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Plant-Microorganism Interaction

Pedro F. Mateos González (IP)

Professor

L-6001-2014

0000-0003-1628-598X

pfmg@usal.es

PHONE NUMBER

+34-923-294500 (ext. 1911)

José Mariano Igual Arroyo (IP)

Tenured Scientist CSIC

B-6993-2015

0000-0002-5080-0378

mariano.igual@csic.es

PHONE NUMBER

+34-923-219606 (ext. 255)

Other group members

Eustoquio Martínez Molina

Emeritus Professor

Mª Encarnación Velázquez Pérez

Professor

Raúl Rivas González

Professor

Paula García Fraile

Associate Professor

Esther Menéndez Gutiérrez

Marie Curie Researcher

Ignacio Santa Regina Rodríguez

Scientific Researcher CSIC

Alvaro Peix Geldart

Tenured Scientist CSIC

Ángel Valverde Portal

Tenured Scientist CSIC

José David Flores Félix

Postdoctoral researcher

Zaki Saati Santamaría

Postdoctoral researcher

José Luis Marcos Sánchez

Technician

Virginia Gascón Galán

Technician

Óscar González Sanz

Technician

Research lines

  • Symbiosis Rhizobium-legume
  • Beneficial microorganism–plant interactions
  • Microbial biodiversity and taxonomy
  • Biotechnological applications of plant endophytes in agri-food and sustainability processes
  • Microbial ecology of the rhizosphere

