Cryopreservation – Plant Genetic Resources Conservation

 

Dr María González-Benito

ORCID: 0000-0002-6330-332X

Professor – SPAIN

Department of Biotechnology and Plant Biology – ETSIAABTechnical University of Madrid (UPM)

me.gonzalezbenito@upm.es

Address

Campus Ciudad Universitaria
Av. Puerta de Hierro, nº 2 – 4
28040 Madrid

SPAIN

Research

I am interested in ex situ plant genetic resources conservation,  in particular the improvement of longevity and quality of the conserved plant material. My research has been focused mainly on plant cryopreservation, and secondly on seed longevity. My expertise also includes plant in vitro culture techniques. https://blogs.upm.es/plantgermresearch/

Teaching

  • Lecturer and Coordinator of the following courses:
    • Plant Biology (first year Agronomy Bachelor Degree)
    • Cell Cultures (third year Biotechnology Bachelor Degree)
  • Participant in the Erasmus+ strategic partnership “ESCAPAdE” (EraSmus Curricula in Applied PlAnt SciEnces)

Selected publications

      1. Ibañez M.A., Alvarez-Mari A., Rodriguez-Sanz H., Kremer C., Gonzalez-Benito M.E., Martín C,. 2019. Genetic and epigenetic stability of recovered mint apices after several steps of a cryopreservation protocol by encapsulation-dehydration. A new approach for epigenetic analysis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 143: 299–307 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.08.026
      2. Mira S., Veiga-Barbosa L., Gonzalez-Benito M.E., Perez-Garcia F., 2018. Inter-population variation in germination characteristics of Plantago lanceolata seeds: effects of temperature, osmotic stress and salinity. Mediterranean Botany 39: 89-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/MBOT.60079.
      3. González-Benito M.E., Kremer C., Ibáñez M.A.; Martin C., 2016. Effect of antioxidants on the genetic stability of cryopreserved mint shoot tips by encapsulation–dehydration. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organe Culture 127: 359-368. doi:10.1007/s11240-016-1056-8
      4. Martín C., Kremer C., González I. & González-Benito M.E. 2015. Influence of the cryopreservation technique, recovery medium and genotype on genetic stability of mint cryopreserved shoot tips. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organe Culture 122:185-195 doi 10.1007/s11240-015-0760-0
      5. Mira, S. Estrelles, E. & González-Benito M.E., 2015. Effect of water content and temperature on seed longevity of seven Brassicaceae species after 5 years of storage. Plant Biology 17:153-162. doi: 10.1111/plb.12183.