Alexander Rodionov

Author Identifiers: Web of Science ResearcherID, Scopus Author ID, Russian Science Citation Index, ORCID iD, Google Scholar

Academic degree, academic title: Dr.Sc., Professor

Position: Principal Investigator, Laboratory Head

E-mail: avrodionov@binran.ru

Research interests:

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of angiosperms.
Karyosystematics and cytogenetics.
Genome evolution.

Keywords: Plant systematics, phylogeny, cytogenetics, karyosistematics, cereals genetic resources

Education and work experience:

1977 — Leningrad State University, Dept. of Genetics. Diploma: «Effects of EDTA on the mitotic chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster».
1985 — PhD Studentship of the National Research Institute of the Animal Genetics and Breeding. Ph.D. Thesis: «Cytochemical study of molecular heterogeneity of bird chromosomes».
2002 — Doctoral studies of Biology Faculty (Genetics; Cell Biology) St. Petersburg State University Doctor of Biology Thesis: «Avian Cytogenetics: physical and genetic chromosome maps and the problem of karyotype evolution».

1977–1978 — Teacher of the 280th School (St.Petersburg) (General Biology).
1978–1986 — Researcher of the Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics of the National Research Institutre of the Russian Academy of Agricultute (St.Petersnurg-Pushkin).
1986–2002 — Senior Research Staff Member of the Laboratory of Chromosome Structure and Function, Biological Institute of Leningrad State University (St. Petersburg-Stary Peterhof).
2002 — until now — Head of the Laboratory of Biosystematics and Cytology of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS.
1986–2003 — Assosiate Professor of Cell Biology, Dept. of Cytology and Histology of the St. Petersburg State University.
2003 — until now — Professor of Biological Faculty of the St. Petersburg State University.

Grants and research projects:

Project leader:

2024–2025. RSF №24-24-00326 «Genome and Karyotype Changes during Speciation in Angiosperms: New Subgenome Combinations, Polyploidy, Dysploidy, and Genome Fractionation».
2022–2023. RSF №22-24-01117 «Characteristics of Mutation and Homogenization of Coding and Non-Coding rRNA DNA Sequences in 35S rRNA Genes after Interspecific Hybridization».
2021–2024. Grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation № 075-15-2021-939 «Activation of the Network Cooperation of Gene Banks (Activated Genebank Network – AGENT)».
2020–2022. St. Petersburg State University: PURE ID 60256916 «Study of the Origin and Current State of Varieties and Species of Cereal Crops and Their Wild Ancestors Using Locus-Specific Next-Generation Sequencing (tag-NGS)».
2018. RFBR №18-04-01040_A «Pathways and Mechanisms of Genome and Karyotype Changes in Angiospermum Interspecific Hybrids and Hybridogenic Species».
2017. RFBR №17-00-00340 (K) KOMFI «Changes in the Genomes and Metabolomes of Allopolyploids in Cereals of the Oat Tribe (Aveneae Dumort.) under Strict Selection and Speciation in Nature».
2015. RFBR №15-04-06438 «Cytogenetic and Molecular Phylogenetic Study of Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybridization and Its Role in the Evolution of Angiospermum».

Professional memberships:

Russian Botanical Society
Vavilov Society of Genetics and Breeders
Russian Genealogical Society ― Vice-president
Vavilov Society of Genetics and Breeders of St. Petersburg ― Head

Editorial activity:

Editor-in-Chief of «Izvestia of the Russian Genealogical Society».
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of «Vavilovia».
Member of the editorial boards of the journals «Achievements of Modern Biology», «Cytology» and «Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics, and Breeding».

Selected publications:

Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., Zuev E.V., Lysenko N.S., Shneyer V.S., Troitsky A.V., Rodionov A.V. Genomic composition of the artificial hybrid ×Trititrigia cziczinii (Hordeeae, Poaceae) and related taxa according to molecular phylogenetic data. Plants. 2026. 15(1): 70.

Rodionov A.V. Changes in Genomes and Karyotypes during Speciation and Progressive Evolution of Plants. Russ J Genet. 2025. 61: 1464–1479.

Rayko M.P., Rodionov A.V. Phylogenetic relationships of the genera Anthoxanthum, Ataxia, Hierochloë and Phalaris (Poaceae). Novitates Systematicae Plantarum Vascularium. 2025. 56: e08: 1–16.

Shneyer V.S., Rodionov A.V. 20 Years of DNA Barcoding ― Achievements and Problems. Biochemistry Moscow. 2025. 90(11): 1602–1619.

Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., Loskutov I.G., Rodionov A.V., Shneyer V.S. Participation of Wild Species Genus Avena L.(Poaceae) of Different Ploidy in the Origin of Cultivated Species According to Data on Intragenomic Polymorphism of the ITS1-5.8 S rRNA Region. Plants. 2025. 14(10): 1550.

Kurbaniyazova G., Levichev I., Rodionov A. et al. Molecular phylogenetics and morphological diversification in the genus Gagea (Liliaceae). Plant Science Today. 2025. 13(1): 1–10.

Zhurbenko P.M., Wilson C.A., … Rodionov A.V. et al. Iris cryptoruthenica sp. nov. (Iridaceae): a cryptic lineage within the morphotype Iris ruthenica revealed by chloroplast and rDNA barcoding and karyosystematic evidence. Turczaninowia. 2025. 28(4): 195–213.

Matveeva T.V., Zhurbenko P.M., Khafizova G.V., Shaposhnikov A.D., Zhidkin R.R., Rodionov A.V. Agrobacterium-derived DNA sequences in phylogenetic studies of plants. Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding. 2025. 29(6): 856.

Torshilova, A.A., Ozerov, I.A., Zhinkina, N.A., Rodionov, A.V. Seeds Alapaja (Cupressaceae) from the Cretaceous of Western Siberia and their paleo-DNA. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 2025. 332: 105236.

Marhold K. (ed.), Kucera J. (ed.), … Rodionov, A.V. et al. IAPN chromosome data 47. Taxon. 2025. 74(6): 1626–1637.

Gnutikov A.A., Pavlichenko V.V., Chepinoga V.V., Protopopova M.V. Some species from the Khamar-Daban Ridge (Southern Baikal Region, Russia). In: Botanica Pacifica plant chromosome data 4 (D.A. Krivenko, ed.). Botanica Pacifica. 2025. 14(1): 1–3.

Amosova A.V., Gnutikov A.A., Rodionov A.V. et al. Genome Variability in Artificial Allopolyploid Hybrids of Avena sativa L. and Avena macrostachya Balansa ex Coss. et Durieu Based on Marker Sequences of Satellite DNA and the ITS1–5.8 S rDNA Region. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024. 25(10): 5534.

Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., … Rodionov, A.V. Hybridization in the Subtribe Alopecurinae Dumort.(Poaceae) According to Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis: Different Ploidy Level Tells Different Origin of the Groups. Plants. 2024. 13(7): 919.

Punina E.O., Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., Shneyer V.S., Rodionov A.V. Hybrid Origin of ×Leymotrigia bergrothii (Poaceae) as Revealed by Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer ITS1 and trnL Sequences. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024. 25(22): 11966.

Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., … Rodionov A.V. Genetic Diversity of the Species of the Genus Deschampsia P. Beauv. (Poaceae) Based on the Analysis of the ITS Region: Polymorphism Proves Distant Hybridization. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024. 25(21): 11348.

Gnutikov A.A., Punina E.O., Geltman D.V., Nosov N.N., Myakoshina Yu.A., Rodionov A.V. IAPT chromosome data 44/3. In: Marhold, K. & Kucera, J. (eds.) & al., IAPT chromosome data 44. Taxon. 2024. 73(6): 1549–1550.

Rodionov A. Eupolyploidy As a Mode in Plant Speciation. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2023. 59: 419–2431.

Gnutikov A., Nosov N., Loskutov I., Blinova E., Shneyer V., Rodionov A. Origin of Wild Polyploid Avena Species Inferred from Polymorphism of the ITS1 rDNA in Their Genomes. Diversity. 2023. 15: 717.