Representative publications

  • Moreno G, Hernández-Esteban A, Rolo V, Igual JM (2021)The enduring effects of sowing legume‐rich mixtures on the soil microbial community and soil carbon in semi‐arid wood pastures. Plant Soil 465: 563-582 (doi: 10.1007/s11104-021-05023-7).
  • Martínez-Hidalgo P, Flores-Félix JD, Sánchez-Juanes F, Rivas R, Mateos PF, Santa Regina I, Peix Á, Martínez-Molina E, Igual JM, Velázquez E (2021)Identification of Canola Roots Endophytic Bacteria and Analysis of Their Potential as Biofertilizers for Canola Crops with Special Emphasis on Sporulating Bacteria. Agronomy 11: 1796 (doi: 10.3390/agronomy11091796).
  • Le Roux JJ, Crous PW, Kamutando CN, Richardson DM, Strasberg D, Wingfield MJ, Wright MG, Valverde A (2021) A core of rhizosphere bacterial taxa associates with two of the world’s most isolated plant congeners. Plant Soil 468: 277-294 (doi: 10.1007/s11104-021-05049-x).
  • Jiménez-Gómez A, García-Estévez I, Escribano-Bailón MT, García-Fraile P, Rivas R (2021) Bacterial fertilizers based on Rhizobium laguerreae and Bacillus halotolerans enhance Cichorium endivia phenolic compound contents, food quality and plant development. Foods 10: 424 (doi: 10.3390/foods10020424).
  • Torres DP, Paço A, Menéndez E, Mateos PF, Brígido C (2021) Role of QseG membrane protein in beneficial enterobacterial interactions with plants and Mesorhizobia. J Plant Interact 16: 510-521 (doi: 10.1080/17429145.2021.2000050)
  • Saati-Santamaría Z, Selem-Mojica N, Peral-Aranega E, Rivas R, García-Fraile P (2022) Unveiling the Genomic Potential of Pseudomonas type Strains for Discovering New Natural Products. Microbial Genomics 8: 000758 (doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000758)
  • Rajnovic I, Ramírez-Bahena MH, Kajic S, Igual JM, Peix Á, Velázquez E, Sikora S (2022) Rhizobium croatiense nov. and Rhizobium redzepovicii sp. nov., two new species isolated from nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in Croatia. Syst Appl Microbiol 45: 126317 (doi: 10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126317)
  • Ayuso-Calles M, García-Estévez I, Jiménez-Gómez A, Flores-Félix JD, Escribano-Bailón MT, Rivas R (2020) Rhizobium laguerreae improves productivity and phenolic compounds content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under saline-stress conditions. Foods 9: 1166 (doi: 10.3390/foods9091166).
  • Menéndez E, Flores-Félix JD, Ramírez-Bahena MH, Igual JM, García-Fraile P, Peix A, Velázquez E (2020) Genome analysis of Endobacterium cerealis, a novel genus and species isolated from Zea mays roots in North Spain. Microorganisms 8: 939 (doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8060939).
  • Jiménez JJ, Igual JM, Villar L, Benito-Alonso JL, Abadias-Ullod J (2019) Hierarchical drivers of soil microbial community structure variability in “Monte Perdido” Massif (Central Pyrenees). Sci Rep 9: 8768 (doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45372-z).
  • da Silva JR, Menéndez E, Eliziário F, Mateos PF, Alexandre A, Oliveira S (2019) Heterologous expression of nifA or nodD genes improves chickpea-Mesorhizobium symbiotic performance. Plant Soil 436: 607–621.
  • Menéndez E, Robledo M, Jiménez-Zurdo JI, Velázquez E, Rivas R, Murray JD, Mateos PF (2019) Legumes display common and host-specific responses to the rhizobial cellulase CelC2 during primary symbiotic infection. Sci Rep 9: 13907 (doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50337-3).
  • Nogueira CB, Menéndez E, Ramírez-Bahena MH, Velázquez E, Peix A, Mateos PF, Scotti MR (2019) The N-fixing legume Periandra mediterranea constrains the invasion of an exotic grass (Melinis minutiflora Beauv) by altering soil N cycling. Sci Rep 9: 11033 (doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47380-5).
  • Jiménez-Gómez A, Saati-Santamaría Z, Igual JM, Rivas R, Mateos PF, García-Fraile P (2019) Genome insights into the novel species Microvirga brassicacearum, a rapeseed endophyte with biotechnological potential. Microorganisms 7: 354 (doi: 10.3390 /microorganisms7090354).
  • Oberholster T, Vikram S, Cowan D, Valverde A (2018) Key microbial taxa in the rhizosphere of sorghum and sunflower grown in crop rotation. Sci Total Environ 624: 530-539.
  • Gazol A, Camarero JJ, Jiménez JJ, Moret-Fernández D, López MV, Sangüesa-Barreda G, Igual JM (2018) Beneath the canopy: Linking drought-induced forest die off and changes in soil properties. Forest Ecol Manag 422: 294-302.
  • Jiménez-Gómez A, Flores-Félix JD, García-Fraile P, Mateos PF, Menéndez E, Velázquez E, Rivas R (2018) Probiotic activities of Rhizobium laguerreae on growth and quality of spinach. Sci Rep 8: 295 (doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18632-z).
  • Robledo M, Menéndez E, Jiménez-Zurdo JI, Rivas R, Velázquez E, Martínez-Molina E, Oldroyd G, Mateos PF (2018) Heterologous expression of rhizobial CelC2 cellulase impairs symbiotic signaling and nodulation in Medicago truncatula. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 31: 568-575.
  • Saati-Santamaría Z, López-Mondéjar R, Jiménez-Gómez A, Díez-Méndez A, Vetrovský T, Igual JM, Velázquez E, Kolarik M, Rivas R, García-Fraile P (2018) Discovery of Phloeophagus beetles as a source of Pseudomonas strains that produce potentially new bioactive substances and description of Pseudomonas bohemica nov. 2018. Front Microbiol 9: 913 (doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00913).
  • Pose-Juan E, Igual JM, Sánchez-Martín MJ, Rodríguez-Cruz MS (2017) Influence of herbicide triasulfuron on soil microbial community in an unamended soil and a soil amended with organic residues. Front Microbiol 8: 378 (doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00378)
  • Peix A, Ramírez-Bahena MH, Velázquez E, Bedmar E (2015) Bacterial Associations with Legumes. Crit Rev Plant Sci 34: 17-42.
  • Martínez-Hidalgo P, Galindo-Villardón P, Trujillo ME, Igual JM, Martínez-Molina E (2014) Micromonospora from nitrogen fixing nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). A new promising Plant Probiotic Bacteria. Sci Rep 4: 6389 (doi: 10.1038/srep06389).

Grants

  • Rivas R (IP), Mateos PF, Velázquez E, González-Andrés F (2017-2022) Obtención de un producto biotecnológico microbiano contra Botrytis cinerea mediante el desarrollo de estrategias de selección basadas en análisis genéticos. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. RTC-2017-6007-2.
  • Valverde A (IP de WP), Igual JM, Santa Regina I, Peix A (2021-2024) Towards climate-smart sustainable management of agricultural soils (Energylink). Unión Europea. 862695 (H2020-FOOD-0648).
  • Valverde A (IP de WP), Igual JM, Santa Regina I, Peix A (2021-2024) Sanidad vegetal sostenible mediante RNAi medioambiental para reducir el impacto de las enfermedades en la agricultura y los bosques (SUPERA). Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. PLEC2021-008076.
  • García-Fraile P (IP de WP), Mateos PF, Velázquez E, Rivas R (2022-2025) Modelling integrated biodiversity-based next generation Mediterranean farming systems. PRIMA/Agencia Española de Investigación. BIOMEnext.
  • Santa Regina I (IP), Peix A (co-IP), Igual JM (2019-2023) Innovative use of mycological resources for resilient & productive Mediterranean forests threatened by climate change (LIFE MycoRestore). Unión Europea. LIFE18 CCA/ES/001110.
  • Rivas R (IP), García-Fraile P (co-IP) (2020-2023) Functional analyses of biodiversity with application for the improvement of blueberry and blackberry production. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. PID2019-109960RB-100.
  • Igual JM (IP), Valverde A (co-IP), Santa Regina I, Peix A (2020-2022) Emerging trends in adaptive management of tree-grass agroecosystems: Assessing changes in soil microbial community structure and function. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. PID2019-108313RB-C33.
  • Menéndez E (IP), Velázquez E (2020-2022) Strategies for improving agronomic practices based on microbiomes (ROMANCE). European Commission through H2020 Marie Sklodowsa-Curie Actions. H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 ROMANCE nº 897795.
  • Martínez-Molina E (IP), Velázquez E, Mateos PF, Rivas R, Peix A, Igual JM, Santa Regina I (2018-2021) Development of biofertilization strategies employing endophytic bacteria and Rhizobium to improve the yields of quinoa, an alternative crop with prospects in Castile and Leon. Junta de Castilla y León. SA293P18.

Patents

  • Celador Lera L, Flores Félix JD, Mateos PF, Eustoquio Martínez-Molina E, Velázquez E, Rivas R (2017) Cepa de Rhizobium leucaenae y su uso como biofertilizante. Nº de solicitud: P201530349.
  • Velázquez E, García-Fraile P, Ramírez-Bahena MH, Carro L, Mateos PF, Rivas R, Martínez-Molina E (2011) Biofertilizante para plantas no leguminosas a base de cepas de rhizobia. Nº de solicitud: P201131656.

Relevant methods

  • Analyses of plant growth promotion mechanisms
  • Sequencing and analyses of bacterial genomes
  • Metagenomics of plant-microbe interactions
  • Transcriptomics of plant-microbe interactions
  • Bacterial mutagenesis for the study of plant-microbe interactions
  • Assessment of microbial communities structure through phospholipid fatty acids analysis

Collaborations with other national and international groups

  • Miroslav Kolarik, Petr Baldrian (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Prague, Czech Republic)
  • Euan K James (The James Hutton Institute, UK)
  • Janet I Sprent (University of Dundee, UK)
  • Maria Rita Scotti (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil)
  • Frank B. Dazzo (Michigan State University, USA)
  • Ann M Hirsch (California University of Los Ángeles, USA)
  • Esperanza Martínez-Romero (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
  • Andrea Squartini (Università degli studi di Padova, Italia)
  • Allan Downie (John Innes Centre, UK)
  • Phil Poole (University of Reading, UK)
  • Clarisse Brigido (Universidade de Évora, Portugal)
  • Sheng Yang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China)
  • Nelly Selem-Mojica (Cinvestav-IPN, Irapuato, Mexico)
  • Sanja Sikora (University of Zagreb, Croatia)
  • Don A. Cowan (University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa)
  • David M. Richardson (Stellenbosch University, Republic of South Africa)
  • Johannes J. Le Roux (Macquarie University, Australia)
  • Michael Goodfellow, Hans-Peter Klenk, Mª Carmen Montero-Calasanz (Newcastle University, UK)
  • Hilal Ay (Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey)
  • Patrycja Golińska (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland)
  • Brent A. Lasker, John R. McQuiston (National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, USA)
  • Gianni Della Rocca (IPSP-CNR, Torino, Italy)
  • Julio Camarero, Juan J. Jiménez (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología-CSIC, Jaca, Spain)
  • Milagros León-Barrios (Universidad de La Laguna, Spain)
  • José Manuel Palacios, Juan Imperial (Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Madrid, Spain)
  • Gerardo Moreno Marcos, Miguel Escribano Sánchez (Universidad de Extremadura, Spain)
  • Julio Díez Casero, Pablo Martín Pinto (Universidad de Valladolid, Spain)