar.mta.huPublications:• László, B., Kónya J., Dandár, E., Deák, J., Farkas, Á., Gray, J., Grósz, G., Iturriza-Gomara, M., Jakab, F., Juhász,Á., Kisfali, P., Kovács, J., Lengyel, Gy., Martella, V., Melegh, B., Mészáros, J., Molnár, P., Nyúl, Z., Papp, H.,Pátri, L., Puskás, E., Sántha, I., Schneider, F., Szomor, K., Tóth, A., Tóth, E., Szûcs, Gy., Bányai, K. Surveillance ofhuman rotaviruses in 2007-2011, Hungary: exploring the genetic relatedness between vaccine and field strains. JOURNALOF CLINICAL VIROLOGY 55: pp. 140-146. (2012) IF: 3.969• Papp, T., Gál, J., Abbas, M.D., Marschang, R.E., Farkas, L.S. A novel type of paramyxovirus found in Hungary in amasked water snake (Homalopsis buccata) with pneumonia supports the suggested new taxonomy within the Ferlavirusgenus. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 162:(1) pp. 195-200. (2013) IF: 3.327• Sellyei, B., Wehmann, E., Makrai, L., Magyar, T. Evaluation of the Biolog system for the identification of certain closelyrelated Pasteurella species. DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 71: pp. 6-11. (2011) IF: 2.528• Farkas, T., Fey, B., Keller, G., Martella, V., Egyed, L. Molecular detection of novel astroviruses in wild and laboratorymice. VIRUS GENES 45:(3) pp. 518-525. (2012) IF: 1.84559

Enteric Bacteriology and FoodborneZoonoses Research GroupLeader of the research group:I s t v á n Tó t hDScPhone: (+36-1) 467-4095E-mail: toth.istvan@agrar.mta.huEscherichia coli research: Screening forverotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) and E. coliO157. Investigation and molecular analysisof E. coli’s other virulence and fitness factors.Pathogenetic, microbial and phylogeneticcharacterization of E. coli strains.Multidrug resistant (MDR) enteric andextraintestinal pathogenic and environmentalbacteria (Salmonella enterica,E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) areanalysed for their zoonotic potential throughcharacterization of their virulence andantimicrobial resistance genes. Studies aredirected on the links between resistance andvirulence and on pathogenetic significanceof mobile genetic elements and on flexibility ofbacterial genome and resistome.Gene expression studies are performed using invitro, ex vivo and in vivo systems in order toexplore host/pathogen interactions regardingnative and adaptive immunity. Results confirmedin exact animal experiments will identify targetsto design novel vaccines, novel diagnostics andtherapeutic applications.A special attention is given to the commensalE. coli and to other MDR bacteria that mayconstitute a reservoir of virulence and resistancegenes for potential transmission to pathogens inthe normal gut flora.60

Bacteriophage research: Clarification ofE. coli prophages. Isolation and characterizationof lytic phages from E. coli, other coliform bacteria.Studying the evolutionary and diagnostic (phagetyping) significance and therapeutic potential(phage therapy) of phages.Researchers with scientific degrees:Béla Nagy, Member of the MTA(+36-1) 467-4085nagy.bela@agrar.mta.huAnnamária Szmolka, PhD(+36-1) 467-4087szmolka.annamaria@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Tóth, I., Nougayréde, J.P., Dobrindt, U., Ledger, T.N., Boury, M., Morabito, S., Fujiwara, T., Sugai, M., Hacker,J., Oswald, E. (2009) Cytolethal distending toxin type I and type IV genes are framed with lambdoid prophage genes inextraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 77 (1): 492-500.• Tóth, I., Schmidt, H., Kardos, G., Lancz, Zs., Creuzburg, K., Damjanova, I., Pászti, J., Beutin, L., Nagy, B. (2009)Virulence genes and molecular typing of different groups of Escherichia coli O157 strains in cattle. Appl Environ Microbiol75 (19): 6282-6291.• Sváb, D., Tóth, I. (2012): Allelic types of long polar fimbriae in bovine and human Escherichia coli O157 strains. ActaVeterinaria Hungarica 60(1): 1-15.• Szmolka, A., Anjum, M.F., La Ragione, R., Kaszanyitzky, E.J., Nagy, B. (2012) Microarray based comparative genotypingof gentamicin resistant Escherichia coli strains from food animals and humans. Veterinary Microbiology, 156., 110-118.• Nógrády, N., Király, M., Davies, R., Nagy, B. (2012) Multidrug resistant clones of Salmonella Infantis of broiler originin Europe. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 157., 108-11261

