Interactions of Plants with Insects and Plant-parasites in Agroecosystems Group

Interactions of Plants with Insects and Plant-parasites in Agroecosystems Group

The activity of this group is focused, through an agroecological and multidisciplinary approach, to optimize the integrated management of crop pests and diseases, deepening the study of compatible and incompatible interactions of plants with pests and plant-parasitic organisms (with special interest in the different types of plant resistance and the biotic and abiotic factors that affect them) and contributing to conservation of beneficial insects.

The scientific objectives focus on these topics:
  • Plant resistance and susceptibility to pest-organisms (insects and nematodes).
  • Analysis of gene expression in compatible and incompatible host / parasite interactions.
  • Biological control of pest-organisms and conservation of pollinators.
  • Biotic and abiotic factors that affect the impact of pests and plant diseases.


Group Leader

BADENES PÉREZ, FRANCISCO RUBÉN
 Researcher

Personnel

NOMBELA BLÁZQUEZ, GLORIA
 Researcher

RAMOS MÉNDEZ, FABIO
 Research Assistant

LORENZO RODRIGUEZ, CARMEN
 Research Assistant

  •     Plant resistance and susceptibility to pest organisms


    Badenes-Pérez, F. R., Gershenzon, J., and Heckel, D. G. 2020. Plant glucosinolate content increases susceptibility to diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) regardless of its diet. Journal of Pest Science 93: 491-506.

    Badenes-Pérez, F. R. and López-Pérez, J. A. 2018. Resistance and susceptibility to powdery mildew, root-knot nematode, and western flower thrips in two types of winter cress (Brassicaceae).  Crop Protection 110: 41-47.

  •     Analysis of gene expression in compatible and incompatible host / parasite interactions


    Rodríguez-Alvarez C.I., López-Vidriero I., Franco-Zorrilla J.M. and G. Nombela. 2020. Basal differences in the transcriptional profiles of tomato leaves associated to the presence/absence of the resistance gene Mi-1 and changes in these differences after infestation by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Bulletin of Entomological Research 110: 463-479. Published On-line: December 9th, 2019. DOI: 10.1017/S0007485319000828.

  •     Biological control of pest organisms and conservation of pollinators


    Alfaro-Alpízar, M. A., Koster, S. (J. C.), Johnson, M. T., and Badenes-Pérez, F. R. 2020. Description, biology, and impact of the fruit-feeder Mompha luteofascia sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Momphidae), on Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae) in Costa Rica. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 113:30-39.

    Badenes-Pérez, F. R., Parrado-Márquez, B., and Petitpierre, E. 2017. Can Barbarea spp. (Brassicaceae) be used simultaneously as a trap crop and in conservation biological control? Journal of Pest Science 90: 623-633.

    Badenes-Pérez, F. R., T. Bhardwaj, and R. K. Thakur. 2017. IPM and pollination services in Brassica oilseed crops.  In Integrated Management of Insect Pests on Canola and Other Brassica Oilseed Crops (Ed. Reddy, G. V. P.) pp. 341-349.  CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

  •     Biotic and abiotic factors that affect the impact of plant pests and diseases


    Chirivi D., Navarro A., Sanz-Alférez S. and Nombela G. 2018. Effect of water availability on the sensitivity of garlic genotypes to the nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci. Fitopatología (Publicación Oficial de la SEF) 2: 300.    

    Sanz-Alférez S., Nombela G., Chirivi D. and Navarro A. 2018. Phenotypic plasticity of garlic to water stress. In: Proceedings of the XIV International Plant Water Relations Symposium. (Eds. D. Pérez López and A. Centeno Muñoz). Pp 276. ISBN: 978-84-948550-3-0. Madrid, Spain.

    C.I. Rodríguez-Alvarez, M. Muñiz and G. Nombela. 2017. Effect of plant development (age and size) on the Mi-1-mediated resistance of tomato to whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Bulletin of Entomological Research 107: 768-776. DOI: 10.1017/S0007485317000281.