International Network of Plant Abiotic Stress

STSM Grantee: MSc. Miren Sequera Mutiozabal (University of Barcelona (UB),
Faculty of Pharmacy). miren.sequera@gmail.com
 
 
Host Institute: Cyprus University  of Technology, Department of Agricultural
and Food Science. Dr. Vasileios Fotopoulos.  vassilis.fotopoulos@cut.ac.cy
Date of stay: May, 9th – August, 10th
Background
It is well known that  oxidative stress occurs due to excessive accumulation of ROS
under various abiotic stress conditions. This can cause oxidative damage, ultimately
leading to cell death. However, recent oxidative stress studies have opened a new
concept of ROS as being ubiquitous stress markers and signaling species. On the
other hand, over the past years the free radical nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a new
signal molecule in many important physiological processes in higher plants, and it has
recently also  become  apparent  that NO and NO-derived molecules are involved in
plant response to a multitude of abiotic stresses.  
 
Purpose of the visit
During my stay working with Dr. Vasileios Fotopoulos’  team,  I had the opportunity to
learn a variety of physiological, histochemical and biochemical techniques related with
characterization of oxidative  and nitrosative  response  under  abiotic stress  conditions
(including ROS and NO quantification), in order to characterise  the Arabidopsis pao1,
pao2 and pao4 mutants response, when they are grown under abiotic stress conditions
like drought or high salinity. I would like to mention that the knowledge acquired in
Cyprus will allow, in the immediate future, to carry out similar analyses inside our group
at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Referring to the hosting group and the facilities  I must say that I had an encouraging
and remarkable experience. Every member of the team was kind and considerate and I
am grateful for all the support. Since then new forms  of collaboration between  both
groups have emerged and published material is expected to arise.
I would like to thank COST Action FA0605 for financial support of this  successfully
accomplished STSM.