araus

Research interests:

The productivity of the Mediterranean crops is limited by water scarcity and other abiotic stresses like the lack of nitrogen. A better understanding of the ecofisiological and metabolic mechanisms of plant response to abiotic stresses will help to increase the yield and adaptation of the Mediterranean crops, either through to the set up of new agronomic techniques of by means of crop breeding. On the other hand, the climatic change seems will affect particularly the Mediterranean basin. To know the evolution of the climatic and growth conditions of the Mediterranean crops from its origins may help to better understand the current challenges imposed to the Mediterranean crops by the ongoing climatic change.

Current research projects:

2012-2015: Affordable field-based high Throughput Phenotyping Platforms (HTPPs). Maize Competitive Grants Initiative. MAIZE Strategic Initiative 9 – New tools and methods for NARS and SMEs. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Project coordinator and PI

2011-2014: Breeding to Optimise Chinese Agriculture (OPTICHINA). FP7 Cooperation, European Commission – DG Research. Grant Agreement 26604 . Coordination and Support Action. Budget UB:  Coordinator for the whole Project and PI

2011-2014: Adaptation to Climate Change of the Mediterranean Agricultural Systems – ACLIMAS. European Commission. Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM). Demonstration Projects. EuropeAid/131046/C/ACT/Multi. PI

2010-2013: Mejora del trigo duro para las condiciones mediterráneas presentes y futuras. AGL2010-20180 (subprograma AGR), Spain. PI: José Luis Araus.2011-2014

2009-2013: Grup de Recerca Consolidat: “Ecofisiologia de conreusmediterranis”. SGR2009-00327.Agència de Gestiód’ajutsUniversitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) – Generalitat de Catalunya. PI: Jose Luis Araus

– Fenotipeado de Precision a Gran Escala en Trigo Duro: Bases Fisiologicas y Herramientas de Seleccion AGL2013-44147-R

– Grup de Recerca Consolidat “Ecofisiologia de Conreus Mediterranis” reconegut i finançat per la Generalitat SGR2014-628. Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)

