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.

• López-Martín, MJ, Ferrándiz, C, and Gómez-Mena (2025).

The quantitative effect of seed production triggers the end of flowering in tomato.

Plant Physiology (Published online ahead of print). doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiaf195

• Salazar-Sarasua, B., Roque, E, González-Sanz, C., Bombarely, A, Girardi, C, García-Sánchez, J., Cañas, LC, Beltrán, JP and Gómez-Mena C (2025).

Male sterility-induced parthenocarpy arose during tomato domestication.

Physiologia Plantarum; 177(2):e70182. 2025. doi: 10.1111/ppl.70182.

• Jiang, X.; López-Martín, M.J.; 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.

Physiologia Plantarum 176(5):e14496.

• Roque E, Rodas AL, Beltrán JP, Gómez-Mena C*, Cañas LA (2024).

SUPERMAN genes: uncovering a new function in the development of complex inflorescences.

Int. J. Mol. Sci., 26, 1161. 2025. doi: 10.3390/ijms26031161

• 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.

• 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

• Gómez-Mena, C (2020).

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

• Beltrán J.P. and Cañas L.A (2018)

Chapter 1. Grain and forage legumes: nutritional value and agriculture sustainability. In Functional genomics in Medicago truncatula. Methods and Protocols. 

Methods in Molecular Biology Series nº 1822

• 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

• Cañas L.A. and Beltrán J.P (2018)

Chapter 2. Model legumes: functional genomics tools in Medicago truncatula. 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

• Cañas L.A. and Beltrán J.P (2018)

Functional genomics in Medicago truncatula. Methods and Protocols.

Methods in Molecular Biology Series nº 1822

• 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

• Gallego-Giraldo L, Shadle G, Shen H, Barros-Rios J, Fresquet Corrales S, Wang H, Dixon RA (2016)

Combining enhanced biomass density with reduced lignin level for improved forage quality

Plant Biotechnology Journal 14: 895-904

• 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

• Berbel A, Ferrándiz C, Hecht V, Dalmais M, Lund OS, Sussmilch FC, Taylor SA, Bendahmane A, Ellis TH, Beltrán JP, Weller JL, Madueño F (2012)

VEGETATIVE1 is essential for development of the compound inflorescence in pea

Nature Communications 3: 797

• 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

• Pistón F, García C, de la Viña G, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA, Barro F (2008)

The pea PsEND1 promoter drives the expression of GUS in transgenic wheat at the binucleate microspores stage and during pollen tube development

Molecular Breeding 21: 401-405

• 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

• Benlloch R, d’Erfurth I, Ferrandiz C, Cosson V, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA, Kondorosi A, Madueño F, Ratet P (2006)

Isolation of mtpim proves Tnt1 a useful reverse genetics tool in Medicago truncatula and uncovers new aspects of AP1-like functions in legumes

Plant Physiology 142: 972-983

• Berbel A, Navarro C, Ferrándiz C, Cañas LA, Beltrán JP, Madueño F (2005)

Functional conservation of PISTILLATA activity in a pea homolog lacking the PI motif

Plant Physiology 139: 174-185

• Pérez RM, Pérez A, García L, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2004)

Transformation and regeneration of peach plants (Prunus persica L.) from embryo sections using the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a vital marker

Molecular Breeding 14: 419-427

• Benlloch R, Navarro C, Beltrán JP, Cañas LA (2003)

Floral development of the model legume Medicago truncatula: ontogeny studies to characterize homeotic mutations

Sexual Plant Reproduction 15: 231-241

• Cañas L, Essid R, Gómez MD, Beltrán JP (2002)

Monoclonal antibodies as developmental markers to characterize pea floral homeotic transformation

Sexual Plant Reproduction 15: 141-152

• Pozueta-Romero J, Houlné G, Cañas LA, Schantz R, Chamarro J (2001)

A new and efficient system for plant regeneration independent of exogenous growth regulators suitable for dicotyledoneus Agrobacterium mediated plant engineering

Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 67: 173-180

• Berbel A, Navarro C, Ferrándiz C, Cañas LA, Madueño F, Beltrán JP (2001)

Analysis of PEAM4, the pea AP1 functional homologue, supports a model for AP1-like genes controlling both floral meristem and floral organ identity in different plant species

Plant Journal 25: 441-451

• Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Perez-Garcia A, Beltran JP (2001)

Up-regulation of genes encoding novel extracellular proteins during fruit set in pea

Plant Molecular Biology 46: 373-382

• Ferrandiz C, Navarro C, Gomez MD, Canas LA, Beltran JP (1999)

Flower development in pisum sativum: from the war of the whorls to the battle of the common primordia

Developmental Genetics 25: 280-290

• RodriguezConcepcion M, Gomez MD, Beltran, JP (1996)

Immunolocalization of lipoxygenase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) carpels

Plant Cell Reports 15: 620-626

• RodriguezConcepcion M, Beltran JP (1995)

Repression of the pea lipoxygenase gene loxg is associated with carpel development

Plant Molecular Biology 27: 887-899