The physiological, biochemical and molecular processes that determine fluctuations in nutrient remobilization in response to the most often abiotic stresses that limit cereal crop yield in the Pampeana region are studied. The ability of different symbiotic microorganisms to mitigate these stresses is also evaluated. Special emphasis is given to the processes that determine the quality of the grains.
Project leader:
Group members:
The aim is to explain the response of crops as a consequence of the edaphic processes that affect nutrients availability and crop mechanisms that are affected by fertilizer addition. We aim to evaluate the effects of mineral nutrition on the determination of both, grain yield and industrial quality.
Project leader:
Group members:
This field of research is aligned with the need to adapt agricultural systems to a sustainable productivity framework, minimizing environmental impacts and identifying alternatives to optimize production. The effects of climate variability and nutrient availability on crop yields and the sustainability of farming systems have been frequently assessed but the combined effects of both factors are not yet sufficiently understood.
This project studies the main extensive crops in Argentina, maize, wheat and soybean, and two agricultural areas with marked climatic and edaphic contrasts, including nutrient availability: the Northern Pampean region and the Semi-Arid/Sub-humid Chaco region. Indicators of agricultural production sustainability and resilience to environmental variability as affected by fertilization practices are evaluated. The experimental approach includes field experiments, trial networks and analysis of production lot databases.
Group leaders:
Group members:
Plant mineral nutrition research typically focuses on studying nutrients individually, although in nature plants face a wide range of nutritional stresses simultaneously. In this project, our focus is on the limitations imposed by the combined restriction of nitrogen and phosphorus supply, which are the main limiting nutrients in agricultural and horticultural systems in our country. In the case of phosphorus, the role of the organic fractions in crop nutrition is also being investigated. For this fraction to be absorbed by plants, it must first be hydrolysed by specific enzymes. Experiments are underway to study the mechanisms involved in this process. This research aims to contribute to the development of management strategies for a nutrient that currently lacks economically exploitable reserves in the country. Experimental approaches include field experiments and experiments under controlled conditions, using tomato and maize as model plants.
Project leader:
Group members:
The objective of this research is to understand the impact that the use and management of different biofertilizers has on the mineral nutrition of barley, with special emphasis on the parameters and mechanisms that determine the yield and quality of the grains.
Project leader:
Group members:
Twelve commercial malting barley varieties will be compared in a series of field trials. Grain S/N ratio will be measured, grain samples will be malted and the association between S/N ratio and various indicators of malting quality of these varieties will be analyzed. In addition, germination trials will be conducted in which the degradation of different types of hordeins will be evaluated.
Group leaderS:
Group members:
In the framework of contributing to the development, improvement and competitiveness of crops, fruits and flours, the general objective of this line of work is to investigate the use of non-thermal plasmas (or cold plasma) as a controller of pathologies caused by bacteria, fungi and insects on the different samples, in addition to studying: their promoting effect on germination, induction of biological nitrogen fixation, plant growth and improvement of flour quality. Said implementation as an agronomic practice hopes to reflect productive benefits in the agri-food sector and achieve the reduction of agrochemicals in the soil and water of rural areas.
Project leader:
Group members:
This project is, in part, a continuation of the UBACyT 2018 project entitled "Transcriptomics for the development of molecular markers of resistance to biotic and abiotic adversities in soybean". That project contemplated the molecular analysis of the response to drought and stinkbug attack. Both themes resulted in the doctoral theses of Josefina Demicheli and Ivana Sabljic respectively, both completed, and the beginning of the thesis of Albertina Gauna and Mariano Cassina. This last one with the incorporation to the mentioned project the study of the resistance to Macrophomina pahaseolin. This project aims to address: a) the validation of the SNPs markers proposed by Josefina Demicheli in segregating populations; b) the last steps for the development of this type of markers for selection by resistance to Macrophomina (thesis by Mariano Cassina); c) the study of the oxylipin pathway for the discovery of key genes that can be blocked by gene editing to increase resistance to bedbugs by increasing the volume of defenses (thesis by Albertina Gauna); d) the migration of microsatellite markers to SNPs for selection for resistance to rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) and; d) the development of bio-inputs for the control of insects and diseases (scientific researcher career work by Florencia Alvarez).The development of this project supposes the use of advanced techniques for the improvement and biological control that will be possible thanks to the scope of the Chair of Biochemistry in its two laboratories, one specialized in techniques for the study of metabolites (LabFAUBA) and another for molecular studies (LGMM).