Respiratory BacteriologyResearch GroupLeader of the research group:T i b o r M a g y a rCScBacterial respiratory diseases cause significanteconomic losses worldwide in livestock farming.They are a serious threat for companion animals;moreover, some of these pathogens are able toproduce diseases in humans, too. The expansivespread of antimicrobial resistance is especiallyalarming presenting a constant challenge to bothpublic and animal healthcare.Phone: (+36-1) 467-4092E-mail: magyar.tibor@agrar.mta.huOur research group examines several pathogenicbacterium species. Research on Bordetellabronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida have along tradition in our institute as these bacterialspecies are ubiquitous in nature and play arole in the development of several importantdiseases. Also, the interaction between these twoagents is a special feature of the pathogenesis ofatrophic rhinitis of swine giving a good exampleof polymicrobial diseases. Our research focuseson the determination of virulence factors andhost adaption of the bacteria using traditionaland molecular genetic methods (sequence- andphylogenetic analysis). To better understandthe development of respiratory diseases,modern medical imaging technology (computedtomography, magnetic resonance imaging) isused in follow-up model experiments.62

Recently, the examination of bacterial respiratorypathogens of poultry has been initiated. We arestudying the prevalence and the antimicrobialsusceptibility of three bacterial pathogen speciesin Hungary (Bordetella avium, Ornithobacteriumrhinotracheale and Riemerella anatipestifer)along with some biological properties of theseorganisms that are possibly related to virulence.Little is known about the occurrence andgenetic properties of the Hungarian isolates ofthese species. Thus, our work provides usefulinformation for basic research and, at the sametime, it helps to improve prevention and therapyof the diseases caused by these microorganisms.A significant part of our work comes fromparticipation in vaccine development experimentstesting various vaccine candidates in differentexperimental animal models and in field trialsin order to find modern and effective preventivemethods against infectious animal diseases.Researcher with scientific degree:Enikô Wehmann, PhD(+36-1) 467-4086wehmann.eniko@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Sellyei, B., Wehmann, E., Magyar, T.: Sequencing-independent method for the differentiation of the main phylogeneticlineages of Pasteurella multocida. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION 24:(4) pp. 735-738. (2012)• Sellyei, B., Wehmann, E., Makrai, L., Magyar, T.: Evaluation of the Biolog system for the identification of certain closelyrelated Pasteurella species. DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 71: pp. 6-11. (2011)• Pósa, R., Donkó, T., Bogner, P., Kovács, M., Repa, I., Magyar, T.: Interaction of Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurellamultocida, and fumonisin B1 in the porcine respiratory tract as studied by computed tomography. CANADIAN JOURNALOF VETERINARY RESEARCH 75:(3) pp. 176-182. (2011)• Khayer, B., Rónai, Zs., Wehmann, E., Magyar, T.: Detection of urease-negative Bordetella bronchiseptica from the field.ACTA VETERINARIA HUNGARICA 39:(3) pp. 289-293. (2011)• Sellyei, B., Wehmann, E., Makrai, L., Magyar, T.: Characterisation of Pasteurella dagmatis-like isolates recovered fromthe feline oral cavity. VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY 145:(3-4) pp. 279-285. (2010)• Magyar, T., Donkó, T., Kovács, F.: Atrophic rhinitis vaccine composition triggers different serological profiles that do notcorrelate with protection. ACTA VETERINARIA HUNGARICA 56:(1) pp. 27-40. (2008)63

