[SCAN] From cork development to stress response: what cork oak has revealed so far

Scan Seminar

Title: From cork development to stress response: what cork oak has revealed so far

Speaker: Pedro Barros

From: GPlantS Lab, ITQB
 

Abstract:

Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests are unique and emblematic resources for Portugal, with high economical, ecological and social significance. Cork oak occupies 23% of the total Portuguese forest area (APCOR 2013) and Portugal is the world leader in cork production (49,6%) and exportation (more than 60% of the world exported cork volume). Despite the strategic significance of cork oak for Portugal, it is still a neglected species for molecular biology studies, resulting in a lack of knowledge and tools to answer key developmental questions and potentiate plant improvement. In the GPlantS Unit we are studying cork oak from two different perspectives: plant adaptation to environmental stress and cork development. Cork oak trees are constantly challenged with different biotic (e.g. Phythophthora cinnamomi infection) and abiotic stresses (e.g. extreme temperatures in summer and winter, drought). Based on previous RNA-seq studies targeting these conditions, we identified two genes putatively involved in the crosstalk between different stress responses. The role of these genes in stress adaptation is currently being assessed, as well as the specific signalling pathways controlling their transcriptional regulation.

Regarding cork development and given to the role of DNA methylation in the control of cellular differentiation and gene expression, we are identifying molecular signatures associated with cork developing tissues. Using methylation-senstive amplified polymorphism (msap) technique we are assessing locus-specific DNA methylation changes occurring between leaves and developing cork samples collected from adult trees growing in different geographical locations.
In this presentation I will update the knowledge that we have gathered on the previously highlighted topics.