Project leader:
Group members:
Our line of research addresses the challenging problem of disinfection of water intended for human consumption through an innovative nanofiltration strategy. The focus is on the development of hydrogels impregnated with silver nanoparticles, capitalizing on the antimicrobial properties of these materials. Hydrogels, based on materials such as chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), are designed to act as an efficient matrix in the retention of microbial contaminants, while silver nanoparticles offer a disinfectant action. The research includes the design and exhaustive characterization of these hydrogels, considering key factors such as porosity, mechanical resistance, use cycles and retention capacity of the nanoparticles. The implementation of advanced nanofiltration techniques is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the system in eliminating pathogenic microorganisms. This comprehensive approach seeks not only to provide an effective solution for water disinfection, but also to contribute to the advancement of innovative and sustainable technologies to ensure the quality of drinking water.
Project leader:
Group members:
In the current scenario, with the aim of increasing yields, extensive agricultural activity generates a high demand for soil nutrients, which leads to a loss of fertility. Growers resort to fertilization practices, which often result in excess, damaging the environment. Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture using the nano version of conventional fertilizers, generating a positive impact in reducing the pollution that modern practices cause. In addition to addressing the challenge of soil fertility, our research also explores new nanoparticles as effective tools in crops disease control. Identifying the interconnection between soil health and crop protection, this project focuses on the design of biomimetic nanomaterials through ecosystem-friendly processes, fusing biotechnology, and green chemistry.
Project leader:
Group members:
Species belonging to the Pseudomonas and Burkholderia genera possess interesting properties of plant-growth promotion, antagonism of phytopathogens and degradation of toxic compounds, including mycotoxins involved in plant virulence. The main aims of our research lines include the study of the mechanisms involved in the competence and survival in the rhizosphere, the production of antimicrobial compounds and mycotoxins degradation in bacteria of these genera.
Project leader:
Group members:
In our lab we have bacterial strains isolated from different associations with plants. These strains show differential antibiosis mechanisms against various species of fungi and phytopathogenic bacteria. Based on the bibliography, these mechanisms are mediated by a great variety of compounds that are strain-dependent and whose synthesis is induced under certain culture conditions. The structural characterization of these bioactive metabolites, as well as the identification of their biosynthetic gene clusters and the study of its regulation, provide a fundamental basis for the development of new biopesticides and / or biotechnological application of the gene products, which may serve as a complement or substitution of conventional agrochemicals. In our country, there is a high demand for natural-products which meet local requirements, turning national companies more competitive than foreign producers. In particular, we aim to develop bioactive products for the control of phytopathogenic diseases of soybeans (Glycine max) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), two important crops in Argentine agriculture.
Group leaders:
Group members:
Our research centers on the Chemical Ecology involved in the interactions among plants, pollinators, and the environment. We are dedicated to investigating the role of chemical compounds that mediate these interactions, focusing on native species of insects and plants with significance in agroecology. Specifically, our attention is directed toward studying native bees, assessing both individual behavior and sociability, considering all types of semiochemicals involved. This knowledge will provide valuable insights for the management and conservation of native species.
Group leaders:
Group members:
The conventional/industrial model of agriculture has as its distinctive features: the simplification of production systems leading to degradation conditions agroecosystems in general and soils in particular, besides the loss of environmental services. As an alternative to the industrial agriculture model, agroecology rises, in response to the ecological and social crisis generated by this current model. The implementation of the agroecological model is a complex process because it crosses multiple dimensions (ecological, technical, productive, social, political). The work carried out territorially encompasses the aforementioned dimensions. Here I will only specify one research line from the perspective of integral soil health. Understanding that soil health involves good dynamics and favourable conditions to soil life. This integrality is linked to the vision of those who manage the soil, perspectives, contexts, etc. and thus turning to Agroecological model. The imitation of nature (biomimicry) is one of the most important aspects of the principles that are proposed I this research line. The soils of the Pampas region co-evolved under grassland vegetation, systems with longer occupation time, either through cultivation or pastures, with high permanence of living roots, resembling a natural situation. In turn, land tenure It is, among other factors, the one factor that determines the choice of productive approaches to achieve this status. In this context t is important to identify and characterize productions. So the overall goal that drives this research is to evaluate the soil hydrophysical behavior considering biophysical, management and social context.
