Dr José Díaz
Dr José Díaz
Professor of Plant Physiology (Catedrático de Universidad de Fisiología Vegetal), University of A Coruña (Spain)
Group leader of FISAPLANT
PhD in Biology (1995), University of A Coruña (Spain).
BSc in Biological Sciences (1990), University of Santiago of Compostela (Spain).
More than 20 years of teaching experience in the University of A Coruña. At the present time I teach several courses in BSc of Biology, MSc of Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and MSc of Advanced Biotechnology. I also supervised and presently supervise several PhD students.
I also enjoy giving outreach talks about Plant Science.
Postdoctoral training:
Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University (USA)
Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University (The Netherlands)
Present research interests:
1) the induction of resistance to plant diseases by several biotic and abiotic agents. We have tested the ability to induce resistance by the following agents: microorganisms (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum Fo47, Penicillium and Bacillus), mechanical wounding, plant and seaweed extracts and different chemicals (capsaicinoids, capsinoids, copper, plant hormones, pyridine derivatives). In such assays we study pepper, tomato 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.
2) the host specific resistance of solanaceous plants against fungi and oomycetes, specially the system Phytophthora capsici-pepper, but also other pathogens of pepper and tomato. We are interested in the physiology of the host resistance showed by some cultivars.
3) Copper stress in pepper, tomato and french bean, and the cross-protection against pathogenic microorganisms and other agents causing plant stress.
4) Hormonal and environmental regulation of peroxidases, lignification and phenolic metabolism in Zinnia elegans and other plant species as pepper, tomato and french bean. In pepper, our main interest is focused on capsaicinoids, capsinoids and capsiconinoids.