Isaak RASHAL

Professor Isaak RASHAL Head of the Laboratory of Plant Genetics Institute of Biology, University of Latvia Miera Str. 3 Salaspils, LV-2169 Latvia Phone: +371 7945435 (office), +371 29516935 Fax: +371 7944986 E-mail: izaks@email.lubi.edu.lv

Born: June 29, 1947, Riga, Latvia

• Plant Genetic Resources
• Genetics of Plant Resistance
• Plant Tissue Cultures
• Genetics of Quantitative Traits

Languages: English, Russian, Latvian

Education:

• University of Latvia (Faculty of Biology), 1972
• Dr. biol. (Candidate of Sciences in former USSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), Institute of General Genetics, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1976
• Dr.habil.biol., Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, 1993

Institute of Biology, University of Latvia (till 1997 - Latvian Academy of Sciences)

• Technician, 1967-1972
• Junior Researcher, 1972-1979
• Senior Researcher, 1979-1986
• Head of the Plant Genetics Laboratory, 1986 -

Honours and Awards:

• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2001
• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1996
• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 1994
• Award of the Presidium of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1972
• Nikolay Vavilov 100^th Anniversary Medal, 1987
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences and joint-ctock company "Aldaris" Prize, 2003

Professional Activities and Memberships:

• Chair, Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Part B (Natural and Exact Sciences), since 1996
• Vice-chair, Editorial Advisory Board of the Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, since 2001 (member, since 1996)
• Member, Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the Latvia University of Agriculture, since 1999
• Head, Board of the Federation of Genetical Societies of the Baltic States, 1994-2001
• President, Latvian Society of Geneticists and Breeders, since 1985
• Member, Scientific Council of Academy of Sciences of USSR in Genetics and Breeding, 1989-1991
• Member, Council of the N. Vavilov All-Union Society of Geneticists and Breeders, 1985-1992
• Expert, Board of Biology of the Latvian Council of Science, since 1990
• Vice-chair, Scientific Council of the Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, since 1998
• Member, Board of Habilitation and Promotion, Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, 1993-1997
• Member, Board of Habilitation and Promotion, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, since 1997
• Member, Board of Habilitation and Promotion, Latvia University of Agriculture, since 1997
• Member, Constituent Assembly of the University of Latvia, since 1998
• Member, Scientific Council of the National Botanical Gardens, since 1996
• Member, European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA)
• Member, Latvian Union of Scientists
• Member, Latvian Society of Plant Physiology

University of Latvia (Faculty of Biology)

• General Genetics
• Genetic Analysis
• Species and Populations
• Genetic Base of Breeding

Recent/Representative Publications:

• · T. Sjakste, I. D. Rashal. Action of cytokinins on the higher plant nuclei. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 1992, N 7, pp. 49-52.
  · T. G. Sjakste, Z. R. Taurite, I. D. Rashal. Dissociation of chromatin domain during the cell cycle in developing barley seedlings. - Biokhimiya, 1993, vol. 58, N 11, pp. 1714-1722.
  · T. Sjakste, N. Sjakste, I. Rashal. DNA interactions with nuclear matrix proteins in higher plant cells. Applications of the nucleoprotein celite chromatography method. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 1995, N 5-6, pp. 97-104.
  · I. Rashal, R. Tueryapina. Barley powdery mildew in Latvia: Genetic structure of the pathogen population. - In: Integrated control of cereal mildews and rusts: towards coordination of research across Europe. Eds. E.Limpert, M. R. Finckh, M. S. Wolfe. European Commission - Directorate General XII - Science, Research, Development, Brussels, Luxembourg, 1996, pp. 15-19.
  · R. Tueryapina, H. P. Jensen, I. Rashal. Use of powdery mildew resistance genes in barley breeding in Latvia.- Nordisk Jordbruksforskning, 1996, vol. 78, N 3, pp. 20-21.
  · D. Ornicane, I. Rashal. Callus initiation from mature barley embryos and growth: influence of silver nitrate and the method of sterilisation. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 1997, vol. 51, N 1/2, pp. 72-74.
  · I. Rashal, J. Weibull. Latvian plant genetic resources: co-operation with the Nordic Gene Bank. -Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 1997, vol.51, N 1/2, pp. 84-85.
  · R. Tueryapina, H. P. Jensen, I. Rashal. Powdery mildew resistance genes in Baltic spring barley varieties and breeding lines. - Barley Genetics Newsletter, 1997, vol. 27, p. 18-21.
  · P. Berzins, I. Rashal. Potential of wild Latvian grasses for breeding. - Botanica Lithuanica, 1999, Suppl. 2, pp. 163-166.
  · I. Rashal. PGR activities in the Baltic Countries: achievements and prospects. - Sveriges Utsädesförenings Tidskrift (J. Swedish Seed Association), 1999, vol. 109, N 4, pp. 205-210.
  · I. Rashal, I. Araja, I. Kokina. Barley powdery mildew virulence frequencies in Latvia in 1996-1999. - Acta Phytopatologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 2000, vol. 35, N 1-4, pp. 397-402.
  · M.S. Hovmuller, V. Caffier, M. Jalli, O. Andersen, G. Besenhofer, J.H. Czembor, A. Dreiseitl, K. Flath, A. Fleck, F. Heinrics, R. Jonsson, E. Limpert, P. Mercer, S. Plesnik, I. Rashal, H. Skinnes, S. Slater, O. Vronska. The European barley powdery mildew virulence survey and disease nursery 1993-1999. - Agronomie, 2000, vol. 20, pp. 729-743.
  · G. Lacis, I. Rashal. The use of multidimensional statistical approaches in characterization of Latvian sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genetic resources. - Horticulture and Vegetable Growing, 2001, vol.20, N3, pp. 211-220.
  · L. Lepse, T. Sjakste, I. Rashal. RAPD analyses in some lines of cucumber variety ‘Dindona Zalie Kekaru’. - Horticulture and Vegetable Growing, 2001, vol.20, N3, pp. 364-369.
  · I. Rashal. Latvian Gene Bank of Cultivated Plants: the first steps. In: “Broad Variation and Precise Characterization - Limitation for the Future”, Proceedings of the XVIth EUCARPIA Section Genetic Resources Workshop, May 16-20, 2001, Poznan, Poland. Eds. W. Swiecicki, B. Naganowska, B. Wolko. Poznan, 2002, pp. 81-83.
  · I.Kokina, I.Rashal. Genetic structure peculiarities of the Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei populations in the north-eastern part of Lithuania. - Biologija, 2002, N 3, pp. 47-49.
  · T.G. Sjakste, I. Rashal, M.S. Röder. Inheritance of microsatellite alleles in pedigrees of Latvian barley varieties and related European ancestors. - Theor. Appl. Genet., 2003, vol. 106, N 3, pp. 539-549.
  · A. Kolodinska Brantestam, R. von Bothmer, I. Rashal, J. Weibull. Changes in the genetic diversity of barley of Nordic and Baltic origin, studied by isozyme electrophoresis. - Plant Genetic Resources Evaluation & Utilization, 2003, vol. 1, N 2/3, pp. 143-149.
  · A. Dreiseitl, I. Rashal. Powdery mildew resistance genes in Latvian barley varieties. - Euphytica, 2004, vol. 135, N 3, pp. 325-332.
  · D. Grauda, V. Stramkale, I. Rashals. Evaluation of Latvian flax varieties and hybrids. - Proceedings in Agronomy, 2004, N 6, pp. 159-165.
  · I. Kokina, I. Rashal. Genetical structure of the population of Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei in Latgale region of Latvia in 2001-2002. - Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis, 2004, vol. 4, N 2, pp. 65-70.
  · A. Kolodinska Brantestam, R. von Bothmer, C. Dayteg, I. Rashal, S. Tuvesson, J. Weibull. Inter simple sequence repeat analysis of genetic diversity and relationships in cultivated barley of Nordic and Baltic origin. - Hereditas, 2004, vol. 141, No. 2, pp. 186-192.
  · L. Lepse, I. Rashal. Homogeneisation of the old cucumber variety ‘Dindona Zalie Kekaru’. - Biologija, 2005, N. 1, pp. 6-10.
  · B.Jansone, I. Rashal, A. Svirskis, A. Benders (eds.). 60 Years of Research at the Latvian Agricultural Institute. Skriveri, 2006, 262 pp.
  · I.Kokina, I.Rashal. Monitoring the population of Blumeria graminis f.sp.hordei in the South-Eastern part of Latvia. - Agronomy Research, 2006, vol. 4, Special issue, p. 231-236.
  · G.Lacis, E.Kaufmane, I.Rashal, V.Trajkovski, A.F. Iezzoni. Identification of self-incompatibility (S) alleles in Latvian and Swedish sweet cherry genetic resources collections by PCR based typing.. - Euphytica, 2007, (in press, accepted).
• A.Kolodinska-Brantestam, R.von Bothmer, C.Dayteg, I.Rashal, S.Tuvesson, J.Weibull. Genetic diversity changes and relationships in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasmof nordic and baltic areas as shown by SSR markers. - Genet. Resources & Crop Evolution, 2007,  vol. 54, N 4, pp. 749-758. 

