About the department
This department is comprised of researchers whose goal is to decipher, at the molecular level, the interaction between plants and external factors, both biotic and abiotic, that limit their development and agronomic performance. Through this research, we aim to develop new plant varieties that are more productive and resistant to biotic and environmental stresses.
Research Areas
1 – Plant-pathogen interaction
This line of research aims to understand, at the molecular and cellular levels, the interaction between host plants and their many pathogenic organisms, such as nematodes, fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, and viroids. On the one hand, we aim to understand the biology, epidemiology, and rapid evolution of these pathogens to develop biotechnological strategies for early disease diagnosis and crop protection. On the other hand, we aim to understand the defensive response of plants to attack by these pathogens in order to enhance it biotechnologically and develop more resistant crop varieties.
Research Groups
2- Response to environmental stress and climate change
This line of research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular responses to a variety of abiotic challenges, namely ionic, cold, chemical, osmotic, and drought stresses, as well as nutrient deprivation. We use a combination of biochemical, genetic, and genomic methods to identify the molecular determinants and regulatory circuits that facilitate plant adaptation to adverse conditions. Understanding these determinants and their regulatory interactions will provide tools for improving crop tolerance to abiotic stress conditions.