Belyakov E.A., Mikhaylova Y.V., Machs E.M. Zhurbenko P.M., Rodionov A.V. Hybridization and diversity of aquatic macrophyte Sparganium L. (Typhaceae) as revealed by high-throughput nrDNA sequencing. Sci Rep. 2022. 12: 21610.

Gnutikov A., Nosov N., Koroleva T., Punina E., Probatova N., Shneyer V., Rodionov A. Origin of the Rare Hybrid Genus ×Trisetokoeleria Tzvelev (Poaceae) According to Molecular Phylogenetic Data. Plants. 2022. 11: 3533.

Gnutikov A., Nosov N., Loskutov I., Blinova E., Shneyer V., Shneyer V., Probatova N., Rodionov A. New Insights into the Genomic Structure of Avena L.: Comparison of the Divergence of A-Genome and One C-Genome Oat Species. Plants. 2022. 11: 1103.

Rodionov A. Tandem duplications, eupolyploidy and secondary diploidization — genetic mechanisms of plant speciation and progressive evolution. Turczaninowia. 2022. 25: 87–121.

Ozerov I.A., Zhinkina N.A., Torshilova A.A., Machs E.M., Rodionov A.V. Chromosomes of fossilized Metasequoia from early Oligocene of Siberia. Review of Paleobotany and Palynology. 2021. 287: 104365.

Rodionov A.V., Gnutikov A.A., Nosov N.N., Mikhaylova Y.V., Shneyer V.S., Punina E.O. Intragenomic Polymorphism of the ITS 1 Region of 35S rRNA Gene in the Group of Grasses with Two-Chromosome Species: Different Genome Composition in Closely Related Zingeria Species. Plants. 2020. 9: 1647.

Mikhaylova Y.V., Gordon M., Maslova A.R., Polev D.E., Punina E.O., Rodionov A.V. Chloroplast genome of native Silene latifolia subsp. alba from Fennoscandia shows high level of differences from invasive White Campion. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. 2020.

Ozerov I.A., Zhinkina N.A., Torshilova A.A., Machs E.M., Myakoshina Yu.A., Rodionov A.V. Use of DNA-specific stains as indicators of nuclei and extranuclear substances in leaf cells of the Middle Eocene Metasequoia from Arctic Canada. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 2020. 279: 104211.

Schanzer I.A., Fedorova A.V., Galkina M.A., Chubar E.A., Rodionov A.V., Kotseruba V.V. Is Rosa × archipelagica (Rosaceae, Rosoideae) really a spontaneous intersectional hybrid between R. rugosa and R. maximowicziana? Molecular data confirmation and evidence of paternal leankage. Phytotaxa. 2020. 428(2): 093–103.

Rodionov A.V., Amosova A.V., Krainova L.M., Machs E.M., Mikhailova Yu.V., Gnutikov A.A., Muravenko O.V., Loskutov I.G. Phenomenon of multiple mutations in the 35S rRNA genes of the C subgenome of polyploid Avena L. species. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2020. 56(6): 674–683.

Mateikovich A.P., Punina E.O., ... Rodionov A.V. ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 and trnL-trnF Sequences as Markers for the Study of Species Diversity of Altai Feather Grasses. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2020. 56(4): 417–428.

Loskutov I.G., Shelenga T.V., Khoreva V.I., Blinova E.V., Gnutikov A.A., Konarev A.V., Rodionov A.V. Application of metabolomic analysis in exploration of plant genetic resources. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 2020. 73(6). 494–501.

Riodionov A.V., Shneyer V.S., Punina E.O., Nosov N.N., Gnutikov A.A. The law of homologous series in variation for systematics. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2020. 56(11): 1277–1287.

Loskutov I.G., Shelenga T.V., Konarev A.V., Vargach Yu.I., Porokhovinova E.A., Blinova E.V., Gnutikov A.A., Rodionov A.V. Modern approach of structuring the variety diversity of the naked and covered forms of cultural oats (Avena sativa L.). Ecological genetics. 2020. 18(1): 27–41.