Lendület Zoonotic Bacteriology andMycoplasmology Research GroupLeader of the research group:M i k l ó s G y u r a n e c zPhDPhone: (+36-30) 277-7305E-mail: gyuranecz.miklos@agrar.mta.huA broader understanding of health and diseasedemands a unity of approach achievable onlythrough a consilience of human, domesticanimal and wildlife health. Any disease orinfection that is naturally transmissible fromvertebrate animals to humans and vice-versa isclassified as a zoonosis. Our research projectsfocus on the following zoonotic bacterial agents:Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of thehighly contagious zoonotic disease, tularemia –primarily a disease of the orders Lagomorpha andRodentia; Brucella species, the causative agent ofbrucellosis – it manifests in abortion in femalesand in epididymitis, orchitis and inflammationof accessory genital glands in males of differentdomestic and wild animal species; Coxiellaburnetii, the causative agent of Q fever – occursworldwide and had been associated mostly withlate-term abortion and reproductive disorders64

in wild and domestic ruminants; Chlamydialesspecies – causing ornithosis in avian species andabortion in mammals and Borrelia species, thecausative agent of Lyme borreliosis – the mostprevalent vector-borne human disease in thetemperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere.Our other research field is mycoplasmosis.Mycoplasmas are the smallest self-replicatingorganisms known. They have a worldwidedistribution as free-living saprophytes or asfacultative-pathogen parasites of humans,animals and plants. Our research involves theexamination of different Mycoplasma speciesinfecting domestic and wild animals.Publications:• Kreizinger, Z., Makrai, L., Helyes, G., Magyar, T., Erdélyi, K., Gyuranecz, M.: Antimicrobial susceptibility of Francisellatularensis subsp. holarctica isolates from Hungary, Central Europe, J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 67. 370-373. 2013.• Gyuranecz, M., Kreizinger, Z., Horváth, G., Rónai, Z., Dán, Á., Nagy, B., Szeredi, L., Makrai, L., Jánosi, Sz.,Hajtós, I., Magyar, T., Bhide, M., Erdélyi, K., Dénes, B.: Natural IS711 insertion caused Omp31 gene suppression inBrucella ovis, J. Vet. Diagn. Invest., 25. 234-238. 2013.• Gyuranecz, M., Foster, J.T., Dán, A., Ip, H.S., Egstad, K.F., Parker, P.G., Higashiguchi, J.M., Skinner, M.A., Höfle, U.,Kreizinger, Z., Dorrestein, G.M., Solt, S., Sós, E., Kim, Y.J., Uhart, M., Pereda, A., Hein, G.G., Hidalgo, H., Blanco,J.M., Erdélyi, K.: Worldwide phylogenetic relationship of Avian Poxviruses, J Virology., 4938-4951. 2013.• Gyuranecz, M., Reiczigel, J., Krisztalovics, K., Monse, L., Kükedi, Szabóné, G., Szilágyi, A., Szépe, B., Makrai,L., Magyar, T., Bhide, M., Erdélyi, K.: Factors influencing emergence of tularemia, Hungary, 1984–2010, Emerg. Infect.Dis., 18. 1379-1381. 2012.• Gyuranecz, M., Birdsell, D.N., Splettstoesser, W., Beckstrom-Sternberg, S.M., Makrai L., Fodor L., Fabbi, M.,Vicari, N., Johansson, A., Busch, J.D., Vogler, A.J., Keim, P.S., Wagner, D.M.: Phylogeography of Francisella tularensissubsp. holarctica, Europe, Emerg. Infect. Dis., 18. 290-293. 2012.• Gyuranecz, M., Dénes, B., Hornok, S., Kovács, P., Horváth, G., Jurkovich, V., Varga, T., Hajtós, I., Szabó, R.,Magyar, T., Vass, N., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., Erdélyi, K., Bhide, M., Dán, Á.: Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii inHungary: Screening of dairy cows, sheep, commercial milk samples, and ticks, Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis., 12: 650-653. 2012.65

