Research Interests

The main scientific work is on ecophysiology of plants under water stress conditions, both in the field and the lab.

Previous research was on the characterization of the main photosynthetic limitations under drought conditions, namely in the evaluation of the relative contribution of stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to the reduced photosynthetic activity when water deficits are imposed with different duration and intensities.

This work involved studies at different levels of leaf gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic carbon metabolism and assimilate partitioning, and rubisco activity and amount.

Within the general research lines of the Plant Physiology Lab research was carried out on the after-effect of drought on photosynthetic activity, in particular, we aimed to evaluate whether differences in the photosynthetic sensitivity to water deficits, and recovery after rehydration, were associated with a more or less efficient operation of the anti-oxidant and photoprotective systems.

Further field studies were also being conducted on carob (Ceratonia siliqua) in order to evaluate differences between cultivar's resistance mechanisms to seasonal stress conditions.

Current research, is being carried out to contribute to identify the causes underlying the positive effects of fire events on the populations of Tuberaria major (Willk.) P. Silva & Rozeira, while also contributing to a better knowledge of the biology and ecology of this endemic species (Cistaceae).

Within the project “Closterovirus silencing through transgenic grafting” new work is now starting to study the long distance transport and distribution patterns of PTGS signaling in vascular plants.