The work with Brassica crops began in the 80s with the foundation of a germplasm bank of the main local crops of the Brassica genus present in Galicia. At the end of the 90s, the group takes on its own entity. From this moment, the conservation and documentation of the germplasm bank was continued as well as new lines of research were initiated.

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RESEARCH LINES:

At present, the main objectives of the group focuses on to study of the basic mechanisms that brassica crops use to cope with different stresses and to study the main secondary metabolites in these crops. The group investigates on different vegetable brassica crops (kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, leaf rape…) belonging to the three horticultural species of the Brassica genus. This research is divided into three specific objectives:

1. Genetic improvement of vegetable brassicas to obtain adapted crops to diverse environmental conditions. This includes the development of new improved varieties in their nutritional qualities, tolerance to stresses and production, with added value for sustainable agriculture, for processing and to the end user.
2. Role of secondary metabolites and their genetic regulation in the interaction of the plants with the environment.
   1. Biotic stresses: Resistance of brassica crops to the lepidoptera pests, focused on Mamestra brassicae, and to bacterial and fungus pathogens, focused on Xanthomonas campestris and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
   2. Abiotic stresses: Effect of temperature in physiology and biochemistry of brassicas.
   3. Circadian rhythm: Effect of photoperiod on secondary metabolites on brassica crops and the model species Arabidopsis thaliana.
   4. Endophytic fungi: Effect on the plant fitness.
3. Anti-cancerigeous effect of isothyocianates derived from glucosinolates (citotoxicity, antimetastatic effects, epigenetic markers) in cancer cultures lines of breast and prostate. In this way, we can confirm the beneficial properties attributed to these crops for their positive features on human health.

At present, we are a reference group in vegetable Brassica research at national level. In the last years our presence at international level has been also increased. The future objective is to boost our visibility through new collaborations with international groups and to transfer technology to companies of the agro-food sector.

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Group staff

Grupo de Genética, Mejora y Bioquímica de Brásicas

Nombre	Puesto	Extensión	Teléfono directo	email	sede
María Elena Cartea González	Investigadora Científica – Jefa de Grupo	430235	986596105	se.cisc.gbm@aetrace	Pontevedra
Pablo Velasco Pazos	Científico Titular	430236	986596106	se.cisc.gbm@ocsalevp	Pontevedra
María Pilar Soengas Fernández	Científica Titular	430238	986596108	se.cisc.gbm@sagneosp	Pontevedra
Marta Francisco Candeira	Científica Titular	430239	986596109	se.cisc.gbm@ocsicnarfm	Pontevedra
Víctor Manuel Rodríguez Graña	Técnico I+D+I	430237	986596107	se.cisc.gbm@zeugirdormv	Pontevedra
Luis Manuel Cervela Cardona	Investigador postdoctoral	430240	986596110	se.cisc.gbm@alevrecml	Pontevedra
Carmen Vega Álvarez	Titulada Superior FC	430222	986596098	se.cisc.gbm@agevc	Pontevedra
Sonia Coves Mora	Máster Genética y Genómica	430222	986596098	se.cisc.gbm@sevocs	Pontevedra
María Díaz Urbano	Graduada	430222	986596098	se.cisc.gbm@zaidm	Pontevedra
Rosaura Abilleira Ambroa	Colaboradora I+D+I	430240	986596110	se.cisc.gbm@ariellibar	Pontevedra
Juan Carlos Fernández Fernández	Ayudante de Investigación I+D+I	430240	986596110	se.cisc.gbm@zednanrefcj	Pontevedra
Taciana Rial López	Análisis y Control	430240	986596110	se.cisc.gbm@lairt	Pontevedra
Alicia Arenas Romero	Becaria JAE Intro			se.cisc.gbm@sanera.aicila	Pontevedra