Group leaders:
This line of research investigates the relationships established between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and different crops within agroecosystems. The studies focus on using these microorganisms as mycoremediators, nutrient mobilizers, and translocators within the plant (phosphorus and nitrogen), taking into account the wide diversity of responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Group leaders:
Group members:
Nanoparticles (NPs) are recognized for their unique physical and chemical properties, attributed to their size within the nanometer range. Nanoparticles have found applications in medicine, electronics, textile industry, and more recently, in agriculture. With the development of biotechnology, mechanisms have been devised to obtain NPs through biogenic methods, such as plant extracts or microbial exudates, making the production process environmentally friendly. The application of NPs as nanofertilizers, nanofungicides, nanobactericides, and bio-stimulants can contribute to improving crop growth and productivity, presenting itself as an essential tool to control the adverse effects of various types of stresses. Therefore, this line of work focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of nanomaterials for use in agriculture with the goal of increasing crop yields without harming the environment.
Project leader:
Group members:
We are an interdisciplinary team that uses the nematode C. elegans as a biological model to study environmental impacts. The main research lines are the integrated water quality analysis of different Argentine basins and the study of endocrine disruption effects of pesticides.
Project leader:
Group members:
Collaborators:
Two main lines of bioinformatics research are underway 1) Genomics and transcriptomics analyses in species of the genus Mycobacterium. 2) Metagenomics analysis with amplicons (167S rRNA) and whole genomic DNA from different microbiomes: soil, guts of insects and human intestines.
Project leader:
Group members:
We work with soils that suffer from water stress, alkaline and saline, and the species (Lotus tenuis), in the Depressed Pampa. It is proposed to know the effects on the fertility of soils affected by salts and sodium and their potential biomass for animal feeding, and to cover the environmental influence on the grasslands, soils and biota of this legume, secondly the agronomic management of the species (cultivation, association with other species, simultaneous use of rhizobia and mycorrhizae, fertilization, etc.), management of the species from the point of view of livestock production.
Project leader:
Group members:
The entry of arsenic and vanadium and other toxic elements of natural origin into the soil, their adsorption in different fractions, their mobility and absorption, accumulation and damage in intensive crops are studied. We work at a biochemical and agronomic level, analyzing the potential of crops for use in phytoremediation.
Project leader:
Group members:
The application of fertilizers and pesticides have been the traditional tool to satisfy crop nutrient demand and to protect crops from insects and diseases. These methods have led to an agriculture based on synthetic products, successful to raise yields, but with environmental costs. The objective of this line of research is to study the strategies of the plants and their associated microbiomes with potential to increase the effectivity of environmental resources to reduce the use of agrochemicals. The specific objectives are: i) to evaluate the morphological and functional changes of the underground organs under the presence of simultaneous stresses in order to obtain insights for the efficient use of nutrients; ii) to evaluate the effect of abiotic and biotic factors on nutrients translocation and their role in the efficient use of nutrients; iii) to evaluate the use of bacteria, fungi and biological compounds as a supplement to phosphate fertilization; iv) to identify mechanisms of defense of soybean against the attack of insects and to evaluate the possible modulation of these mechanisms by the associated microbiomes; v) to determine the participation of the intestinal microbiome of the insects in the tolerance to soybean defenses; vi) to develop technologies for biological control of phytopathogenic fungi in extensive crops. Our geographic framework is the Pampean Region and its main summer (soybean and corn) and winter crops (wheat and barley). Experimental approaches include experiments under controlled and field conditions. Measurements cover an extensive range that includes root analysis by rhizotrons, isolation and determination of microorganism functionality, gene expression, among others.
Project leader:
Group members:
