Plant-microbe interactions: Symbiotic relationships in plants
Through evolution plants have developed sophisticated strategies to secure protection from biotic and abiotic stresses and availability of nutrients
Plant-microbe Interactions: Benefecial fungal endophytes
Research in the lab focuses on endophytes-bacteria and fungi that live inter- and intracellularly in plants without inducing pathogenic symptoms and interact with the host biochemically and genetically.
Specialized metabolites in plants
Plant metabolism is usually differentiated into primary and secondary metabolism. Secondary metabolites (also known as natural products, phytochemicals or specialized metabolites) underpin important plant traits (e.g. resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, nutritional quality and flavour).
Plant-microbe interactions: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Basic processes driving the environmental fate of pesticides in soil Microbial degradation of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in soil Biodegradation of veterinary drugs (antibiotics and anthelmintics) as a method for alleviating environmental contamination and ARGs dispersal Microbial degradation of pesticides contained in wastewaters from fruit-packaging plants: metabolic pathways, genetic mechanisms and potential applications Biodepuration systems for the decontamination of pesticide contaminated wastewaters from on-farm and off -farm activities Toxicity of pesticides on soil microbes: new risk assessment procedures for standardized risk assessment Toxicity of pesticides onto non target organisms is an indispensable part of the pesticide regulatory framework. N-cycling and nitrification inhibitors: in vitro and in soil assessment of their spectrum of activity and mode of action RNA interference In this research platform we aim to analyze RNAi-based gene regulation phenomena in plants and fungi. Plant microbiome: its role and its interactions with the agricultural environment Synthetic microbial ecology, synthetic biology and functional metagenomics to optimize bioremediation processess Functional metagenomics constitute a powerful molecular tool which has facilitated the isolation of novel enzymes with high biotechnological interest.
Plant symbiosis with AM fungi is very extensive in nature, most higher plants being mycorrhizal, and it is known to improve plant growth and nutrition, particularly regarding phosphorus but also to ameliorate drought stress and provide protection from pathogens.
Pesticides are common contaminants of natural water resources. After its introduction in soil pesticides dissipation is controlled by basic processes including degradation, biotic or abiotic, adsorption, volatilization and leaching.
Microbial degradation constitutes the main process controlling the environmental dissipation of organophosphate and carbamate soil insecticides/nematicides.
Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) and anthelmintics (AHs) are used to control microbial and parasitic infestations in livestock farming respectively. These compounds are not metabolized in the animals' body and animal excretes containing VAs and AHs are used as soil manures facilitating the dispersion of VA and AHs residues to agricultural soils.
Postharvest treatment of fruits involves drenching or spraying with fungicides like thiabendazole, imazalil, ortho-phenylphenol and preservatives like diphenylamine and ethoxyquin.
Point source contamination accounts for more than 60% of the contamination of natural water resources with pesticides.
Nitrification is the rate-limiting step of N cycling. It is performed in two successive steps by ammonia oxidizing bacteria (ΑΟΒ) or archaea (ΑΟΑ), and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (ΝΟΒ). Recently, bacteria of the genus Nitrospira sp. (formerly known as ΝΟΒ) were found to be able to perform the complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, and they were named Comammox (Complete-ammonia-oxidation).
Microbes inhabiting plants exhibit different life styles ranging from pathogenic to beneficial. Several recent studies have highlighted the diversity of the microorganisms inhabiting plant parts and identified the significant role of epiphytic, endophytic and rhizospheric microbes on plants well-being.