NATURAL DIVERSITY, ADAPTATION AND GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF COMPLEX TRAITS

The group "Natural diversity, adaptation and genetic architecture of complex traits" exploit population genetics and statistical tools to evaluate plant diversity, to identify genes that have been target of selection in the process of domestication in crop species, and to disentangle the genetic factors involved in the regulation of metabolic, disease resistance and performance traits.

omics and adaptation of Prunus persica to climate change

Project Leader: Dr. Gerardo Cervigni

Abstract

Dr. Cervigni's line of work considers the areas of knowledge of biometrics, genomics, molecular biology and climate. They are used in the study of genetic diversity in peach trees, considering phenotypic traits, molecular markers and haplotypes, identified and mapped using high-performance technology. Both types of data are used to select promising high-yielding and stable genotypes. The association mapping is considered to increase the understanding of the genetic basis of the characters, and evaluate strategies for genomic selection. It is of special interest to identify the genes associated with chilling and heat requirements, which are key for the adaptation of genotypes to agronomic regions with different climates.

Publications

Maulión E. et al., (2016) Identification of peach accessions stability and adaptability in non-balanced trials through years. Scientia Horticulturae, 199: 198-208.

Maulión E. et al., (2016) Performance profiling of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch collection and comprehensive association among fruit quality, agronomic and phenological traits. Scientia Horticulturae, 198: 385-397.

Maulión E. et al., (2014) Comparison of methods for estimation of chilling and heat requirements. Scientia Horticulturae, 177: 112-117.

Awards and Grants

PIP 2014 CONICET

PICT 2012 ANPCyT

Researcher
Dr. Gerardo Cervigni
cervigni@cefobi-conicet.gov.ar

PhD fellows
Julia Angelini
Eugenia Bortolotto
Gabriela Faviere

Genetic architecture of metabolic, stress-response and yield traits

Project Leader: Dr. Corina Fusari

Abstract

Research in the group of Dr. Fusari focuses on the use of quantitative genetics combining GWAS, haplotype-diversity analyses, phylogenetics and mutant characterization to dissect complex traits in plants. Topics of interest in her group are: (i) the process of failure and resuming of reproduction due to carbon shortfall at the beginning of flowering, (ii) the relationship between SAR defence and central metabolism regulation, (iii) the regulation of lipid metabolism under stress responses and (iv) the impact of central metabolism variation on plant growth. The group uses Arabidopsis thaliana for the identification and functional analyses, and seeks to transfer this knowledge to crop plants. Dr. Fusari collaborates with groups in Argentina, Israel and Germany and is a Max Planck Partner Group.

Publications :

Fusari CM, Kooke R et al., (2017) Genome-wide association mapping reveals that specific and pleiotropic regulatory mechanisms fine-tune central metabolism and growth in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 29 (10), 2349-2373

Wu S, …, Fusari CM et al., (2016) Combined Use of Genome-Wide Association Data and Correlation Networks Unravels Key Regulators of Primary Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS Genetics 12 (10), e1006363

Kleessen S, …, Fusari CM et al., (2014) Metabolic efficiency underpins performance trade-offs in growth of Arabidopsis thaliana. Nature communications 5 (1), 1-10

Awards and Grants

2021. PICT-2019-00439. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica

2020. Max Planck Partner Group. 

2018. Jeff Schell Prize for Junior Scientists. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology.

Researcher

Master's students
Maria Victoria Petreli

Pasantes
Camila Romano, Carola Castro, Camila Herrera