Recent publications:
  • Crop productivity: carbon and nitrogen metabolism
  1. Zhou, B., Sanz-Sáez, A., Elazab, A., Shen, T., Sánchez-Bragado, Rut, Bort, J., Serret, M.D., Araus J.L. 2014. Physiological Traits Related With the Recent Increase in Yield Potential of Winter Wheat from Henan Province, China. Journal Integrative Plant Biology (in press).
  2. Molero G, Tcherkez G, Araus JL,  Nogués S, Aranjuelo A. 2014. On the relationship between C and N fixation in nodulated alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Functional Plant Biology 41: 331-341.
  3. Hawkesford, M.J., Araus, J.L., Park, R., Calderini, D., Miralles, D., Shen, T., Zhang, J., Parry, M.A.J. 2013. Prospects of doubling global wheat yields. Food and Energy Security: 1-15. doi: 10.1002/fes3.15
  4. Aranjuelo, I., Sanz-Sáez, A., Jauregui, I., Irigoyen, J.J., Araus, J.L., Sánchez-Díaz, M., Erice, G. 2013. Harvest index a parameter conditioning responsiveness of wheat plants to elevated CO2. Journal of Experimental Botany 64: 1879-1892.
  5. Aranjuelo, I., Cabrera-Bosquet L., Araus, J.L., Nogués, S. 2013. Carbon and nitrogen partitioning during the post-anthesis period is conditioned by N fertilization and sink strength in three cereals. Plant Biology 15: 135-143
  6. Lopes, M.S., Araus, J.L., Van Heerden, P.D.R., Foyer, C.H. 2011. Enhancing drought tolerance in C4 crops .Journal of Experimental Botany. 62: 3135-3153.
  7. Aranjuelo, I., Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Morcuende, R., Avice, J.C., Nogués, S., Araus, J.L., Martínez-Carrasco, R., Pérez, P. 2011. Does ear C sink strength contribute to overcoming photosynthetic acclimation of wheat plants exposed to elevated CO2? Journal Experimental Botany 62:  3957–3969.
  8. Molero, G., Aranjuelo, I.,Teixidor, P., Araus, J.L., Nogués, S. 2011. Measurement of 13C and 15N isotope labeling by Gas Chromatography-Combustion-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to study amino acid fluxes in a plant – microbe symbiotic association. Rapid Communications in Plant Spectrometry 25: 599-607
  9. Cabrera-Bosquet L, Albrizio R, Nogués S, &Araus JL. 2011. Dual Δ13C/δ18O response to water and nitrogen availability and its relationship with yield in field-grown durum wheat. Plant Cell & Environment 34: 418-433
  10. Araus, J.L., Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Sánchez, C. 2010. Is heterosis in maize mediated through better water use? New Phytologist 187: 392–406
  11. Aranjuelo, I, Cabrera-Bosquet, C., Mottaleb, S.A, Araus, J.L., Nogués, S. 2009. 13C/12C isotope labeling applied to carbon allocation study in cereals exposed to water stress. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 23: 2819-2828.
  12. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Albrizio, R., Araus, J.L., NoguésS. 2009. On the photosynthetic capacity of field-grown durum wheat under different N availabilities: a comparative study from leaf to canopy. Environmental & Experimental Botany 67: 145–152.
  13. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Molero, G., NoguésS., Araus, J.L. 2009. Water and nitrogen conditions affect the relationships of Δ13C and Δ18O with gas exchange and growth in durum wheat. Journal Experimental Botany  60, 1633–1644,
  14. Bernard, S.M., Blom Møller A.L., Dionisio G., Kichey T., Jahn T.P., Dubois F., Baudo M., Lopes M.S., Tercé-Laforgue T.,Foyer, C.H., Parry M., Forde B.G., Araus J.L., Hirel,B., Schjoerring J. K., Habash D.Z. 2008. Gene expression, cellular localisation and function of glutamine synthetaseisozymes in wheat (Triticumaestivum L.). Plant Molecular Biology 67: 87-105.
  15. Lopes M., Araus J.L. 2008. Comparative genomic and physiological analysis of nutrient response to NH4+, NH4+:NO3- and NO3- in barley seedlings. PhysiologiaPlantarum 134: 134-150.
  • Crop productivity: phenotypic traits and tools for breeding 
  1. Sanchez-Bragado, R., Molero, G., Reynolds, M., Araus, J.L. 2014. Relative contribution of shoot and ear photosynthesis to grain filling in wheat under good agronomical conditions assessed by differential organ δ13C. Journal Experimental Botany (in press). 
  2. Araus, J.L., Li, J., Parry, M.A.J., Wang, J. 2014. Phenotyping and other breeding approaches for a New Green Revolution. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 56, 422–424.
  3. Sanchez-Bragado, R,  Elazab, A., Zhou, B., Serret, M.D.,  Bort, J., Nieto-Taladriz, M.T. , Araus, J.L. 2014. Contribution of the ear and the flag leaf to grain filling in durum wheat inferred from the carbon isotope signature: genotypic and growing conditions effects. Journal Integrative Plant Biology Volume 56, Issue 5, pages 444–454.
  4. Lobos, G.A., Matus, I., Rodriguez, Al., Romero-Bravo, S.,  Araus, J.L., del Pozo, A. 2014.Wheat genotypic variability in grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination under Mediterranean conditions assessed by spectral reflectance. Journal Integrative Plant Biology 56, 470–479.
  5. Del Pozo, A, Matus I, Serret, M.D., Araus, J.L. 2014. Agronomic and physiological traits associated with the breeding advance of Chilean wheats under high-productive Mediterranean conditions. Environmental and Experimental Botany 103, 180–189
  6. Araus, J.L., Cairns, J. 2014. Field high-throughput phenotyping – the new crop breeding frontier.Trends in Plant Science 19:  52-61.
