Lineas de investigacion

Biotechnology and Postharvest Quality (POSTBIOTEC)

Description

Objetives

  • Postharvest physiology.
  • High CO2 treatments to improve the conservation of highly perishable fruits.
  • Control of physiological and fungal alterations in fruits through the application of gaseous technologies.
  • Protection mechanisms at low temperature in fruits tolerant to high CO2 concentrations.
  • Postharvest omics analysis.
  • Characterization of genes and transcription factors associated with low temperature tolerance mechanisms.
  • Functionality of defense proteins in fruit. Study of its expression pattern and potential industrial applications.
  • Identification of biomarkers associated with quality characters in fruits.
  • Improvement of fruit quality by the induction of metabolites with healthy properties.
  • Sustainable and safe conservation of plant products.

Research Lines

  • Characterization of metabolic networks associated with the improvement of fruit quality and tolerance to high CO2 levels.
  • Functionality of defense proteins in fruits. Biomarkers of tolerance to low temperature.
  • Characterization of genes and transcription factors associated with the improvement of fruit quality.
  • Functional genomics and proteomics in postharvest
Capacidades

Skills

  • Identification of molecular (transcriptomics), biochemical (proteomics) and metabolic markers associated with fruit quality and tolerance to high CO2. Isolation and characterization of genes involved in low temperature tolerance mechanisms and the transcription factors (TF) that modulate their expression. Analysis of the cis/trans affinity of TFs to the promoters of their target genes. Study of the expression pattern and functionality of defense-related proteins
  • Identification and purification of cryoprotective and antifreeze biomolecules. Study of their potential for industrial applications
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of cold-adapted chitinases as biofungicides. Use of chitinases to produce bioactive compounds and obtain functional foods and ingredients.

Patents

Personnel

Group Leader:

Members:

Contact:

  • 91 549 23 00
  • merodio@ictan.csic.es

Keywords

Fruit quality, Gaseous treatments, Omics, Cryo-active biomolecules, Biomarkers, Cold storage

Publications

  • Romero, I., Domínguez, I., Morales-Diaz, N., Escribano, M.I., Merodio, C., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T. Regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway by a single or dual short-term CO2 treatment in black table grapes stored at low temperature. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 156:30-38 (2020) Doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.08.047
  • Del Olmo, I., Blanch, M., Romero, I., Vazquez-Hernandez, M., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T., Escribano, M.I., Merodio, C. (2020). Involvement of oligosaccharides and sucrose-related genes on sucrose retention in strawberries from ripening to shelf-life. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 169 – 111301. (2020) Doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2020.111301
  • Vazquez-Hernandez, M., Blanch, M., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T., Merodio, C., Escribano, M.I. (2020). High CO2 alleviates cell ultrastructure damage in Autumn Royal table grapes by modulating fatty acid composition and membrane and cell oxidative status during long-term cold storage. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 160:111037 (2020) Doi: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2019.111037
  • Romero, I., Alegria, E., Gonzalez de Pradena, A., Vazquez-Hernandez, M., Escribano, M.I., Merodio, C., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T. WRKY transcription factors in the response of table grapes (cv. Autumn Royal) to high CO2 levels and low temperature. Postharvest Biology and Technology 150:42-51 (2019). Doi; 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.12.011
  • Blanch, M., Alvarez, I., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T., Escribano, M.I., Merodio, C. Trisaccharides isomers, galactinol and osmotic imbalance associated with CO2 stress in strawberries. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 131:84–91 (2017). Doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.05.008.
  • Vazquez-Hernandez, M., Romero, I., Escribano, M.I., Merodio, C., Sanchez-Ballesta, M.T. Deciphering the role of CBF/DREB transcription factors and dehydrins in maintaining the quality of table grapes cv. Autumn Royal treated with high CO2 levels and stored at 0°C. Frontiers in Plant Science, .8 (2017). Doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01591.

Projects, Contracts, Agreements

FEDER projects

Effect of short-term gaseous treatments on the postharvest quality of soft fruit stored at low temperature. Molecular and metabolic strategies

Main Researcher: M. T. Sánchez and I. Romero / Start Date: 01/01/2021 / End Date: 12/31/2023 / Institution: MCI/AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: PID2020-113965RB-I00
Research Group: Biotechnology and Postharvest Quality (POSTBIOTEC)

Holistic analysis of strawberry and table grape quality in the critical phases of postharvest storage using molecular tools

Main Researcher: C. Merodio and M.I. Escribano / Start Date: 01/01/2018 / End Date: 12/31/2020 / Institution: AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: AGL2017-85291-R
Research Group: Biotechnology and Postharvest Quality (POSTBIOTEC)

PhD Thesis, Master's Thesis and Degree Thesis

Display PhD Thesis, Master's Thesis and Degree Thesis

Tesis Doctoral: Involvement of dehydrins, thaumatins and CBF/DREBs and WRKYs transcription factors in the response of table grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Autumn Royal) at low temperatures and high CO2 concentrations. (21-Junio-2017)

Author: María Vázquez Hernández / Director: Mª Isabel Escribano Garaizábal-Mª Teresa Sánchez Ballesta

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Tesis Doctoral: Molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptation to high CO2 in table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cardinal) with different degrees of ripeness stored at low temperature. (16-Julio-2015)

Author: Carlos Fernández-Caballero Aguilar. / Director: Carmen Merodio Moreno-Mª Teresa Sánchez Ballesta

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid