UNESCO Code: 241719; 241502; 510201
Keywords:
Plant-Microbiome Interaction, Secondary Metabolism, Functional Foods, Agriculture, Berrys, Sustainable Production, Phytopharmaceuticals, Olive Tree
Relevant characteristics of the research group (description of the group's activity):
The plants develop a special metabolism called secondary metabolism, which produces a number of specialised molecules to improve the adaptation in the environment they live in. Many of these molecules play the role of protecting the plant from different biotic attacks (infections of different nature) or from adverse environmental conditions (lack of water, cold, excessive heat, etc.). Many of these molecules are extremely useful for humanity (for example, medicines or vitamins). One of the main group's objectives is to improve the production of these molecules and obtain food with better nutritive properties.
Plants keep mainly a microbioma in their roots and it is directly responsible for its fertility and preservation. As a result of this coexistance, plants have integrated as a part of them the different microorganisms that live around their roots and its survival and productivity highly depends on them. Therefore, controlling their interaction with the plant may help us to improve cultures' quantitative and qualitative aspects, as well as to keep the productive capacity of the soil.
The working hypothesis on which the research objectives of the "Biotechnology of Plant-Microbiome Interaction" group are defined is based on the development of biotechnological procedures on plant-microbiome interaction to modify the metabolism of plants for different purposes: to improve their productive capacity, increase their nutritional properties and enhance their defensive capacity, contributing to sustainable production while conserving the productive resources of terrestrial ecosystems.
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