Research interests:

The ecophysiological characterisation of the response of genotypes in extensive crops of cereals (barley and wheat) to the Mediterranean environmental conditions is compulsory for a proper implementation of breeding programs. Our collaboration with molecular biologists that obtain new variability using biotechnological tools allow evaluating in the field the behaviour of the new varieties, recognise those suitable to be introduced in breeding programs.

Phytoremediation: The use of plant species tolerant to high levels of contaminants in soils and waters, and with high capacity of bioaccumulation allows intervention and restoration activities with lower environmental impact than traditional techniques, more invasive and with adverse secondary effects.

Current research projects:

Collaboration in Spanish AGL2013-44147 (Fenotipeado de Precision a Gran Escala en Trigo Duro: Bases Fisiologicas y Herramientas de Seleccion) and Grups de Recerca de Qualitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 628, Ecofisiologia de Conreus Mediterranis).

Recent publications:

Caldelas C. , Araus J. L., Febrero A., Bort. J. 2012. Accumulation and toxic effects of chromium and zinc in Iris pseudacorus L. Acta Physiol Plant 34:1217–1228. doi : 10.1007/s11738-012-0956-4

Caldelas C., Bort J. & Febrero A. 2012. Ultrastructure and subcellular distribution of Cr in Iris pseudacorus L. using TEM and X-ray microanalysis. Cell Biol Toxicol 28:57–68. doi: 10.1007/s10565-011-9205-7

Araus J.L., Cabrera-Bosquet L., Serret M.D., Bort J. and 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. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP12254

Bort J., Belhaj Fraj M., Latiri K., Kehel Z. and 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 (2014), 152, 408–426, available on CJO2013. doi:10.1017/S0021859613000269

Lopes M. S., Iglesia-Turiño S., Cabrera-Bosquet L., Serret M. D., Bort J., Febrero A. and Araus J.L.. 2013. Molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with root exposure to mercury in barley. Metallomics, 5 (9), 1305-1315. doi: 10.1039/c3mt00084b

Sanchez‐Bragado R, Elazab A, Zhou B, Serret MD, Bort J, Nieto‐Taladriz MT, Araus JL (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. J Integr Plant Biol 56(5):444-54. doi: 10.1111/jipb.12106

Zhou B, Sanz‐Sáez Á, Elazab A, Shen T, Sánchez‐Bragado R, Bort J, Serret MD, Araus JL (2014) Physiological traits contributed to the recent increase in yield potential of winter wheat from Henan Province, China. J Integr Plant Biol 56(5):492-504. doi: 10.1111/jipb.12148

B. Zhou · A. Elazab · J. Bort · O. Vergara · M.D. Serret ·J.L. Araus (2015). Low-cost assessment of wheat resistance to yellow rust through conventional RGB images. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture; 116:20-29. DOI:10.1016/j.compag.2015.05.017