Lines of research

Photography
  • The physiology of the plant-pathogen interaction. Signalling by plant hormones, defense molecules as phytoalexins, defense proteins as PR proteins, and structural defenses as lignification are some of our interests.
  • Plant disease management: Induced resistance, natural products useful as fungicides, biostimulants and biological control.We have tested the ability to induce resistance of several agents: microorganisms (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum Fo47, Penicillium and Bacillus), mechanical wounding, seaweed extracts and chemicals (capsaicinoids, capsinoids, copper, plant hormones). In such assays we study pepper, tomato, zinnia and french bean as hosts, and several fungi (Verticillium dahliae, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum) and oomycetes (Phytophthora capsici and Phytophthora nicotianae) as pathogens. Our research is particularly devoted to the physiological basis of induced resistance. However, we also test different natural products and extracts as potential fungicides.
  • Metabolism of secondary metabolites. The capsaicinoids have been one of our topics of research, but we also are interested in capsinoids. Both types of compounds are present in the pepper (Capsicum) fruit.
  • Oxidative metabolism: enzymatic and non-enzymatic detoxifying mechanisms. We are particularly interested in peroxidases.
  • Basic research on Transcription and RNA processing mechanisms. Alternative RNA processing and its regulation. Which are de factors regulating the regulated production of mRNA isoforms with different 3´-Untranslated regions (3´-UTR) and different stabilities. Relationship between mRNA processing and the respiratory-fermentative metabolism or the growth phase.
  • Yeast biotechnology applications as biosensors to analyze cadmium effects in transcription or DNA recombination identified by biosensors.

  • New line on regulatory genes for yeast’s Chitin biosynthesis and cytokinesis.