  7. Araus, J.L., Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Serret, M.D., Bort, J., Nieto-Taladriz, M.T. 2013.Comparative performance of δ13C, δ18O and δ15N for phenotyping durum wheat adaptation to a dryland environment. Functional Plant Biology 40, 595-608.
  8. Bort J., Makram, B., Kawther, K., Zakaria, K.,  Araus, J.L. 2013. Comparative performance of the stable isotope signatures of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in assessing early vigour and grain yield in durum wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science (in press). 19 printed pages doi:10.1017/S0021859613000269
  9. Yousfi, S., Serret, M.D., Araus, J.L. 2013. Comparative response of δ13C, δ18O and δ15N in durum wheat exposed to salinity at the vegetative and reproductive stages. Plant Cell Environment 36: 1214–1227.
  10. Parry, M.A.J., Wang, J., Araus, J.L. 2012. New technologies, tools and approaches for Improving Crop Breeding. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 54: 210–214.
  11. Cairns, J.E., Sanchez, C., Vargas, M., Ordoñez, R.A., Araus J.L. 2012. Dissecting Maize Productivity: Ideotypes Associatedwith Grain Yield under Drought Stress andWell-watered Conditions. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 54: 1007–1020.
  12. Araus J.L. Serret, M.D., Edmeades, G.O. 2012. Phenotyping maize for adaptation to drought. Frontiers in Physiology- August2012|Volume3|Article 305: 1-20.
  13. Zia, S., Romano G., Spreer, W., Sanchez, C., Cairns, J., Araus, J.L., Müller, J. 2013. Infrared thermal imaging as a rapid tool for identifying water stress tolerant maize genotypes of different phenology. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 199: 75-84.
  14. Elazab, A., Molero, G., Serret, M.D., Araus, J.L. 2012. Root traits and δ13C and δ18O of durum wheat under different water regimes. FunctionalPlantBiology  39: 379–393
  15. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Crossa, J., von Zitzewitz, J., Serret, M.D., Araus, J.L. 2012. High-throughput phenotyping and genomic selection: the frontiers of crop breeding converge. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 54: 312–320.
  16. Masuka B, Araus JL, Sonder K, Das B, Cairns JE (2012) Deciphering the code: Successful abiotic stress phenotyping for molecular breeding. J. Integ. Plant Biol. 54: 238–249
  17. Yousfi, S., Serret, M.D., Márquez, A.J., Voltas, J., Araus, J.L. 2012.Combined use of δ13C, δ18O and δ15N tracks nitrogen metabolism and genotypic adaptation of durum wheat to salinity and water deficit. New Phytologist 194: 230-244.
  18. Witt, S., Galicia, L., Lisec, J., Cairns, J., Tiessen, A., Araus, J.L., Palacios-Rojas, N., Fernie, A.R. 2012. Metabolic and phenotypic responses of greenhouse grown maize hybrids to experimentally controlled drought stress. Molecular Plant 5: 401-417.
  19. Weber V.S., Araus J.L., Cairns J.E., C. Sanchez, Melchinger A.E., Orsini E. 2012. Prediction of grain yield using reflectance spectra of canopy and leaves in maize plants grown under different water regimes.  Field Crop Research 128, 82-90.
  20. Romano, G., Zia, S., Spreer, W., Cairns, J., Araus, J.L., Müller, J..2011. Use of thermography for high throughput phenotyping of tropical maize adaptation in water stress. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 79:  67–74
  21. Lu, Y., Hao, Z., Xie, C, Crossa, J., Araus, J.L., Gao, S., Vivek, B.S., Magorokosho, C., Mugo, S., Makumbi, D., Taba, S., Pan, G., Li, X., Rong, T., Zhang, S., Xua, Y. 2011. Large-scale screening for maize drought resistance using multiple selection criteria evaluated under water-stressed and well-watered environments. Field Crop Research 124: 37–45.
  22. Cabrera-Bosquet, L, Sánchez, C., Rosales, A., Palacios-Rojas, N. Araus, J.L. 2011. NIRS-assessment of δ18O, nitrogen and ash content for improved yield potential and drought adaptation in maize. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59: 467–474
  23. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Molero, G., Stellacci, A.M., Bort, J., Nogués, S., and Araus, J.L.2011. NDVI as a potential tool for predicting biomass, plant nitrogen content and growth in wheat genotypes subjected to different water and nitrogen conditions.  Cereal Research Communications 39: 147–159.
  24. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Sánchez, C., Araus J.L. 2009. How yield relates to ash content, Δ13C and Δ18O in maize grown under different water regimes. Annals of Botany 104: 1207–1216,
  25. Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Sanchez, C., Araus, J.L. 2009 Oxygen isotope enrichment (Δ 18O) reflects yield potential and drought resistance in maize. Plant Cell & Environment. 32, 1487–1499
  26. Yousfi, S., Serret, M. D.,andAraus, J. L. 2009. Shoot δ15N gives a better reflection than ion concentration or Δ13C of genotypic differences in the response of durum wheat to salinity. Functional Plant Biology 36, 1–12.
  27. Serret M.D., Ortiz-Monasterio I., Pardo A. Araus J.L. 2008 The effect of urea fertilization and genotype on yield, NUE, d15N and d13C in wheat. Annals of Applied Biology 153: 243-257.
  28. Araus, J.L., Slafer, G.A., Royo, C., Serret, M.D. 2008. Breeding for Yield Potential and Stress Adaptation in Cereals. Critical Reviews in Plant Science, 27:1–36.

 

  • Crop productivity: other breeding approaches
  1. Cairns, J., Hellin, J, Sonder, K.,  Araus, J.L.,  MacRobert, J.F., Thierfelder, C., Prasanna, BP.2013. Adapting maize to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Security.5: 345-360.
  2. Cairns, J., Crossa, J, Zaidi, P.H., Grudloyma, P., Sánchez, C., Araus, J.L., Makumbi, D., Magorokosho, C., Bänziger, M., Menkir, A., Hearne, S., Atlin, G.N. 2013. Identification of drought, heat, and combined drought and heat tolerant donors in maize (Zea mays L.). Crop Science 53, 1335-1346.
  3. Kebede, A.Z., Melchinger, A.E., Cairns, J.E., Araus, J.L., Makumbi, D., Atlin, G.N.2013. Relationship of line per se and testcross performance for grain yield of tropical maize in drought and well-watered trials.  Crop Science 53, 1228-1236
  4. Weiwei, W., Araus, J.L., Shah, T., Cairns, J., Mahuku G., Bänziger, M., Torres J.L., Sánchez, C., Yan, J.  2011. Molecular characterization of a diverse maize inbred line collection and its potential utilization for stress tolerance improvement. Crop Science  51:2569-2581
  5. Kebede, A.Z., Dhillon, B.S., Schipprack, W., Araus, J.L., Bänziger, M., Semagn, K., Alvarado, G., Melchinger, A.E. 2011. ‘Effect of source germplasm and season on the in vivo haploid induction rate in tropical maize. Euphytica 180: 219-226.
  6. Prigge, V., Sánchez, C., Dhillon, B.S., Schipprack, W., Araus, J.L., Bänziger, M., Melchinger, A. 2011. Doubled Haploids in Tropical Maize: I. Effects of Inducers and Source Germplasm on in vivo Haploid Induction Rates. Crop Science 51: 1498-1506.
  7. Crossa, J., de los Campos, G., Perez, P., Gianola, D., Burguen’o, J., Araus, J.L., Makumbi, D., Singh, R., Dreisigacker, S., Yan, J., Arief, V., Banziguer, M., Braun, H-J. 2010. Prediction of genetic values of quantitative traits in plant breeding using pedigree and molecular markers. Genetics 186: 713–724.
  8. Yousfi, S., Serret, M.D., Voltas, J., Araus, J.L. 2010. Effect of salinity and water stress during the reproductive stage on growth, ion concentrations, Δ13C and δ15N of durum wheat and related amphiploids. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 3529–3542.
  9. Xu Y., Skinner D.J. Wu H, Palacios-Rojas N, Araus, J.L., Yan, J. Gao S., Warburton  M.L., Crouch1 J.H. 2009. Review Article: Advances in Maize Genomics and Their Value for Enhancing Genetic Gains from Breeding. International Journal of PlantGenomics, Article ID 957602, 30 pages doi:10.1155/2009/957602-
  10. Comadran, J., Russell, J. R. , van Eeuwijk, F. A., Ceccarelli, S., Grando, S., Baum, M., Stanca, A.M., Pecchioni, N., Mastrangelo, A.M., Akar, T., Al-Yassin, A., Benbelkacem, A., Choumane, W., Ouabbou, H., Dahan, R., Bort, J., Araus, J.L., Pswarayi, A., Romagosa, I., Hackett, C.A., Thomas, W. T. B. 2008. Mapping adaptation of barley to droughted environments. Euphytica 161:35–45
  11. Pswarayi A., van Eeuwijk F., Ceccarelli S., Grando S., Comadran J., Russell J.R., Stanca A.M., Francia E., Pecchioni N., Akar T., Al-Yassin A., Benbelkacem A., Choumane W., Karrou M., Ouabbou H., Bort J., Araus J.L., Molina-Cano J.L., Thomas W.T.B., Romagosa I.2008. Barley adaptation and improvement in the Mediterranean basin. Plant Breeding 127: 554-560.
  12. Maccaferri M., Sanguineti M.C., Corneti S., Araus J.L., Ben Salem M., Bort J., DeAmbrogio E., Garcia del Moral L., Demontis A., El-Ahmed A., Elouafi I., Maalouf F., Machlab H., Martos V., Nachit M.N., Nserallah N., Ouabbou H., Royo C., Slama A., Villegas  D., Tuberosa R. 2008. Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Yield and Adaptation of Durum Wheat (Triticum durumDesf.) Across a Wide Range of Water Availability. Genetics 178: 489-511.
  13. Araus, J.L., Ferrio, J.P., Voltas, J., Aguilera, M., Buxó R. 2014. Agronomic conditions and crop evolution in ancient Near East agriculture. Nature Communications (published May 23)

