Functions - Research Theme
« New insights in the development and dynamics of floral nectar to improve the survival of insect pollinators and the pollination of Cucurbits»
Objective :
The NECTAR project takes up the challenge of improving the current understanding of nectar development and nectar secretion in relation to pollinator foraging, the key traits that impact fruit yield, fruit stability and food availability for the bees. The project is structured around three scientific axes. The first research axis is dedicated to the phenotypic characterization of a core collection of melon accessions for nectar-related traits believed to affect foraging activity and pollinator behavior. Our core melon collection is made up of landraces, cultivars and lines previously identified as nectarless. In this large collection of genetic resources, the production, viability and germination of pollen, which are major parameters of reproduction and the morphological characterizations of these accessions, have been made for each accession.
Study of hybrid vigor between domestic and wild genotypes with pollen tests to better understand the reproductive barrier in the ANR DOMISOL project.
Education and Career (Selected)
Since June 28, 2021, Research Fellow at INRAE GAFL.
From February-2021 to June-2021 “Visiting Scientist” at Rutgers University , Department of Plant Biology, USA on the breeding and genetic resources of amaranth, basil and roselle.
From June-2019 to June-2020 “Visiting scientist” at the North Carolina State University Department of Horticultural Sciences, USA on the Cucurbit breeding and stevia micropropagation.
From June 1987 to April-2020 “Research Assistant (1987-1995), Assoc. Professor (1995-2001), Professor (2001-2020)” at Cukurova University, Department of Horticulture, Turkey.
From 2012 to 2018 “Chair” of the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Cukurova, Turkey.
From 2015 to 2017 “Director” of the Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Cukurova University, Turkey.
From 2009 to 2018 “Bologna Expert” Turkish Higher Education Council and European Commission.
From 2015 to 2017 “Member of the Scientific Evaluation Committee of the European Council ARIMNET 2”
From 2010 to 2012 “Vice-Rector” at the University of Sirnak, Turkey.
From 2005 to 2008 “Advisory Board” in the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey-TUBITAK.
From 2002 to 2004 “Vice-Rector” at the University of Cukurova, Turkey.
Since 1999 “Member of the Cucurbits working group at ISHS”.
Since 1991 “Member and Board of Directors of the Alliance Française Adana, Turkey.
Honours and Awards (Selected)
-XII EUCARPIA Meeting Cucurbitaceae Award (in recognition of her courage in carrying out her research work in the field of Cucurbits), May 27, 2021, Spain.
-Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) @WomeninSTEM award 27 January 2020.
-Plant Breeding Project Market Innovation Award (Third Place), 29 November 2018, Antalya, Turkey
-Honorary Scientist, Republic of Korea, RDA, 1 January 2008-31 December 2010, South Korea
-Science, Technology and Innovation Project, Turkish Scientific and Research Council Success Story Program, 23 June 2006, Turkey
Patents/Variety certification
- “Balcali” radish variety
-Five hybrid melon varieties named Sari F1, Solmaz F1, Yucel F1, Emin F1 et Yetisir F1 which are resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis Race 0 and 1 by double haploidization technique.
Publications/chapters/poster
Book (Selected among the publications of the last 5 years)
Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2018. Turkey watermelon and melon genetic resources, 72 Tasarim Ltd. Şti.
Book chapters (Selected among the publications of the last 5 years)
-Sari, N., Aras, V., Solmaz, I., 2021. Watermelon breeding. In: Vegetable Breeding, Vol:2
(Cucurbits), Turkish Plant Breeding Sub-Union, Gece kitapligi (Editors K. Abak, A. Balkaya, Ş. Ellialtıoğlu, E.Duzyaman), 281-332 (In Turkish).
-Solmaz, I., Namlı, M., Sari, N., Abak, K., 2021. Melon breeding. In: Vegetable Breeding, Vol:2 (Cucurbits), Turkish Plant Breeding Sub-Union, Gece kitapligi (Editors K. Abak, A. Balkaya, Ş. Ellialtıoğlu, E.Duzyaman), 201-278 (In Turkish).
-Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2021. Doubled Haploid Production in Watermelon. Springer Publication (Editor J. M. Segui-Simarro), In: Doubled Haploid Technology, Volume 3, Emerging Tools, Cucurbits, Trees, Other Species, 97-110.
-Sari, N., Aras, V., Solmaz, I., 2021. Basic Concepts and Breeding Methods in Plant Breeding. Gece Publishing, Ankara Turkey (Editors N.Y. Yalcin Mendi and S.Kazaz), 550 p (pages 59-82).
-Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2020. Doubled Haploid Production in Melon. In: Biotechnological Approaches on Horticultural Crops (Editors: Yildiz Aka Kacar and Yesim Yalcin Mendi). Akademisyen Kitapevi, 71-84.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (Selected among the publications of the last 5 years)
-Atli, E., Solmaz, I., Sari, N., Kelebek, H., 2021. Determination of some agronomic and fruit quality characteristics of some watermelon accessions from Turkish watermelon germplasm. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 9(8): 1322-1328.
-Asins, M.J., Albacete, A., Martínez-Andújar, C., Celiktopuz, E., Solmaz, I., Sari, N., Pérez-
Alfocea, F., Dodd, I.C., Carbonell, E.A., Topcu, S., 2021. Genetic analysis of root-to-shoot signaling and rootstock-mediated tolerance to water deficit in tomato. Genes, 12, 10, 2-21. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes12010010
-Rivera-Burgos, L. A., Silverman, E., Sari, N., Wehner, T.C., 2021. Evaluation of resistance to Gummy Stem Blight in a population of RILs of watermelon × citron. HortScience https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15599-20
-Sari, N., Silverman, E., Reiland, D., Wehner, T.C., 2021. Seed characterization and relationships between seed and cotyledon properties in Lagenaria spp. accessions. HortScience, 56 (2): 185–192. 2021. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15569-20
-Solmaz, İ., Kombo, M.D., Hussein, S., Namli, M., Sari, N., 2020. Effect of rootstocks on pollen production, viability and germination in grafted tetraploid and diploid watermelon. International Journal of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, 13(3), 181-186.
-Sari, N., Silverman, E., Reiland, D., Wehner, T.C., 2020. Effects of cold durations on chilling injury in Lagenaria germplasm. HortScience, 55 (10): 1551-1557 https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15184-20
-Yalcin, S., Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2020. Determination of the seed coat color inheritance in some watermelon hybrids. Alatarim, 19 (1): 34-41.
-Kombo, M.D., Sari, N., 2019. Rootstock effects on seed yield and quality in watermelon.
Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology, 60: 303-312.
-Dayan, A., Sari, N., Ozogul, F., 2018. The effects of different plant activators on protein, lipid and fatty acids in snack-seed pumpkin. International Letters of Natural Sciences. 72, 1-6.
-Dinc, S., Kara, M., Karipcin, M.Z., Sari, N., Can, Z., Cicekci, H., Akkus, M., 2018. The rootstock effects on agronomic and biochemical quality properties of melon under water stress. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 27 (7), 5008-5021.
-Solmaz, İ., Sari, N., Kombo, M. D., Şimşek, İ., Hussein, S., Namlı, M., 2018. Rootstock capacity in improving production and quality of triploid watermelon seeds. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 42, 298-308.
-Solmaz, İ., Sari, N., Kombo, M. D., Pamuk, S., Gocmen, M., Simsek, I., 2018. Hybrid
performance and heterosis in mini-watermelons. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 27 (1), 393-401.
-Göçmen, M., Aydın, E., Şimşek, İ., Sarı, N., Solmaz, İ., Gökseven, A., 2017. Characterization of some agronomic traits and β-carotene contents of orange fleshed Altinbas melon dihaploid lines. Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics, 3 (1), 12-18.
-Yağcıoğlu, M., Gülşen, O., Yetişir, H., Solmaz, İ., Sari, N., 2016. Preliminary studies of genome-wide association mapping for some selected morphological characters of watermelons. Scientia Horticulturae, 210, 277-284.
