Main research focus
Fruit Functional Genomics and Biotechnology Lab
FFGB Lab is interested in studying fruit ripening and fruit defense. We have been gathering knowledge on the transcriptome, hormonome and metabolome associated with these processes. Particularly relevant are the study of transcription factors identified as key regulators of fruit ripening and defense based on omics data. Additionally, we focus not only on the general primary and secondary metabolisms but also on targeted studies on cell wall components, hormones and volatiles associated with fruit quality and defense. We also explore physiological responses induced under drought and/ or infection with fungal pathogens and how the microbiome is changed in these scenarios. In a near future, we plan to implement epigenetic studies to integrate with these molecular, physiological, and biochemical data.
Our main goal is crop improvement and to this end we use multiomics analyses to select key genes for functional analysis using gene editing.
International and National Projects
Principal investigator
2021-2024 (International) MiDiVine Innovative Approaches Promoting Functional Microbial Diversity for a Sustainable Grapevine Health and Productivity in Vineyard Systems of Mediterranean Areas
2020-2025 (International) “vWISE” Vine and Wine Innovation through Scientific Exchange H2020-MSCA-RISE 2019. Grant agreement ID: 872394
2007-2010 (International) ERA-PG/0004/2006 Genomic Research-Assisted breeding for Sustainable Production of quality GRAPEs and WINE (GRASP). ERA-Net Plant Genomics
2023-2024 (National) Microdrygrape Seeking functional microbiome by assessing impact of water availability in grapevine health, physiological plasticity, and associated soil microbial communities. FCUL/FciênciasID 1st internal call.
2018-2022 (National) Transcriptome and metabolome reprogramming in Vitis vinifera cv. Aragonês and Vitis rupestris berries upon infection with Erysiphe necator. Project financed by FCT PTDC/ASP-HOR/28485/2017
2017-2019 (National) Functional genomics applied to the study of grape ripening and biotic stress responses in grapevine. FCT Investigator IF/00169/2015 (Development stage)
2017 (National) Internal BIOISI project: The study of the reprogramming of metabolism of Trincadeira grapes upon infection with Botrytis cinerea: hormonal changes and impact in aroma development
2010-2013 (National) Transcript and metabolic responses associated with susceptibility of Trincadeira grapes to Botrytis cinerea. Impact on regular ripening and flavour development PTDC/AGR-GPL/100919/2008.
Co-Principal Investigator
2021-2014 (National) Biochip microfluídica para deteção de biomarcadores de stress em videiras e uvas (VineSense). PTDC/BAA-DIG/4735/2020 PI: Virginia Chu, INESC-MN
2019 (National) Internal BIOISI project: Grape microbiome and wine characteristics: new implications of terroir PI: Margarida Couto
2018 (National) Internal BIOISI project: A cell model to study UV-B effect in Vitis vinifera L. PI: Paula Lopes
2018 (National) Internal BIOISI project: GraPoBio – Grape pomace on biological systems PI: Pedro Falé
Participant
2021-2024 (National) Diagnostic platforms applied to Trunk Diseases in Grapevine TRUNKBioCode. PTDC/BAA-DIG/1079/2020
2019 (National) Internal BIOISI project: Development of Botrytis cinerea DNA-based detection assays: HRM and Biosensor
2018-2022 (National) Biosíntese de compostos secundários no bago de uva: estudo do papel do plastídeo (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-028165)
2018-2022 (National) Combining “omics” with molecular, biochemical and physiological analyses as an integrated effort to validate novel and easy-to-implement drought mitigation strategies in grapevine while reducing water use. (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030341)
2016-2019 (National) Powdery Mildew susceptibility in grapevine: phenotype-genotype linkage in the Portuguese germplasm (PTDC/AGR-PRO/4261/2014)
2010-2013 (National) Genetic analysis of suber differentiation in Quercus suber L. PTDC/AGR-AAM/100465/2008
2010 (National) ESTs Corkoak Consortium- Cork quality. FCT, SOBREIRO/0038/2009
2009-2010 (National) ESTs Corkoak Consortium- Cork production. FCT, SOBREIRO/0017/2009
Cost Actions
2023-2027 (International) COST CA22157: Reproductive Enhancement of CROP resilience to extreme climate (RECROP)
2019-2024 (International) COST CA18210: Oxygen sensing a novel mean for biology and technology of fruit quality (Roxy-COST)
2018-2022 (International) COST CA17111: Data integration to maximise the power of omics for grapevine improvement
2012-2016 (International) COST FA1106: Quality fruit
2007- 2011 (International) COST FA0605: Signalling control of stress tolerance and production of stress protective compounds in plants