• Print

Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus

Division of Agrobiotechnology : It was established in 2008. Its purpose is to provide solutions to arising agricultural problems using advanced, modern technology aiming at economic growth based on sustainability. The research activity of the Department focus on the following scientific areas: Molecular Biology, Agricultural Chemistry, Food Technology and Agricultural Microbiology. Along with its research activities, the Agrobiotechnology Department performs chemical analyses for research programs of other Departments of the Institute.  The head of the Group is Dr I. Ioannides.

Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology : Its mission is the study of the structure and the functionality of microbial community in order to develop new products for agricultural and industrial purposes. The main research interests of the group regards a) the improvement of knowledge regarding the contribution of soil microbial community in soil fertility and the plant-microbe interactions, b) Pesticides enhanced biodegradation c) Development of microbial origin products in order to increase crop systems productivity and d) Microbial remediation of agricultural waste

 

Dr Michalis Omirou, Agricultural Research Officer

Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr Omirou is the head of the Lab of Agricultural Microbiology. He has a first degree in Agiriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an MSc in Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a PhD in Soil Microbiology and Fertility, Agricultural University of Athens. His main research interests focus on a) the study of the effects of pollutants and wastewaters on soil microorganisms ,  b) the isolation and optimization of plant growth promoting microbes and pesticide – degrading microbes in potential agricultural and environmental applications. He has authored 12 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he has participated and coordinated several national, bilateral and European projects. He will be responsible for the development of analytical methods in order to elucidate the metabolic pathways of ortho-phenylphenol, diphenylamine and thiabendazole used by the isolated bacteria

 

 

 

Recent Selected Publications

  1. Dados, A., Omirou, M., Demetriou, K., Papastephanou, C., Ioannides, I.M. (2014) Rapid remediation of soil heavily contaminated with hydrocarbons: a comparison of different approaches. Annals of Microbiology (in press)
  2. Omirou M, Karpouzas D.G.,Papadopoulou KK., Ehaliotis C. (2013) The decomposition of pure and plant – derived glucosinolates in soil. European Journal of Soil Biology 56:49-55
  3. Omirou M., Ioannides M.I., Ehaliotis C. (2013) Mycorrhizal inoculation affects arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity in watermelon roots, but leads to improved colonization and plant response under water stress only. Applied Soil Ecology 63:112-119
  4. Omirou M, Dalias P., Costa C., Papastefanou C., Dados A., Ehaliotis C., Karpouzas D.G.,(2012) Exploring the potential of biobeds for the depuration of pesticide-contaminated wastewaters from the citrus production industry: laboratory, column and field studies. Environmental Pollution 166: 31-39
  5. M. Omirou, C. Rousidou, F. Bekris, K.K. Papadopoulou, C. Ehaliotis, U. Menkissoglu-Spiroudi, D.G. Karpouzas. (2011) Τhe impact of biofumigation and chemical fumigation methods on the structure and function of the soil microbial community. Microbial Ecology 61: 201-213.
  6. Karpouzas D.G., Karatasas A., Spyridaki E., Rousidou C., Bekris F., Omirou M., Ehaliotis C., Papadopoulou K.K. (2011) Impact of a beneficial and of a pathogenic Fusarium strain on the fingerprinting-based structure of microbial communities in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Milll.) rhizosphere. European Journal of Soil Biology 47(6): 400-408