Carmen Catalá

Our research focuses on the molecular regulation of fruit development using tomato as a model system. Fruit development is a crucial process in the sexual reproduction of flowering plants and of critical importance for seed dispersal, plant fitness and agricultural yield. We use molecular and genetic techniques to investigate the complex interplay of gene expression changes, signaling events, and hormonal activity, controlling fruit development.

The tissue-specific transcript landscape of the developing tomato fruit

Fruit are complex organs, comprising distinct tissues and cell types, that arise from the coordinated growth and development of floral tissues following pollination and fertilization. We have used Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) coupled with mRNA profiling (RNAseq) to analyze transcriptional changes during tomato fruit ontogeny with a high level of temporal and spatial resolution. We are building upon the data generated from our tissue-specific transcriptome studies by selecting candidate genes with potentially novel functions in the control of fruit development. (Pattison et al., 2015, Shinozaki et al., 2018) .

Spatial variation of the auxin response detected by the activity of an auxin responsive reporter driving the expression of a fluorescent protein.

Ovaries at anthesis showing fluorescence in the ovules (left). Seed showing auxin activity in the funiculus (right).

Fruit development under adverse environmental conditions

Successful fruit development after fertilization involves tightly regulated changes in gene expression, that can be severely affected by environmental stresses such as drought. We have analyzed the tissue specific transcriptional responses of tomato fruit developing under water deficit, and uncovered transcriptional networks controlling the responses of the fruit to abiotic stress (Nicolas et al., 2022).

Fruit from tomato plants exposed to prolonged water stress showing a substantial reduction in size.

Plants were grown under well-watered conditions at 40% volumetric water content or under water deficiency at three intensity levels.

We are also investigating the role that sugars and starch metabolism play in regulating tissue or cell-specific responses to drought stress (Nicolas et al., 2023). The long-term goal of this research is to elucidate the molecular pathways underlying adaptations and responses to drought during to the plant reproductive phase.

One of our projects explores the genetic diversity offered by tomato wild species, which are adapted to extreme habitats, to reveal genes and pathways underlying successful fruit development under adverse environments. We are generating comprehensive tissue-specific transcriptomes of tomato wild relatives and examining regulatory variation using allele-specific expression analysis in hybrids with cultivated varieties. Our main goal is to increase our understanding of the molecular basis for phenotypic variation in fruit development.  

Lab Members

Chiara Giraldo