Fish Parasitology Research GroupLeader of the research group:E d i t E s z t e r b a u e rPhDThe members of the research group study theparasitic infections of freshwater and occasionallymarine fish species. With the analysis of thebiochemical and genetic background of the hostparasiteinteraction they ground the developmentof preventive measures against parasitic diseases.They examine the development and the host rangeof various fish parasites and the susceptibility ofdifferent fish species to parasites. They collaboratein the study of other fish pathogens.Phone: (+36-1) 467-4067E-mail: eszterbauer.edit@agrar.mta.huMain research topics:1. In cooperation with local and foreign fishfarms the study of the correlation between theinbreeding level of brown and rainbow troutpopulations and the susceptibility of farmed fishto parasitic diseases.2. Comparative study of the development ofMyxobolus cerebralis causing whirling disease insalmonids and the common but non-pathogenicM. pseudodispar in relation to the immuneresponse of susceptible and non-susceptible fishspecies.66

3. Detailed genetic and experimental study ofSphaerospora dykovae causing swim bladderinflammation in common carp and other nonpathogenicmyxozoan parasite species in order toclarify the aetiology of the disease.4. Experimental study of the virulence anddrug-sensibility of the protozoan parasiteIchthyophthirius multifiliis, possessing thegreatest economic significance by causing whitespot disease with the aim of developing an antiprotozoaltreatment method suitable for fishfarms producing for human consumption.Publications:• Eszterbauer, E., Kallert, D. M., Grabner, D., El-Matbouli, M. (2009): Differentially expressed parasite genes involved inhost recognition and invasion of the triactinomyxon stage of Myxobolus cerebralis (Myxozoa). Parasitology 136:367-377.• Kallert, D. M., Eszterbauer, E., Grabner, D., El-Matbouli, M. (2009): In vivo exposure of susceptible and non-susceptiblefish species to Myxobolus cerebralis actinospores reveals non-specific invasion behaviour. Dis. Aquat. Org. 84:123-130.• Bahri, S., Marton, Sz., Marques, A., Eszterbauer, E. (2010): Henneguya tunisiensis n. sp. (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida),a new gill parasite of Symphodus tinca (L.) (Teleostei: Labridae) off Tunisia. Syst. Parasitol. 76:93-101.• Marton, Sz., Eszterbauer, E. (2011): The development of Myxobolus pavlovskii (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) includes anechinactinomyxon-type actinospore. Folia Parasitol. 58:157-163.• Marton, Sz., Eszterbauer, E. (2012): The susceptibility of diverse species of cultured oligochaetes for the fish parasiteMyxobolus pseudodispar Gorbunova (Myxozoa). J. Fish Dis. 35:303-314.• Holzer, A.S., Bartosová, P., Pecková, H., Tyml, T., Atkinson, S., Bartholomew, J., Sipos, D., Eszterbauer, E. andDyková, I. (2013): ’Who is who’ in renal sphaerosporids (Bivalvulidae: Myxozoa) from common carp, Prussian carpand goldfish: Molecular identification of cryptic species, blood stages and new members of Sphaerospora sensu stricto.Parasitology 140:46-60.67

