Crop engineering and biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Agriculture
- Translational Medicine
- Renewable Energy
- Innovative Materials
- Nanotechnologies
About the group
The research group focuses on molecular and systems-level mechanisms controlling growth, development and stress adaptation of crop plants, with a primary emphasis on barley. Key research topics include genetic regulation of plant responses to abiotic stress, targeted modification of yield- and quality-related traits, and applications of modern biotechnologies in sustainable agriculture.
The research addresses current challenges posed by climate change and the need for stable and sustainable food production. The group employs genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 and operates a unique platform for plant genetic transformation. A highly distinctive component of the research is the implementation of accredited field trials with genome-edited barley, conducted in compliance with EU legislation. These trials enable functional gene validation and evaluation of agronomic traits under realistic field conditions and represent a rare research infrastructure at the European level.
Another major research avenue is molecular farming in barley aimed at the production of recombinant antimicrobial peptides and antigens with applications in cosmetics and veterinary medicine. The group is also involved in a newly initiated project developing an automated bioreactor for studying barley growth and development under microgravity conditions.
Research activities are carried out in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners in the Czech Republic and abroad and are strongly integrated with other research teams and infrastructures within CATRIN.
News
List of Employees
| Name | Academic title | Phone | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivo Frébort | prof. RNDr., CSc., Ph.D. | ivo.frebort@upol.cz | +420585634922 | Group leader |
| Véronique Hélene Bergougnoux-Fojtik | Ph.D. | veronique.bergougnoux@upol.cz | +420585634739 | |
| Lenka Dzurová | RNDr., Ph.D. | lenka.dzurova@upol.cz | +420585634892 | |
| Jitka Frébortová | doc. RNDr., Ph.D. | jitka.frebortova@upol.cz | +420585634871 | |
| Edita Holásková | Mgr., Ph.D. | edita.holaskova@upol.cz | +420585634891 | |
| Ondřej Kocáb | Mgr., Ph.D. | ondrej.kocab@upol.cz | +420 585 634 819 | |
| Nikola Kořínková | Mgr., Ph.D. | nikola.korinkova@upol.cz | ||
| Mária Majeská Čudejková | Mgr., Ph.D. | maria.majeska@upol.cz | ||
| Alžběta Mičúchová | Mgr., Ph.D. | alzbeta.micuchova@upol.cz | ||
| Hana Pospíšilová | Mgr., Ph.D. | h.pospisilova@upol.cz | +420585634891 | |
| Vendula Svobodová | Bc. | vendula.svobodova@upol.cz | +420585634741 |
Group publications
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION, vol. 22, iss. 10, pp. 5247-5258, 2026.
IF = 5.8
NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY, vol. 96, pp. 163-167, 2026.
IF = 5.6
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 170, pp. 23-33, 2026.
IF = 4.4
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, vol. 211, iss. 3, pp. 314-335, 2026.
IF = 2.1
PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS, vol. 24, iss. 5, pp. 3307-3314, 2025.
IF = 6.3
THE PLANT JOURNAL, vol. 121, iss. 3, pp., 2025.
IF = 6.2