Molecular Biology of Cork Formqation.

Description of impact

The phellem or suber is the suberized outer layer of the periderm that protects plant mature organs from desiccation and pathogens. Our goal is to obtain information about the phellem formation process at the molecular genetic level by analyzing differential gene expression. We use the cork oak phellem as a model for its unique properties and huge suberin content. These studies lead to a better understanding of phellem and periderm development in plants and more specifically provide genetic tools for future breeding programs of the cork-oak. We have a wide selection of cork candidate genes, for a few of which its orthologs have a key role in the phellem protective function as shown by reverse genetics. We pretend to deepen in the study of regulatory and signalling systems using the opportunities offered by new genomic technologies.