In our laboratory, we focus on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) of the Spunta variety, the most widely cultivated and commercialized variety in Argentina. Our research explores diverse stress responses and the molecular mechanisms underlying tuberization and sprouting. A key objective is to identify and characterize genes involved in these processes and evaluate their potential as biotechnological tools for improving potato cultivation. Ultimately, our work aims to develop genetically modified potato crops with enhanced traits. Currently, we are working on varieties with higher yield and productivity, improved resistance to abiotic stress, optimized dormancy periods, and enhanced nutritional quality, including increased iron content and essential amino acids.
Additionally, we are investigating the use of genetically modified plants as tools for phytoremediation of effluents or water contaminated with glyphosate or arsenic. In this context, aquatic plants (macrophytes) offer significant potential due to their ease of cultivation, low cost, high growth rate, restricted mobility, and ability to grow on water surfaces while absorbing organic compounds and heavy metals.
Lab Members
María Noelia Muñiz García (PhD)
Adjunct Investigator CONICET
noemunizgarcia@gmail.com
Lic. Martina Zubillaga
PhD student
Publications
Genetic manipulation of protein phosphatase 2A affects multiple agronomic traits and physiological parameters in potato.
Muñiz García MN*, Baroli I, Cortelezzi JI, Zubillaga M, Capiati DA*
Funct Plant Biol. 50(12):1117-1129 (2023)
The protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b is involved in the control of potato tuber sprouting and source-sink balance in tubers and sprouts.
Muñiz García MN, Cortelezzi JI, Capiati DA
J Exp Bot. 73(19): 6784–6799 (2022)
The protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b enhances Phytophthora infestans susceptibility and senescence in potato.
Muñiz García MN, Grossi C, Ulloa RM, Capiati DA
PLoS ONE 17(10): e0275844, doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275844.
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 abiotic stress responses and the tuberization process in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum).
Development of biotechnological crops with improved agronomic traits: Spunta 35S::ABF4, resistant to abiotic stress and with enhanced productivity.
Application of genetic engineering in potato for tuber biofortification: Improving nutritional quality by increasing iron and essential amino acid content in the tuber.
Generation of transgenic aquatic plants as phytoremediation tools for water or effluents contaminated with glyphosate or 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. Daniela Capiati
Programación Científica UBACyT 2016 20020150100025BA (UBA). Molecular mechanisms involved in tuberization and abiotic stress response in potato plants.
2016-2019. Daniela Capiati
PICT 2016 (ANPCyT). Expression of the bacteria genes ArsC and γ-ECS in macrophytes for phytoremediation of arsenic in water.
2017-2019. María Noelia Muñiz García
PICT START UP: PICT-2018-04693
Field evaluation of the yield of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) of the Spunta 35S::ABF4 variety under normal conditions and salt stress or drought. Development of a potato variety resistant to abiotic stress with high productive performance.
2019-2024. Daniela Capiati
PICT 2018 (ANPCyT) Identification of molecular components involved in potato tuberization.
2019-2023. María Noelia Muñiz García
PICT 2017 (ANPCyT) Molecular mechanisms involved in potato tuberization.
2018-2021. Daniela Capiati
PICT 2019 Genetic Engineering applied to the improvement of the nutritional quality of the Spunta potato tuber.
Junio 2021 – Diciembre 2024. Daniela Capiati
PICT 2022 Regulation of potato tuber sprouting – Function of phosphatase type 2A (PP2A)
María Noelia Muñiz García.
PICT 2022 Role of ABF transcription factors and StSP6A protein in potato tuberization.
Daniela Capiati.
Former 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
Lic. Ignacio Yaconis
ignacio.yaconis@gmail.com
- 1995. Biochemist, Universidad Nacional del Sur.
- 2000. Doctora en Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional del Sur.
- 2004-present. Investigator at CONICET (currently Independent Investigator). Professor, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires.