Plant breeding for stress resistance
The main objective of plant breeding is to ensure the production and quality of crops in order to respond to the constant increase in world population. However, the genetic potential of plants is often threatened by environmental stresses (including biotic and abiotic factors) that limit yield and quality. Our research group at
the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IAS-CSIC) focuses on the study of resistance to the main stresses that limit crops, particularly legumes and cereals, with the ultimate goal of improving their performance in the field. These studies are conducted at different levels: 1) molecular (genes, proteins, metabolites, signaling pathways), 2) cellular (microscopic determination of resistance mechanisms), 3) plant (physiological studies), 4) cultivation (field phenotyping, breeding and selection, crop mixtures). The ultimate goal is the improvement of crops for durable resistance to diseases and pests and tolerance to abiotic environmental stresses, mainly those affecting the Mediterranean area.
Research personnel
![Diego Rubiales Olmedo](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DiegoRubiales-1.jpg)
Diego Rubiales Olmedo
Group Manager
Research profesor
![Mario González Romero](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sdad-2.jpg)
Mario González Romero
Doctor Junta de Andalucía
![Nicolas Rispail](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Nicolas-Rispail.jpg)
Nicolas Rispail
Senior Scientist
![Eleonora Barilli](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eleonora_Barilli_485-1.jpg)
Eleonora Barilli
Doctor contracted FC
![Yuliia Kobyrenko](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Yuliia-Kobyrenko.jpg)
Yuliia Kobyrenko
Doctor contracted FC
![Mónica Fernández-Aparicio Ruiz](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Mónica Fernández-Aparicio Ruiz
Doctora Ramón y Cajal
![Francisco José Canales Castilla](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FotoFranCanales-900x900-1.jpg)
Francisco José Canales Castilla
Francisco José
![Gracia Montilla Bascón](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gm-2.jpg)
Gracia Montilla Bascón
Doctora Junta de Andalucía
![Sara Fondevilla Aparicio](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sara-Fondevilla-.jpg)
Sara Fondevilla Aparicio
Senior Scientist
![Elena Prats Pérez](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elena-Prats-Perez_485.jpg)
Elena Prats Pérez
Research Scientist
Personal en formación
![Abdelkader Sadok](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Proyecto-nuevo1.jpg)
Abdelkader Sadok
JAEIntro ICUS Fellow
![Alba Moreno Cardos](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16809894203271.jpg)
Alba Moreno Cardos
JAEIntro ICUS Fellow
![Manuel Alejandro Jiménez Vaquero](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Manu.png)
Manuel Alejandro Jiménez Vaquero
Predoctoral FPu
![Sara Rodríguez Mena](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/sara.jpg)
Sara Rodríguez Mena
Predoctoral FPI
Personal técnico
![Francisco José Arguelles García](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Francisco-Javier-Arguelles.jpg)
Francisco José Arguelles García
Oficial
![Maria Jesus Cañuelo Jurado](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Maria Jesus Cañuelo Jurado
Senior Technician
![M. Claudia López Orozco](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/3e6796d3-6a32-4f6b-b2a7-41f429737657.jpg)
M. Claudia López Orozco
M2
![Cristian C. Molinares Pacheco](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Cristian C. Molinares Pacheco
M2
![Angel María Villegas Fernández](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Angel-Villegas-Fernandez_485-1.jpg)
Angel María Villegas Fernández
Titulado Superior
![Braulio Bermúdez Fernández](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Braulio Bermúdez Fernández
M1
![Sonia Fernández Martínez](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Sonia Fernández Martínez
E2
![Manuel Ángel Miranda Reifs](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Manuel-Miranda-.jpg)
Manuel Ángel Miranda Reifs
Oficial
![Beatriz Pérez López](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1535972332769.jpeg)
Beatriz Pérez López
M2
![Osman Wohor Zakaria](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ww.jpg)
Osman Wohor Zakaria
Titulado Superior
![María José Cobos Vázquez](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/foto-1.jpg)
María José Cobos Vázquez
Titulada Superior
![Francisco Javier García León](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Francisco-Javier-Garcia-Leon.jpeg)
Francisco Javier García León
Oficial
![Khiat Mohammed](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/KHIAT-Mohammed-Menouer-El-Amine-min.jpg)
Khiat Mohammed
Becario JAEIntro ICUS
![Nazaret Romero Armario](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Nazaret.jpg)
Nazaret Romero Armario
M3
![María Cordoba Sánchez](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Maria.jpg)
María Cordoba Sánchez
Contratada Predoc
![Angel Gragera Terrón](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1._ias_vertical_color.1334570412.jpg)
Angel Gragera Terrón
E2
![Antonio A. Nadal Moyano](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Antonio-Nadal.jpg)
Antonio A. Nadal Moyano
Oficial
![Carmen María Ruiz Pastor](https://www.ias.csic.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Carmen-Ruiz.jpg)
Carmen María Ruiz Pastor
Titulada Superior