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

Impacts of dissolved Zn and nanoparticle forms in the fatty acid landscape of Mytilus galloprovincialis

Roma J, Feijão E, Vinagre C, Duarte B, Matos AR (2022) Impacts of dissolved Zn and nanoparticle forms in the fatty acid landscape of Mytilus galloprovincialis. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 817, 152807. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152807

Phylogenetic analysis and genetic diversity of the xylariaceous ascomycete Biscogniauxia mediterranea from cork oak forests in different bioclimates

Costa D, Ramos V, Tavares RM, Baptsita P, Lino-Neto T (2022) Phylogenetic analysis and genetic diversity of the xylariaceous ascomycete Biscogniauxia mediterranea from cork oak forests in different bioclimates. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 12, 2646. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06303-7

miR160 Interacts in vivo With Pinus pinaster AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 18 Target Site and Negatively Regulates Its Expression During Conifer Somatic Embryo Development

Alves A, Confraria A, Lopes S, Costa B, Perdiguero P, Milhinhos A, Baena-González E, Correia S, Miguel CM (2022) miR160 Interacts in vivo With Pinus pinaster AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 18 Target Site and Negatively Regulates Its Expression During Conifer Somatic Embryo Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, 13, 857611. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.857611

MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of Pinus pinaster response and resistance to pinewood nematode

Modesto I, Inácio V, Van de Peer Y, Miguel CM (2022) MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of Pinus pinaster response and resistance to pinewood nematode. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 12, 5160. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-09163-3

Effects of short-term exposure to genistein and overfeeding diet on the neural and retinal progenitor competence of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

A. Luzio, M. Figueiredo, M.M. Matos, A.M. Coimbra, A.R. Álvaro, S.M. Monteiro (2021) Neurotoxicology and Teratology, Volume 88, 107030

Artificial Intelligence Meets Marine Ecotoxicology: Applying Deep Learning to Bio-Optical Data from Marine Diatoms Exposed to Legacy and Emerging Contaminants

Rodrigues, Nuno M., João E. Batista, Pedro Mariano, Vanessa Fonseca, Bernardo Duarte, and Sara Silva. (2021) Biology 10, no. 9: 932.