Plants are constantly exposed to a variety of environmental stresses which severely influence plant growth, crop productivity and the nutritional values of food products. Plant evolved several mechanisms to minimize potential damages caused by environmental stresses. Stress response is a very complex trait that requires a profound metabolic reprogramming. Alterations of the expression patterns of many genes, proteins and metabolites have been reported. Different approaches (molecular biology, genetics, physiology, genetical engineering) have been used to unravel the mechanisms underlying stress tolerance. However, the metabolic processes underpinning the plant responses to environmental stresses remain largely unknown.

We have a main interest in the research of temperature stresses and drought, which are interrelated and greatly affect plant productivity. We use a wide range of techniques, including functional genomics and proteomics, to study these important problems in plant stress biology.

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