Mexico has a high proportion of endemic genetic resources, unique worldwide that are of great value for the development of new agricultural alternatives that our environment demands. The Biotechnology approach applied to plant ecology and health that we carry out at INBIOTECA provides the basis for studying the fundamental mechanisms of genetic regulation and epigenetic control, in order to develop works of: conservation, management, genetic improvement, phytopathological diagnosis of pests and diseases that affect crops of agricultural, ornamental and forestry importance.
We carry out studies of genetic and epigenetic diversity in natural populations, we use biotechnological tools for the establishment, characterization, conservation and management of in vitro germplasm banks, for the genetic improvement of plants, and reproductive biology studies; We develop biotechnological protocols that allow the sanitation and diagnosis of phytopathogens in the tissue culture process, we use gene identification and monitoring techniques, associated with characteristics of commercial interest, in species selected for their agricultural, ecological and forestry interest. We apply molecular biology techniques to study the relationships of plants with the environment and other organisms.
We develop studies on the presence and degree of incidence of pathogens and diseases in certain crops and plant materials resulting from genetic improvement programs, in order to propose measures to protect the crop and prevent the spread of the pathogen. For this we use several approaches such as the study of the pathogenesis and the genetic and physiological functions, and the characterization at the genetic-molecular level of viruses and phytopathogenic and entomopathogenic microorganisms, we carry out taxonomic and genetic variation studies, as well as the ecological-evolutionary relationships of plant pathogens. Likewise, we evaluate the effectiveness of certain cultural, physical, chemical or biological methods to control pathogens, and we propose alternative biotechnological methods for the control of plant pathogens.
Another area of work is the development of alternatives for the elimination of organic and nitrogen compounds present in soils and wastewater, through studies that evaluate the edaphic population structure and the behavior of various microbial processes. We develop biotechnological strategies for the use of agro-industrial organic waste and the wastewater treatment industry in the generation of various biofuels such as ethanol, methane and hydrogen.
