We study the responses to abiotic stress and the molecular mechanisms involved in tuberization of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum). Our main goal is to identify and characterize genes involved in these processes, and to evaluate their potential to improve crop yield and stress tolerance.

We are also interested in the use of genetically modified macrophytes as tools for phytoremediation of effluents or water contaminated with glyphosate or arsenic.

Lab Members

María Noelia Muñiz García, Ph.D.
Adjunct Researcher CONICET
noemunizgarcia@gmail.com

Lic. Martina Zubillaga
Doctoral Fellow ANPCyT

Lic. Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi
Doctoral Fellow CONICET

Nahuel Perez
Student

Publications

Expression of the Arabidopsis ABF4 gene in potato increases tuber yield, improves tuber quality and enhances salt and drought tolerance.
Muñiz García MN, Cortelezzi JI, Fumagalli M, Capiati DA.
Plant Mol Biol. 2018 Aug 24. doi: 10.1007/s11103-018-0769-y.

The plasma membrane H + -ATPase gene family in Solanum tuberosum L. Role of PHA1 in tuberization
Stritzler M, Muñiz García MN,Schlesinger M, Cortelezzi JI, Capiati DA
J Exp Bot. 68(17):4821-4837 (2017)

StCDPK3 phosphorylates in vitro two transcription factors involved in GA and ABA signaling in potato: StRSG and StABF1
Grandellis C, Fantino E, Muñiz García MN, Bialer MG, Santin F, Capiati DA, Ulloa RM
PLoS One. 2016 Dec 1;11(12):e0167389. (2017)

The protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b acts as a positive regulator of tuberization induction in Solanum tuberosum L.
Muñiz García MN, Muro MC, País M, Mazzocchi LC, Stritzler M, Capiati DA
Plant Mol Biol 93(3):227-245 (2017)

Heterologous expression of Arabidopsis ABF4 gene in potato enhances tuberization through ABA-GA crosstalk regulation
Muñiz García MN, Stritzler M, Capiati DA
Planta 239(3):615-31 (2014)

Characterization of StABF1, a bZIP transcription factor from Solanum tuberosum L. that is phosphorylated by StCDPK2 in vitro
Muñiz García MN, Giammaria V, Grandellis C, Ulloa RM, Téllez.Iñón MT, Capiati DA
Planta 235(4):761-778 (2012)

Characterization of StPPI1, a proton pump interactor from (Solanum tuberosum) L. that is induced during tuber development and by abiotic stress
Muñiz García MN, País SM, Téllez-Iñón MT, Capiati DA
Planta 233(4):661-674 (2011)

Protein phosphatases type 2A mediate tuberization signaling in Solanum tuberosum L. leaves
País SM, Muñiz García MN, Téllez-Iñón MT, Capiati DA
Planta 232(1):37-49 (2010)

Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatases type 2A and their roles in stress signaling
País SM, Téllez-Iñón MT, Capiati DA
Plant Signal Behav 11(4). 4(11):1013-5 (2009)

Characterization of potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) protein phosphatases type 2A catalytic subunits and their involvement in stress responses
País SM, González MA, Téllez-Iñón MT, Capiati DA
Planta 230(1):13-25 (2009)

Wounding increases salt tolerance in tomato plants. Evidence on the participation of calmodulin-like activities in cross-tolerance signaling
Capiati DA, País SM, Téllez-Iñón MT
J Exp Bot 57(10):2391-400 (2006)

Book Chapters

“Preserving potato tuber quality during storage”.
Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi, María Noelia Muñiz García, Iara Marlene Grobly, Daniela A. Capiati (2021)
En: “The Potato Crop: Management, Production and Food Security” Nova Science Publishers, New York.

“Plan Plasma membrane H+ATPases: the driving force for growth.”
María Noelia Muñiz García, Iara Marlene Grobly, Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi, Daniela A. Capiati (2021)
En: “Agricultural Research Updates” Vol 36, Nova Science Publishers, New York.

“Plasma Membrane H+-ATPases: Key Regulators of Plant Physiology”.
Iara Marlene Grobly, María Noelia Muñiz García, Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi, Daniela A. Capiati (2021)
“Advances in medicine and biology” VOL 173, Nova Science Publishers, New York, En prensa.

“Genetic Approaches for Quantitative and Qualitative Potato Crop Improvement.”
María Noelia Muñiz García, Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi, Iara Marlene Grobly, Daniela A. Capiati (2020)
“Solanum An Overview”, Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp 125-155.

“PPP family of serine/threonine protein phosphatases: key players in plant development and adaptive responses.”
María Noelia Muñiz García, Juan Ignacio Cortelezzi, Iara Marlene Grobly, Daniela A. Capiati (2020)
“Advances in medicine and biology” VOL 161, Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp 179-203.

“The role of Gibberellins in the control of tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.”
María Noelia Muñiz García, María Catalina Muro, Margarita Stritzler, Daniela A. Capiati (2015)
“Gibberellins and Gibberellic Acid: Biosynthesis, Regulation and Physiological Effects”, Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp.65-80.

“AREB/ABF transcription factors are master transcription factors that mediate ABA-dependent gene regulation during water-stress”
María Noelia Muñiz García, Daniela A. Capiati (2013)
“Molecular approaches for plant abiotic stress”, R.K. Gaur y Pradeep Sharma (Ed.) CRC Press, USA, pp.248-265.

“Water-deficit stress signal transduction pathways in plants: From sensing to response”
Daniela A. Capiati, María Noelia Muñiz García, Rita M. Ulloa (2012)
“Abiotic Stress: New Research”, Nikhil Haryana y Shreya Punj (Ed.) Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp.99-132.

Research Projects

Molecular and functional characterization of genes involved in the abiotic stress response and the tuberization process in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Development of transgenic macrophytes as tools for phytoremediation of water or effluents contaminated with glyphosate o arsenic.

Grants

PIP 2015-2017 11220150100415CO (CONICET). Identification and characterization of genes involved in tuberization and abiotic stress responses in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum).
2016-2019.

Programación Científica UBACyT 2016 20020150100025BA (UBA). Molecular mechanisms involved in tuberization and abiotic stress response in potato plants.
2016-2019

PICT 2016 (ANPCyT). Expression of the bacteria genes ArsC and γ-ECS in macrophytes for phytoremediation of arsenic in water.
2017-2019

PICT 2019 Ingeniería Genética aplicada al mejoramiento de la calidad nutricional del tubérculo de papa Spunta.
2020-2023.

Ex Lab Members

Dra. Margarita Stritzler
margaritastritz@gmail.com

Dra. Silvia Marina País
marpais1980@gmail.com

Dra. Marina Alejandra Gonzalez Besteiro
mgonzalez@leloir.org.ar

Lic. Luciana Carla Mazzocchi
luciana_mazzocchi@hotmail.com

  • Antecedentes
  • 1995. Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional del Sur.
  • 2000. Doctora en Bioquímica, Universdad Nacional del Sur.
  • 2001-actualidad. Docente Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires.
  • 2004-actualidad. Investigadora Independiente CONICET.