Research

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  • Cell wall composition
We focus on the phenylpropanoid pathway (hydroxycinnamic acids and lignin) and in the hemicellulose fraction in maize plants. We are interested in the role of these compounds in plant tissue reinforcement and their significance in resistance to pests and diseases, animal feed, and bioenergy production. We develop divergent inbred lines for diverse cell wall compounds by conventional breeding, and investigate the genetics of the ferulic acid dimerization process.
  • Insect resistance
We investigate maize resistance to corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis (Mediterranean and Europan corn borer, respectively). We study the genomic regions and genes related to resistance and yield in maize, in order to clarify the negative relationship between these two characters. We are interested in the morphological, structural and biochemical plant defense mechanisms related to resistance, as well as to characterize the larval elicitors produced by S. nonagrioides during feeding and the consequent responses in plant and cell walls.
  • Resitance to fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination
We focus on molds infections caused by Fusarium species, mainly the fumonisin producer Fusarium verticillioides. We investigate the molecular mechanisms (cell wall metabolites and genes) used by the maize plant to limit fungal development and mycotoxin accumulation, and the environmental and genotipic factors that promote infection and/or contamination. We pursue the development of inbred lines highly resistant to fumonisin contamination.
  • Allelopathy
We studied the negative or positive effects of plants on other organisms (particularly other plants and microorganisms) through the release of chemical substances to the environment. We are especially interested in the allelopathic effects of introduced tree species, such as eucalyptus and blackwood acacia.

         
Plant defense against biotic stresses
Environmental Agriobiology, Plant and Soil Quality (University of Vigo), Associated Unit to Misión Biologica de Galicia (CSIC)