Nuestro grupo de investigación está interesado en la comprensión de los mecanismos genéticos y moleculares que controlan el desarrollo de flores y frutos, y cómo las condiciones ambientales influyen en estos procesos. El conocimiento que generamos constituye la base de diferentes desarrollos biotecnológicos enfocados en la mejora de cultivos y otras plantas de interés agronómico o industrial.
Dentro de las flores la formación de los gametos es un proceso controlado genéticamente crucial para el éxito reproductivo de las especies. Nuestros estudios recientes sobre la formación del polen en plantas de tomate sugieren la existencia de un mecanismo de comunicación entre los estambres y el ovario que es actualmente una de nuestras principales áreas de investigación.
Además, estamos desarrollando varias líneas de investigación aplicadas y traslacionales. Estas incluyen la adquisición de tolerancia al calor en el polen, la producción de frutos sin semillas, la identificación de nuevos compuestos que regulan la fructificación y la síntesis de metabolitos de interés en plantas. Cada una de estas líneas no solo avanza nuestro entendimiento fundamental, sino que también tiene un potencial significativo para aplicaciones prácticas en la agricultura y la biotecnología.
Our research group is interested in understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control flower and fruit development, and how environmental conditions influence these processes. The knowledge we generate forms the basis for various biotechnological developments aimed at improving crops and other plants of agronomic or industrial interest.
Within flowers, the formation of gametes is a genetically controlled process crucial for the reproductive success of species. Our recent studies on pollen formation in tomato plants suggest the existence of a communication mechanism between the stamens and the ovary, which is currently one of our main areas of research.
Additionally, we are developing several applied and translational research lines. These include acquiring heat tolerance in pollen, producing seedless fruits, identifying new compounds that regulate fruiting, and synthesizing metabolites of interest in plants. Each of these lines not only advances our fundamental understanding but also has significant potential for practical applications in agriculture and biotechnology.
- Salazar-Sarasua, B, Roque, E, González-Sanz, C, Bombarely, A, Girardi, C, García-Sánchez, J, Cañas, LC, Beltrán, JP and Gómez-Mena C*(2024).
Male sterility-induced parthenocarpy arose during tomato domestication.
Physiologia Plantarum 177(2):e70182. doi: 10.1111/ppl.70182
- Jiang, X, López-Martín, MJ, Gómez-Mena, C, Ferrándiz, C, Bemer, M (2025).
Optimization of Tomato Shoot Architecture by Combined Mutations in the Floral Activators FUL2/MBP20 and the Repressor SP.
Int. J. Mol. Sci., 26, 1161. doi: 10.3390/ijms26031161
- Roque E, Rodas AL, Beltrán JP, Gómez-Mena C*, Cañas LA (2024).
SUPERMAN genes: uncovering a new function in the development of complex inflorescences.
Physiologia Plantarum 176(5):e14496. doi: 10.1111/ppl.14496
- Rodas AL, Roque E, Hamza R, Gómez-Mena C, Beltrán JP and Cañas LA (2023)
SUPERMAN strikes again in legumes
Frontiers in Plant Science 14:1120342. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1120342
- Salazar-Sarasua, B., López, MJ., Roque, E., Hamza, R., Cañas, LA., JP Beltrán, C. Gómez-Mena (2022).
The tapetal tissue is essential for the maintenance of redox homeostasis during microgametogenesis in tomato.
The Plant Journal 112,1281–1297. doi: 10.1111/tpj.16014.
- Gómez-Mena C, Honys D, Datla R, Testillano PS (2022)
Editorial: Advances in Pollen Research: Biology, Biotechnology, and Plant Breeding Applications.
Frontiers in Plant Science 13:876502.
- Hamza R, Roque E, Gómez-Mena C, Madueño F, Bentrán JP & Cañas LA (2021)
PsEND1 is a key player in pea pollen development through the modulation of redox homeostasis
Frontiers in Plant Science 12:765277
- Rodas AL, Roque E, Hamza R, Gómez-Mena C, Minguet EG, Wen J, Mysore SK, Beltrán JP & Cañas LA (2021)
MtSUPERMAN plays a key role in compound inflorescence and flower development in Medicago truncatula
The Plant Journal 105 (3): 816-830. doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15075
- Louati M, Salazar-Sarasua B, Roque E, Beltrán JP, Salhi Hannachi A, Gómez-Mena C (2021).
Isolation and Functional Analysis of a PISTILLATA-like MADS-Box Gene from Argan Tree (Argania spinosa).
Plants (Basel) 10(8):1665. doi:10.3390/plants10081665
PLANTS ON DEMAND: Genome editing for plant improvement.
