Professor of Biochemical Genetics and Plant Physiology
Vagner Benedito obtained his Ph.D. in Plant Sciences from Wageningen University (The
Netherlands) in 2004. He also has a Masters in Horticulture from the University of
Sao Paulo (Brazil) and an Agronomy degree from the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil).
Prof. Benedito researches how genes contribute to develop traits of agronomical importance
by using biological models. He runs the Laboratory of Plant Functional Genetics,
and works to discover and characterize genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation
in the model legume,
Medicago truncatula, a close relative to alfalfa. He also uses the dwarf tomato
cultivar ‘Micro-Tom’ to understand acquisition of competence during
in vitro
organogenesis of plants, and the metabolism of anthocyanin in different tissues of
the tomato fruit. By identifying and characterizing the molecular functions of the
genes involved in these processes, his group aims ultimately to contribute with tools
to facilitate the development of crops with improved traits, including efficient
nitrogen metabolism, fruit and vegetables with improved nutritional value (biofortification)
and better protocols to regenerate and propagate plants
in vitro.
Publications
- Kryvoruchko IS, Sinharoy S, Torres-Jerez I, Sosso D, Pislariu CI, Guan D, Murray
JD, Benedito VA, Frommer WB, Udvardi MK (2016) MtSWEET11, a nodule-specific sucrose
transporter of
Medicago truncatula root nodules.
Plant Physiology
171:554-565
- Breuillin-Sessoms F, Floss DS, Gomez SK, Pumplin N, Ding Y, Levesque-Tremblay V,
Noar RD, Daniels DA, Bravo A, Eaglesham JB, Benedito VA, Udvardi MK, Harrison
MJ (2015) Suppression of arbuscule degeneration in
Medicago truncatula
phosphate transporter4
mutants is dependent on the Ammonium Transporter 2 family protein AMT2;3.
Plant Cell
27:1352-1366
- Maditz KH, Benedito VA, Oldaker C, Nanda N, Lateef SS, Livengood R, Tou JC (2015)
Feeding soy protein isolate and n-3 PUFA affects polycystic liver disease progression
in a PCK rat model of autosomal polycystic kidney disease.
Nutrition Research
34:526-534
- Morton JB, Benedito VA, Panaccione DG, Jenks MA (2014) Potential for industrial
application of microbes in symbioses that influence plant productivity and sustainability
in agricultural, natural, or restored ecosystems.
Industrial Biotechnology
10:347-353
- Sestari I, Zsögön A, Rehder GG, Teixeira LL, Hassimotto NMA, Purgatto E, Benedito
VA, Peres LEP (2014) Near-isogenic lines enhancing ascorbic acid, anthocyanin
and carotenoid content in tomato (
Solanum lycopersicum
L. cv. Micro-Tom) as a tool to produce nutrient-rich fruits.
Scientia Horticulturae
175:111-120
-
Benedito VA, Modolo LV (2014) Introduction to metabolic genetic engineering for
the production of valuable secondary metabolites in in vivo and in vitro plant
systems.
Recent Patents on Biotechnology
8:61-75
- Sinharoy S, Torres-Jerez I, Kereszt A, Pislariu CI, Nakashima J, Benedito VA, Kondorosi
E, Udvardi MK (2013) The C2H2 transcription factor REGULATOR OF SYMBIOSE DIFFERENTIATION
represses transcription of the secretory pathway gene MtVAMP721a and promotes
symbiosome development in Medicago truncatula.
Plant Cell
25: 3584-3601