- Diagnosis, epidemiology and management of plant diseases;
- Diversity of beneficial and phytopathogenic microorganisms;
- Plant-Pathogen interactions.
DIAGNOSIS AND DIVERSITY OF BENEFICIAL AND PHYTOPATHOGENIC MICRO-ORGANISMS
Description:
This line has the intent of studying the methods of diagnosis of diseases in plants; identifying and characterizing the etiological agents; studying populations of phytopathogens based on genetic variability, evolution and phylogeny; developing techniques for detection of phytopathogens in seeds; studying pathogenicity and biology, with an emphasis on emerging pathogens, of quarantine interest and related to the quality and safety of agricultural products.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF PLANT DISEASES
Description:
This lines of research aims at the spatial and temporal characterization of plant diseases, in order to understand the pathosystems and the rationalization of their management; determining the influence of the environment on the host-pathogen interaction, evaluating losses caused by plant diseases and using tools such as molecular biology, geographic information systems and remote sensing in the management of diseases.
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PLANT-PATHOGEN AND BENEFICIAL MICRO-ORGANISMS
Description:
The purpose of this line is to study the biochemical and molecular aspects of interactions between pathogen-host and beneficial micro-organisms, with emphasis on the study of mechanisms of attack and defense and showing at the cellular and ultrastructural levels the events that occur in these interactions. It is also our aim in this project to study the beneficial micro-organisms and how they interact with plants and pathogens.