Metode Science Studies Journal (11), pp.25-29.
- Roque E, Gómez-Mena C, Hamza R, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2019)
Engineered Male Sterility by Early Anther Ablation Using the Pea Anther-Specific Promoter PsEND1
Frontiers in Plant Science 10:819
- Rojas-Gracia, P, Roque, EM, Medina, M, López-Martín, MJ, Cañas, LA, Beltrán, JP and Gómez-Mena, C (2019)
The DOF transcription factor SlDOF10 regulates vascular tissue formation during ovary development in tomato
Frontiers in Plant Science 10:216
- Roque E., Gómez-Mena C., Ferrándiz C., Beltrán J.P. and Cañas L.A. (2018)
Chapter 18. Functional genomics and genetic control of floral and fruit development in Medicago truncatula: an overview. In Functional genomics in Medicago truncatula. Methods and Protocols
Methods in Molecular Biology Series nº 1822
- Hamza R., Beltrán J.P. and Cañas L.A (2018)
Enzymatic Assays and Enzyme Histochemistry of Tuta absoluta Feeding on Tomato Leaves.
Bio-protocol 8(17): e2993
- Gomez-Mena, C. and Roque, EM (2018)
Non-isotopic RNA In Situ Hybridization for Functional Analyses in Medicago truncatula
Methods in Molecular Biology 1822(10):133-144
- Sandoval-Oliveros, R; Guevara-Olvera, L; Beltrán, JP; Gómez-Mena, C; Acosta-García, G (2017)
Developmental landmarks during flower development in jalapeño chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and the effect of gibberellin in ovary growth
Plant Reproduction 30(3): 119-129
- Hamza R;: Pérez-Hedo M; Urbaneja A; Rambla JL; Granell A; Gaddour K; Beltrán JP; Cañas LA (2017)
Expression of two barley proteinase inhibitors in tomato promotes endogenous defensive response and enhances resistance to Tuta absoluta
BMC Plant Biology 18:24
- Fresquet-Corrales S; Roque E; Sarrión-Perdigones A; Rochina MC; López-Gresa MP; Díaz-Mula HM; Bellés JM; Tomás-Barberán F; Beltrán JP; Cañas LA (2017)
Metabolic engineering to simultaneously activate anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthetic pathways in Nicotiana spp
PLoS One 12(9): e0184839
- Rojas-Gracia, P; Roque, E; Medina, M; Rochina, M; Hamza, R; Angarita-Díaz, MP; Moreno, V; Pérez-Martín, F; Lozano, R; Cañas, L; Beltrán, JP; Gómez-Mena, C (2017)
The parthenocarpic hydra mutant reveals a new function for a SPOROCYTELESS-like gene in the control of fruit set in tomato
New Phytologist 214 (3): 1198-1212
- Roque E, Fares MA, Yenush L, Rochina MC, Wen J, Mysore KS, Gómez-Mena C, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2016)
Evolution by gene duplication of Medicago truncatula PISTILLATA-like transcription factors
Journal of Experimental Botany 67: 1805-1817
- Serwatowska J, Roque E, Gómez-Mena C, Constantin G, Wen J, Mysore KS, Lund O, Johansen E, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2014)
Two euAGAMOUS genes control C-function in Medicago truncatula
PLoS ONE 9: e103770
- Medina M, Roque E, Pineda B, Canas L, Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Pio Beltran J, Gomez-Mena C (2013)
Early anther ablation triggers parthenocarpic fruit development in tomato
Plant Biotechnology Journal 11: 770-779
- Gomez MD, Renau-Morata B, Roque E, Polaina J, Pio Beltran J, Canas L (2013)
PsPMEP a pollen-specific pectin methylesterase of pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Plant Reproduction 26: 245-254
- García-Sogo B, Pineda B, Roque EM, Antón T, Atarés A, Borja M, Beltrán JP, Moreno V, Cañas LA (2012)
Production of engineered long-life and male sterile Pelargonium plants
BMC Plant Biology 12: 156-172
- García-Sogo B, Pineda B, Castelblanque L, Antón T, Medina M, Roque E, Torresi C, Beltrán JP, Moreno V, Cañas LA (2010)
Efficient transformation of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and production of male-sterile plants by engineered anther ablation
Plant Cell Reports 29: 61-77
- Roque E, Gómez MD, Ellul P, Wallbraun M, Madueño F, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2007)
The PsEND1 promoter: a novel tool to produce genetically engineered male-sterile plants by early anther ablation
Plant Cell Reports 26: 313-325