Fish Pathology and ParasitologyResearch GroupLeader of the research group:C s a b a S z é k e l yPhDPhone: (+36-1) 467-4065E-mail: szekely.csaba@agrar.mta.huThe main task of the Fish Pathology andParasitology Research Group is the generalparasitological monitoring of fish species culturedin farm ponds or living in natural waters withspecial respect to Lake Balaton and its watertributaries. The most important research resultshave been obtained by studying the damagescaused to fish by myxosporeans, coccidia,monogeneans, cestodes and nematodes. Theresearchers of the group have studied thedevelopment of myxosporeans, the primitivemetazoans and, in addition to describing severalnew species in Hungary and abroad they havestudied their development, host, organ and tissuespecificity and pathomechanism in fish and inoligochaete alternative hosts. Remarkable resultshave been obtained in studying the occurrence,host specificity, phylogeny and adaptation tohosts of fish coccidia (Goussia and Eimeria spp).Of the helminth infections of fish, the researchersinvestigated the occurrence, development andpathological effect of monogeneans, cestodes andnematodes. They have described some new speciesand presented new data on the pathogenesis ofdiseases caused by them. A recent field of theirresearch is the study of the developmental cycleand zoonotic potential of fish trematodes andtheir larval stages. Epizootiological, pathologicaland histopathological studies have beenpublished in connection with the massive eelmortality that took place in the eel populationof Lake Balaton due to Anguillicoloides crassusinfection. Diagnostic investigations as well asX-ray and computed tomography studies have68

een performed in the framework of an EUproject. Studying connections between adverseenvironmental factors and parasitic fish diseasesand the effect of climate changes on fish healthis a new direction of research. Due to theincreasingly strict regulations of the EU effectivemedication methods previously used for treatingfish diseases can no longer be applied. Therefore,we intend to develop alternative solutions in thefuture. In addition to parasitological researchco-operative studies on viral fish diseases havebeen initiated and the research of bacterial fishdiseases has also been started within the researchgroup. Recently, the collection and identificationof Aeromonas spp. strains obtained from healthyand diseased farmed and wild fishes have begunin order to examine the virulence factors and theclonality of these strains.Researchers with scientific degrees:Kálmán Molnár, DSc(+36-1) 467-4064molnar.kalman@agrar.mta.huGábor Cech, PhD(+36-1) 467-4079cech.gabor@agrar.mta.huPublications:• Székely, Cs., Pastra, A., Molnár, K., van den Thillart, G. (2009): Chapter 9: Impact of the swimbladder parasite on thehealth and performance of European eels. In: Spawning migration of the European eel. Fish and Fisheries Series. Volume 30.Editors: Guido van den Thillart, Sylvie Dufour and Cliff Rankin. SPRINGER VERLAG. pp. 201-228.• Székely, Cs., Shaharom-Harrison, F., Cech, G., Ostoros, G., Molnár, K. (2009) Myxozoan infections in fishes of theTasik Kenyir Water Reservoir, Terengganu, Malaysia. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 83 (1) 37-48• Székely, Cs., Hallett, SL., Atkinson, SD., Molnár, K. (2009) Complete life cycle of Myxobolus rotundus (Myxosporea:Myxobolidae), a gill myxozoan of common bream Abramis brama. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 85 (2) 147-155• Lôrincz, M., Cságola, A., Farkas, SL., Székely, Cs., Tuboly, T. (2011) First detection and analysis of a fish circovirus.J Gen Virol 92 (8) 1817-1821• Cech, G., Molnár, K., Székely, Cs. (2012): Molecular genetic studies on morphologically indistinguishable Myxobolusspp. infecting cyprinid fishes, with the description of three new species, M. alvarezae sp. nov., M. sitjae sp. nov. and M.eirasianus sp. nov. Acta Parasitologica, 57(4): 354-366.69

The Centre for AgriculturalResearch publishesthe following scientific and informativejournals related to its research profile.Scientific journalsExtension servicepublications:Acta Veterinaria HungaricaEditor-in-Chief: Balázs HarrachE-mail: harrach.balazs@agrar.mta.huAgrokémia és Talajtan(Agrochemistry and Soil Science)Editor-in-Chief: György VárallyayE-mail: varallyay.gyorgy@agrar.mta.huMartonvásár (reports from theCentre for Agricultural Research of theHungarian Academy of Sciences)Editor-in-Chief: Ottó VeiszE-mail: veisz.otto@agrar.mta.huThe Centre for Agricultural Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences takes great pains to promote thesocial and economic utilisation of the results of scientific research. Research results that are of practical use arepatented, and the spin-off companies detailed below are the commercial representatives of the products.Martonvásári ElitmagVetômag szaporító, Termeltetôés ForgalmaztatóKorlátolt Felelôsségô Társaság(Elitmag Seed Company Ltd.)2462 Martonvásár, P.O.B. 26Phone: (+36-22) 569-230Fax: (+36-22) 461-000E-mail: vetomag@elitmag.huWebsite: www.elitmag.huManaging Director: Katalin CsehPhone: (+36-22) 569-235E-mail: kati.cseh@elitmag.huMartonvásári BázismagVetômag szapo rító, Termeltetôés ForgalmaztatóKorlátolt Felelôsségû Társaság(Bázismag Seed Company Ltd.)2462 Martonvásár, P.O.B. 1Phone: (+36-22) 461-371Fax: (+36-22) 569-003E-mail: bazismag@bazismag.huWebsite: www.bazismag.huManaging Director: Dr Dénes OrossPhone: (+36-22) 461-371E-mail: oross.denes@bazismag.huMartonvásári PrebázisTermelô és K utatás-FejlesztésiKorlátolt Felelôs sé gû Társaság(Prebázis Production, Research andDevelopment Company Ltd.)2462 Martonvásár, Brunszvik u. 2.Phone: (+36-22) 569 159Fax: (+36-22) 461-000E-mail: prebazis@prebazis.huWebsite: www.prebazis.huManaging Director: László GyôrffyPhone: (+36-30) 947-6127E-mail: gyorffyl@gmail.com70

Traditions and theirpreservationThe Beethoven concerts held in the park since 1958,generally on three occasions each summer, are nowa national event. The home of these concerts isan open-air theatre on an island in the lake, withseating for over 2000. Talented musicians fromHungary and abroad are accompanied at thesememorable concerts by the National PhilharmonicOrchestra.The Park is open from 8 am to 6 pm in summerand from 8 am to 4 pm in winter.Beethoven Memorial Museum:Opening hours:Tues.–Fri.: 10–12 am, 2–4 pmSat. and Sun.: 10 am–4 pm (1 Nov.–31 Mar.)10 am–6 pm (1 Apr.–31 Oct.)Nursery School Museum:Opening hours:16 Oct.–15 Mar.:Tues. and Fri.: 10 am–2 pm;Sun.: 11 am–3 pm16 Mar.–15 Oct.:Tues.–Fri.: 10 am–2 pm;Sat. and Sun.: 11 am–6 pm71

A Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Agrártudományi Kutatóközpontja (MTAATK) a legnagyobb magyar agrártudományi kutatóintézet, alapkutatásokat,alkalmazott kutatásokat és fejlesztési tevékenységet végez az agrártudományokterületén, részt vállal a szakmai és tudományos ismeretek terjesztésében ésegyüttmûködik az agrárgazdaság, az élelmiszeripar, a vidékfejlesztés, a környezetvédelemfenntartható fejlôdésében részt vállaló szervezetekkel mind Magyarországon,mind külföldön.Együttmûködik hazai kutatóintézetekkel, kapcsolatokat tart fenn és létesít másországok tudományos intézményeivel, nemzetközi tudományos társaságokkal.Elôsegíti a magyar agrártudományi, föld- és környezettudományi és állatorvostudományikutatások jelenlétét a nemzetközi tudományos életben.Published by the Centre for Agricultural Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences2462 Martonvásár, Brunszvik u. 2.A felsôoktatási intézményekkel együttmûködve részt vesz az oktatómunkában,Phone: +36 22 569 500, fax: +36 22 460 213közös kutatási, képzési éshttp://www.agrar.mta.hutovábbképzési feladatokat lát el.Martonvásár, 2013Responsible Editor: Zoltán Bedô General DirectorPhoto and graphics: Attila VécsyTypography: hammergrafika.huPrinted by Elektroproduct, Co. Ltd., BudaörsNational Development Agencywww.ujszechenyiterv.gov.hu06 40 638 638The project is supported by the European Unionand co-financed by the European Social Fund.TÁMOP-4.2.3-12/1/KONV-2012-0001