Van Yüzüncü Yıl University is a public higher education institution located in Van, eastern Türkiye. The university is committed to advancing scientific research, high-quality education, innovation, and regional and international academic cooperation. Through its diverse academic programmes and research activities, the university contributes to scientific development, agricultural innovation, and sustainable socioeconomic progress.
The Faculty of Agriculture at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University provides an academic and research environment for addressing challenges in agricultural production, crop improvement, plant genetic resources, and sustainable agriculture. Research activities within agricultural biotechnology integrate conventional plant breeding approaches with modern molecular and genomic technologies to enhance the characterization, conservation, and utilization of plant genetic resources.
The research activities of Prof. Dr. Mehtap Yıldız focus on agricultural biotechnology, plant breeding, plant genetic resources, molecular genetics, and crop improvement. Her research encompasses molecular marker-based genetic diversity assessment, population structure analysis, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and the identification and utilization of genetic variation in economically important crops, including carrot, okra, pepper, and sugar beet. Additional research interests include plant tissue culture, micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seed production, haploid and doubled haploid production, and mutation breeding.
Her research integrates conventional breeding strategies with molecular and genomic approaches to support the development and improvement of crop varieties. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the genetic basis of important agronomic traits, exploiting available genetic diversity, and applying biotechnology-based approaches to accelerate plant improvement. Her international research experience includes doctoral thesis research and postdoctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin, USA, contributing to international scientific collaborations and advanced research in plant genomics. She has also contributed to internationally recognized research, including the carrot genome study published in Nature Genetics in 2016.
In addition to her research and academic responsibilities, Prof. Dr. Mehtap Yıldız actively contributes to graduate education and the supervision of postgraduate research in plant biotechnology and genetics. She is also involved in international academic collaboration through the UNESCO UNITWIN Network, "Himalayan Biodiversity Network for the Revitalization of Forgotten Food Plants," which brings together universities and research institutions from 12 countries. This network promotes international cooperation in biodiversity conservation, neglected and underutilized crops, and the sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources.
Through her research, teaching, and international collaborations, Prof. Dr. Mehtap Yıldız contributes to the advancement of agricultural biotechnology, plant genetic research, and sustainable crop improvement, supporting scientific solutions to contemporary challenges in agriculture and food security.
