PFG – Plant Functional Genomics

The Plant Functional Genomics Group aims to pursue an integrated, systematic view on the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for plant morphogenetic traits – Phenomics – aiming its understanding and the translation of fundamental science to applications (“lab-to-field” pipeline).

PFG is organized in four research teams, each headed by a PI. Two of these teams are based at FCUL, one at Univ Minho (UM) and one at UTAD. Each team explores inter-dependent scientific aims within the group’s overall research objectives, contributing towards the development of a coherent research program in the area of plant biology and biotechnology.

The research developed by the four teams can be clustered in four main topics to which all teams contribute: (1) Cell Signalling & Trafficking, (2) Molecular Cell Physiology, (3) Stress responses, (4) Green biotechnology.

Specific lines of interest are: (a) mechanisms of plant fertilization, (b) control of fruit ripening, (c) plant-pathogen and plant-ectomycorrizha interaction, (d) responses to organic and inorganic pollutants, (e) drought stress responses and (f) protein sorting and secretion.

PFG members are mainly associated with BioISI thematic line of Biotechnology but cooperative interactions for integrative research within the thematic lines of Biomedicine, Biophysics and Bioinformatics are part of the group’s aims and activities.

Research team

Group Leader: Rui Malhó rmmalho@fc.ul.pt

Recent Publications

A Drug Screening Reveals Minocycline Hydrochloride as a Therapeutic Option to Prevent Breast Cancer Cells Extravasation across the Blood–Brain Barrier

Godinho-Pereira J, Lopes MD, Garcia AR, Botelho HM, Malhó R, Figueira I, Brito MA (2022) A Drug Screening Reveals Minocycline Hydrochloride as a Therapeutic Option to Prevent Breast Cancer Cells Extravasation across the Blood–Brain Barrier. Biomedicines, 10(8), 1988. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10081988

Transcriptomic and methylation analysis of susceptible and tolerant grapevine genotypes following Plasmopara viticola infection

Azevedo V, Daddiego L, Cardone MF, Perella G, Sousa L, Santos RB, Malhó R, Bergamini C, Marsico AD, Figueiredo A, Alagna F (2022) Transcriptomic and methylation analysis of susceptible and tolerant grapevine genotypes following Plasmopara viticola infection. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, , . doi: 10.1111/ppl.13771

Fluoxetine induces photochemistry-derived oxidative stress on Ulva lactuca

Feijão E,C RC, Duarte IA, Matos AR, Cabrita MT, Utkin AB, Caçador I, Marques JC, Novais SC, Lemos MFL, Reis-Santos P, Fonseca VF, Duarte B (2022) Fluoxetine induces photochemistry-derived oxidative stress on Ulva lactuca. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 963537. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.963537

Effects of Glyphosate‐Based Herbicide on Primary Production and Physiological Fitness of the Macroalgae Ulva lactuca

Cruz de Carvalho R, Feijão E, Matos AR, Cabrita MT, Utkin AB, Novais SC, Lemos MFL, Caçador I, Marques JC, Reis-Santos P, Fonseca VF, Duarte B (2022) Effects of Glyphosate‐Based Herbicide on Primary Production and Physiological Fitness of the Macroalgae Ulva lactuca. Toxics, 10(8), 430. doi: 10.3390/toxics10080430

Quinoa variety identification based on fatty acid composition and multivariate chemometrics approaches

Duarte B, Goessling JW, Fonseca VF, Jacobsen SE, Matos AR (2022) Quinoa variety identification based on fatty acid composition and multivariate chemometrics approaches. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 114, 104798. doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104798

Effect Biomarkers of the Widespread Antimicrobial Triclosan in a Marine Model Diatom

Duarte B, Feijão E, Cruz de Carvalho R, Matos AR, Cabrita MT, Novais SC, Moutinho A, Lemos MFL, Marques JC, Caçador I, Reis-Santos P, Fonseca VF (2022) Effect Biomarkers of the Widespread Antimicrobial Triclosan in a Marine Model Diatom. Antioxidants, 11(8), 1442. doi: 10.3390/antiox11081442