Leading of the current projects of the Latvian Council of Sciences:

• Investigation of the New Effective Sources Against Barley Powdery Mildew and Their Introduction in Barleys of the Latvian Origin
• Detection of the Adaptive Gene Complex in the Latvian Barley and Their mapping by Means of Molecular Markers
• Creating of Crop Varieties for the Latvian Agronomic and Climatic Conditions and Their Maintenance Breeding.
• Investigation of Genetic Resources of Latvian Commercially Valuable Tree Species
• Latvian Gene Bank of Cultivated Plants
• Detection of Adaptive Genes and Their Mapping by Means of Molecular Markers in the Barley Varieties of Different Origin
• Investigations of Forest Stands of in situ Genetic Resources of Latvian Commercially Valuable Tree Species.

International projects

• I.Rashal (Member of the Management Committee from Latvia). Population Studies of Airborne Pathogens on Cereals as a Means of Improving Strategies for Disease Control. COST Action 817, 1992-1999.
• I.Rashal (Head in Latvia). Improvement of the Forage Quality in Latvia. Project 358/95-10-06/15 supported by the Flemish Government, Belgium, 1997-1998.
• I.Rashal (National co-operator).European and Mediterranean Oat Disease Nursery (EMOND), 1998-2000
• I.Rashal (Co-ordinator in Latvia). Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources in the Baltic Countries. Nordic-Baltic project supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, 1995 -
• I.Rashal (Co-ordinator in Latvia). European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks, 1995 - 
• I.Rashal (Supervisor from Latvia). Genetic Diversity in Nordic-Baltic Crops - a Model Study of Genetic Erosion in Barley. PhD training programme in sustainable use of natural resources. Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, 1999 - .
• I.Rashal (Supervisor from Latvia). Characterisation of the Latvian and Swedish Sweet and Sour Cherry Genetic Resources. PhD training programme in sustainable use of natural resources. Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, 2000 - .
• I.Rashal (Supervisor from Latvia). COST Action 851 “Gametic cells and molecular breeding for crop improvement”.
• I.Rashal (Supervisor from Latvia). Project “European Crop Wild Relative Assessment & Conservation Forum”, Fifth Framework Programme for Energy, Environment and Sustanable Development Key action 2 “Global change, climate and biodiversity”. 2.2.3 “Assessing and conserving biodiversity”.
• I.Rashal (Supervisor from Latvia). COST Action 860 „Sustainable low-input cereal production: required varietal characteristics and crop diversity”.

Last update 07.03.2007