Organized by the Graduate School of Science, Art and Technology and the Department of Life Sciences of Khazar University, a seminar by doctoral student Kubra Ibrahimova on the topic "Azolla Against Heavy Metal Contamination: Enhancement of Phytoremediation with Brassinosteroids and GA₃" was held on April 27, 2026.

The presenter is pursuing doctoral studies in botany at Istanbul University in Türkiye under a trilateral agreement concluded between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Khazar University within the framework of the "Doctoral Studies Abroad Programme on Enhancing the International Competitiveness of the Higher Education System of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019–2023."

During the seminar, the effects of brassinosteroids (BR) and gibberellins (GA₃) on the phytoremediation process under cadmium (Cd) stress conditions in the Azolla plant were examined. The presented findings demonstrated that the application of BR and GA₃ in plants exposed to Cd stress reduces oxidative damage by regulating the activity of the antioxidant defence system — particularly the SOD and POD enzymes.

Furthermore, the application of these hormones improves the plant's growth indicators and enhances phytoremediation efficiency by increasing cadmium accumulation capacity. In particular, the combined application of BR and GA₃ produces a synergistic effect, significantly increasing the plant's tolerance to stress.