Contribution of Bulgarian Women to Plant Biotechnology: Institute of Genetics Case

Plant biotechnology emerged in the 1950s and had an immediate positive impact on many fields of science, agriculture and industry. Since 1970, in Bulgaria more than 20 research units of in vitro culture were established utilizing a wide range of methods. Allocation of resources for plant biotechnology is still increasing in most bioscience institutes. Concerning gender-work with in vitro cultures in Bulgaria attracts predominantly women, who represent more than a half of the staff in two big units (in the Institute of Genetics, BAS and the University of Plovdiv) or all the personnel in small laboratories. Regarding level of positions, female researchers predominantly hire female assistants, while leadership depends on personal abilities, rather than gender. The specificity of biotechnology work needs certain attributes traditionally found in women, such as skilled hands, quick fingers, gentle action, patience and creativity. The Department of Plant Biotechnology of the Institute of Genetics has joined in the world tendencies of development and application of plant biotechnology in science, agriculture and industry. Its main achievements are in the area of induced organogenesis and androgenesis, somaclonal variation and modification of plant genomes, modeling of stress and micropropagation of valuable and endangered species, contributing to enrichment of genetic diversity and protection of biodiversity.