Fruit tree and woody plant sciences

Research in plant biotechnology & breeding, plant physiology, ecophysiology, ecology, pre- and post-harvest management applied to fruit species, grapevine and forestry. Sustainable production methods, including proximal/remote sensing, precision orchard management and organic farming.

Keywords: Agroecology, Breeding, Biotechnology, Ecophysiology, Efficiency, Fertilization, Forestry, Fruits, Management, Orchards, Post-harvest, Precision, Quality, Sustainability, Vineyards.

Main research fields

• Breeding and biotechnology

Selection of new varieties and rootstocks in fruit and grape species.   

Genomic and transcriptomic approaches to study abiotic and biotic stresses, flower biology, fruit ripening and responses to management strategies.  Biodiversity studies, fingerprinting, propagation and genetic modification in fruit and grapevine.

• Ecophysiology and management

Plant environment relations and resource use efficiency.

Water relations, leaf gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence and fruit/berry growth.

Research on plant-microbe interactions.

Plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses and innovative strategies to face them.

Pomology, pre- and post-harvest practices to optimize yield, quality and storability.

Nutrient cycling, organic and agro-ecological management approaches.

New monitoring technologies, precision orchard and vineyard management.

• Forestry

Age-related patterns in forest growth and function.

Modelling of forest growth, environmental and management effects.

Forest response to global change and remote sensing of forest processes.

Biogeochemistry of forest ecosystem; reclamation and revegetation of degraded sites.