-Yağcıoğlu, M., Gülşen, O., Solmaz, İ., Yetişir, H., Sari, N., 2016. Genetic analyses of Turkish watermelons based on SRAP markers. Turk J Agric For, 40: 613-620 doi:10.3906/tar-1602-32.
-Dal, B., Sari, N., Solmaz, İ., 2016. Effect of different irradiation sources and doses on haploid embryo induction in Altinbas (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus) melons. Turk J Agric For, 40, 552-559.
-Boulame, A., Lemhemdi, A., Sari, M.A., Pignoly, S., Troadec, C., Choucha, F.A., Solmaz, İ., Sari, N., Dogimont, C., Bendahmane, A., 2016. The Andromonocious sex determination gene predates the seperation of Cucumis and Citrullus genera. Plos One, DOI: 10.1371, 1-13.
-Solmaz, İ., Aka Kaçar, Y., Şimşek, Ö., Sari, N., 2016. Genetic characterization of Turkish snake melon (Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo flexuosus Group) accessions revealed by SSR markers. Biochemical Genetics, 54 (2), 107-208.
-Solmaz, İ., Aka Kaçar, Y., Sari, N., Şimşek, Ö., 2016. Genetic diversity within Turkish
Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsumura & Nakai] accessions revealed by SSR and SRAP markers. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 40: 407-419.
Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings (Selected among the publications of the last 5 years)
-Aras, V., Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2021. Effects of grafting on germination and emergence
characteristics of hybrid watermelon seeds. Igdir University Journal of the Institute of Science and Technology, 11(Special Issue): 3372-3382, 2021. DOI: 10.21597/ jist.1027784
-Aras, V., Nacar, C., Unlu, M., Karasahin, Z., Eroglu, C., Oluk, C.A., Sari, N., 2021. Obtaining of
watermelon hybrids superior in term of some bioactive properties. Igdir University Journal of the Institute of Science and Technology, 11(Special Issue): 3390-3405. DOI: 10.21597/jist.1027536
-Kabalci, B.B., Sari, N., 2020. Morphological characterization, plant growth, yield and pod
Properties of some winged bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus] genotypes. Acta Horticulturae (Eds.: N. Sari et al.), 1282, 363-370.
-Hussein, S., Sari, N., 2020. Effects of different rootstocks on seed yield and quality of triploid
watermelon grown in greenhouse. Acta Horticulturae (Eds.: N. Sari et al.), 1282, 67-74.
-Kombo, M.D., Sari, N., Solmaz, I., 2020. Obtention of tetraploids in bottle gourd (Lagenaria
siceraria) and citron (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) by shoot immersion method using different colchicine doses and application time. Acta Horticulturae (Eds.: N. Sari et al.), 1282, 357-362.
-Kombo, M.D., Sari, N., Solmaz, I., Namli, M., 2020. Oryzalin application times and doses on
tetraplodization in citron (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides). Acta Horticulturae (Eds.: N. Sari et al.), 1282, 393-398.
-Pamuk, S., Sari, N., Solmaz, I., Mancak, I., 2019. Development of double-haploid lines in Galia-
type melons (Cucumis melo var. cantalupesis) using in vitro colchicine treatments. Acta Horticulturae (Eds.: N. Sari et al.), 1282, 149-156.
-Ortas, I., Akpinar, C., Demirbas, A., Sari, N., 2019. Mycorrhizae inoculated vegetable seedling
production and use for field experiments for ecological farming. Acta Horticulturae, 1253, 93-100.
-Aydoner, H. U., Solmaz, İ., Sarı, N., Yoldas, H., Aarts, R., Verhoven, J., Schaar, W., 2017. Determination of heterosis in Beit-Alpha type cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) for yield, plant growth and other agronomic traits. 2nd International Balkan Agriculture Congress, Tekirdağ, 16-18 May 2017, 494-500.
-Aras, V., Nacar, C., Ay, T., Mutlu, N., Unlu, M., Pinar, H., Sari, N., 2017. Development of lines
tolerant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in watermelon. Academic Journal of Agriculture, Special Issue, 6, 163-170.
-Nacar, C., Aras, V., Tekin, S., Fidan, H., Unlu, M., Sari, N., 2017. Determination of genetic
distance in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) tolerant to Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus by SRAP markers. Academic Journal of Agriculture, Special Issue, 6, 115-120.
-Gok Guler, P., Sari, N., Yetisir, H., Yegul, M., Kantoglu, Y., Kunter, B., 2017. The effects of
genotypes and irradiation doses on haploid embryo induction and plant production in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Malign) Stanley]. Acta Horticulturae (Eds. M.L. Gomez-Guillamon et al.), 1151, 135-142.
-Sari, N., Solmaz, I., Pamuk, S., Cetin, B., Gocmen, M., Simsek, I., 2017. Fruit and seed size in
some mini watermelon lines. Acta Horticulturae (Eds. M.L. Gomez-Guillamon et al.), 1151, 109-113.
-Szamosi, C., Simsek, O., Aka Kacar, Y., Solmaz, I., Sari N., 2017. Evaluation of genetic
relationships among Hungarian and Turkish melon (Cucumis melo L.) accessions by SSR markers. Acta Horticulturae (Eds. M.L. Gomez-Guillamon et al.), 1151, 95-100.
-Sari, N., Solmaz, İ., Tarim, G., Gocmen, M., Şimsek, İ., 2016. Characterization and agronomic
traits of some mini watermelon lines. Acta Horticulturae, 1127, Proc. Int. Sym. on Plant Breeding in Horticulture (Eds. N. Onus and A. Currie), 479-484.
-Sari, N., Solmaz, İ., Şimşek, Ö., Aka Kaçar, Y., 2016. Morphological and genetic
characterization of indeterminate green bean genotypes having different seed coat color collected from Turkey. Acta Horticulturae, 1127, Proc. Int. Sym. on Plant Breeding in Horticulture (Eds. N. Onus and A. Currie), 471-477.
-Solmaz, İ., Sari, N., Dogimont, C., Pitrat, M., 2016. Evaluation of Turkish melon accessions for
resistance to Fusarium wilt, downy mildew, Cucumber mosaic virüs and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Acta Horticulturae, 1127, Proc. Int. Sym. on Plant Breeding in Horticulture (Eds. N. Onus and A. Currie), 133-139.
-Szamosi, C., Simsek, O., Aka Kacar, Y., Solmaz, I., Sari, N., 2016. Evaluation of genetic
relationships among Hungarian and Turkish watermelons (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) accessions by SSR markers. Cucurbitaceae 2016 Proceedings, XIth Eucarpia Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae, July 24-28, 2016, Warsaw, Poland (eds. E. U.Kozik and H.S. Paris).
-Karipcin, M.Z., Sari, N., Solmaz, İ., 2016. Reaction of some melon (Cucumis melo) genotypes to
drought stress. Cucurbitaceae 2016 Proceedings, XIth Eucarpia Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae, July 24-28, 2016, Warsaw, Poland (eds. E. U.Kozik and H.S. Paris), 288-291.
-Bayram, C.A., Sari, N., 2016. Effects of some plant activators on yield, plant, and fruit
characteristics of summer and winter melons. Cucurbitaceae 2016 Proceedings, XIth Eucarpia Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae, July 24-28, 2016, Warsaw,
-Pamuk, S., Sari N., Mancak, I., Solmaz, İ., Dal, B., Alsaleh, A., 2016. Double-haploid pure-line
development in Galia-type melons having a long shelf life. Cucurbitaceae 2016 Proceedings, XIth Eucarpia Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae, July 24-28, 2016, Warsaw, Poland (eds. E. U.Kozik and H.S. Paris), 205-209.
-Kombo, M.D., Sari, N., Dal, B., Solmaz, İ., 2016. Notes on in vivo and in vitro tetraploidization
of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides), and Colocynth (C. colocynthis). Cucurbitaceae 2016 Proceedings, XIth Eucarpia Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae, July 24-28, 2016, Warsaw, Poland (eds. E. U.Kozik and H.S. Paris), 199-204.
