The World Health Organization (WHO) considers infertility as a disease, and estimates 1-2% of prevalence in couples in developed countries (3.6 million of infertile couples in high-income regions). A key feature of meiosis, the cellular program that generates gametes, is the recombination between homologous chromosomes (maternal and paternal) that, in addition to generate genetic diversity, facilitates accurate chromosome segregation.

We are interested in inflorescence architecture and its evolution. We aim to understand the genetic networks that control the development of the inflorescence and how they have evolved to generate the great diversity of inflorescence architectures present in nature. We also aim to develop biotechnological tools to improve crop yield through the modification of plant and inflorescence architecture.

In our group we are interested in fruit development and evolution. Our goal is to understand how carpel and fruit patterning is established, and what is the molecular basis of the morphological and functional diversity found in Nature. We also are studying the genetic factors that control the lenght of the reproductive phase in monocarpic (annual) plants and thus, total flower and fruit production. In addition, we aim to develop biotechnological tools for breeding of higher yield and desirable fruit-related traits in crop species

ABA plays a crucial role for plant response to abiotic stress and regulation of plant growth and development. For instance, drought increases ABA levels and plant response to ABA is a key adaptive mechanism to resist drought stress. Thus, elucidating the ABA signaling pathway holds enormous promise for biotechnological application in agriculture. Key details of the pathway have been elucidated recently, such as the discovery of the 14-member PYR/PYL/RCAR family of ABA-receptors.

Plants use heavily interconnected signaling pathways to coordinate and execute different developmental and defence-related programs thus ensuring the definition of hierarchy and the optimization of resources through the use of signaling nodes. Most of these signaling pathways are regulated by phytohormones. Lately, we are also studying the functional role of Nitric Oxide as a general co-regulator.

This group focuses in the study of the molecular mechanisms that underlie hormone signaling, the interactions between signaling pathways, and their physiological relevance in the context of plant development.

We study the molecular mechanisms of action of polyamines. We are currently studying the roles of thermospermine and spermidine as meabolites involved in the regulation of translation in processes of cell division, differentiation and cell death.

The research group is interested in the design of innovative agricultural goods using genomics and biotechnology tools.

The 'Tissue Culture and Plant Breeding' group includes a Full Professor, two Senior Lecturers and two Postdoctoral Fellow Researchers. In addition, we currently have two PhD research students and eight performing the final master's or degree's work. The objectives of the group are the development and application of plant tissue culture techniques and genetic transformation for breeding of horticultural species (tomato, watermelon, melon, and cucumber) and ornamentals plants. We are characterized by the facility to collaborate with other national and foreign groups.

Fertility is a complex function depending on the coordinated and combined action of the male and female reproductive systems and its dysfunction is a major health issue affecting one in seven couples in the first world. In addition, these reproductive problems are being exacerbated by societal changes in modern countries because both women and men have been delaying having children.The gametogenesis is among the most complex and highly regulated differentiation programmes that make use of a unique reductional division or meiosis to give rise to highly specialized cells: the gametes.