 

  • Crop productivity: paleoreconstruction of agricultural conditions in the past 
  1. Fernández E., Thaw S., Brown T.A, Arroyo-Pardo E., Buxó R., Serret M.D., Araus J.L. 2013.DNA analysis in charred grains of naked wheat from several archaeological sites in Spain. Journal of Archaeological Science 40: 659–670.
  2. Ferrio, J.P., Arab, G., Buxó, R., Emma, G., Miquel, M., Voltas, J., Araus, J.L. 2012.Agricultural expansion and settlement economy in Tell Halula (Mid-Euphrates valley): a diachronic study from Early Neolithic to present. Journal of Arid Environments 86: 104-112.
  3. Aguilera, M., Ferrio, J.P., Pérez, G., Araus, J.L., Voltas, J., 2012. Holocene changes in precipitation seasonality in the Western Mediterranean Basin: a multi-species approach using δ13C of archaebotanical remains. Journal of Quaternary Science 27: 192–202.
  4. Aguilera, M., Ferrio, J.P., Araus, J.L., Tarrús, J., Voltas, J. 2011. Climate at the onset of western Mediterranean agriculture expansion: evidence from stable isotopes of sub-fossil oak tree-rings in Spain. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 299: 541–551.
  5. Aguilera M., Araus J.L., Voltas J., Rodriguez-Ariza M.O., Molina F., Rovira N., Buxó R., Ferrio J.P. 2008. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and quality traits of fossil cereal grains provide clues on sustainability at the beginnings of Mediterranean agriculture. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 22: 1653-1663.
  6. Voltas, J.,Ferrio, J.P., Alonso, N., Araus, J.L. 2008. Stable carbon isotopes in archaeobotanical remains and palaeoclimate. Contributions to Science 4: 21-31.
  7. Ferrio, J.P., Voltas, J.,Buxó, R., Rovira, N., Aguilera, M., Bort, J., Serret, M.D., Araus, J.L. 2008. Sustainability of the early Mediterranean Agriculture. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A (Water Culture and Water Conflict in the Mediterranean Area) 83:17-23.
  • Heavy metals in plants  
  1. Lopes, M.S., Iglesia-Turiño, S., Cabrera-Bosquet, L., Serret, M.D., Bort,J., Febrero, A., Araus, J.L. 2013. Molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with root exposition to mercury in barley. Metallomics5, 1305–1315
  2. Caldelas, C.,  Araus, J.L.,  Febrero, A., Bort, J., 2012.Accumulation and toxic effects of chromium and zinc in Iris pseudacorus L. ActaPhysiologiaePlantarum34:1217–1228.
  3. Caldelas, C., Dong, S., Araus, J.L., Weiss, D.J. 2010.Zinc isotopic fractionation inPhragmitesaustralis in response to toxic levels of zinc. Journal of Experimental Botany 62: 2169-2178.
  4. Caldelas C., Iglesia-Turiño S., Araus,  J.L., Bort J., Febrero A. 2009. Physiological responses of Eichhorniacrassipes[Mart.] Solms to the combined exposure to excess nutrients and Hg. Brazilian  Journal of  Plant Physiology 21: 01-12