Education

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, 1987

Current position

Research Professor, Institute Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA, Instituto Agroquímica y Tecnología Alimentos), The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Publications (last 5 years)

1. Lado, J., Cronje, P., Rodrigo, M. J. and Zacarías, L. (2015). Involvement of lycopene in the induction of tolerance to chilling injury in grapefruits. Postharvest Biol Tec 100: 176-186.
   
2. Lado, J., Alós, E., Rodrigo, M. J. and Zacarías, L. (2015). Light avoidance reduces ascorbic acid accumulation in the peel of Citrus fruit. Plant Sci 231: 138-147.
3. Alférez, F. and Zacarías, L. (2014). Influence of fruit maturity in the susceptibility of Navelina oranges to develop postharvest non-chilling peel pitting. Food Sci Technol Int 20(3): 183-191.  
   
4. Pons, E., Alquezar, B., Rodriguez, A., Martorell, P., Genoves, S., Ramon, D., Rodrigo, M. J., Zacarías, L. and Pena, L. (2014). Metabolic engineering of beta-carotene in orange fruit increases its in vivo antioxidant properties. Plant Biotechnol J 12(1): 17-27.
   
5. Rodriguez, A., Shimada, T., Cervera, M., Alquezar, B., Gadea, J., Gomez-Cadenas, A., De Ollas, C. J., Rodrigo, M. J., Zacarías, L. and Pena, L. (2014). Terpene down-regulation triggers defense responses in transgenic orange leading to resistance against fungal pathogens. Plant Physiol 164(1): 321-339.
   
6. Alós, E., Distefano, G., Rodrigo, M. J., Gentile, A. and Zacarías, L. (2014). Altered sensitivity to ethylene in 'Tardivo', a late-ripening mutant of Clementine mandarin. Physiol Plant 151(4): 507-521.
   
7. Alós, E., Rodrigo, M. J. and Zacarías, L. (2014). Differential transcriptional regulation of L-ascorbic acid content in peel and pulp of citrus fruits during development and maturation. Planta 239(5): 1113-1128.
   
8. Lado, J., Rodrigo, M. J. and Zacarías, L. (2014). Analysis of ethylene biosynthesis and perception during postharvest cold storage of Marsh and Star Ruby grapefruits. Food Sci Technol Int. (Epub ahead of print)
   
9. Lado, J., Rodrigo, M.J., Zacarías L. (2014). Maturity indicators and citrus fruit quality. Stewart Postharvest Review 2: 3
   
10. Alós, E., Rodrigo, M. J. and Zacarías, L. (2013). Transcriptomic analysis of genes involved in the biosynthesis, recycling and degradation of L-ascorbic acid in pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.). Plant Sci 207: 2-11.
    
11. Alquezar B., Rodrigo M.J., Lado J., Zacarías, L. (2013). A comparative physiological and transcriptional study of carotenoid biosynthesis in white and red grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.).Tree Genetics and Genome 9:1257 -1269.
    
12. Rodrigo, M. J., Alquezar, B., Alós, E., Medina, V., Carmona, L., Bruno, M., Al-Babili, S. and Zacarías, L. (2013). A novel carotenoid cleavage activity involved in the biosynthesis of Citrus fruit-specific apocarotenoid pigments. J Exp Bot 64(14): 4461-4478.
    
13. Rodrigo, M. J., Alquezar, B., Alós, E., Lado, J. and Zacarías, L. (2013). Biochemical bases and molecular regulation of pigmentation in the peel of Citrus fruit. Sci Horticulturae 163(SI): 46-62.
    
14. Romero, P., Rodrigo, M. J., Alferez, F., Ballester, A. R., Gonzalez-Candelas, L., Zacarías, L. and Lafuente, M. T. (2012). Unravelling molecular responses to moderate dehydration in harvested fruit of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) using a fruit-specific ABA-deficient mutant. J Exp Bot 63(7): 2753-2767.
    
15. Carmona, L., Zacarías, L., Rodrigo, M. J. (2012). Stimulation of coloration and carotenoid biosynthesis during postharvest storage of `Navelina´orange fruit at 12 ºC. Postharvest Biol Tec 74: 108-117.
    
16. Rivas, F., Fornes, F., Rodrigo, M. J., Zacarías, L., Agustí, M. (2011). Changes in carotenoids and ABA content in Citrus leaves in response to girdling. Sci Horticulturae 127: 482-487.
    
17. Rodriguez, A., San Andres, V., Cervera, M., Redondo, A., Alquezar, B., Shimada, T., Gadea, J., Rodrigo, M. J., Zacarías, L., Palou, L., Lopez, M. M., Castanera, P. and Pena, L. (2011). Terpene down-regulation in orange reveals the role of fruit aromas in mediating interactions with insect herbivores and pathogens. Plant Physiol 156(2): 793-802.
    
18. Rodriguez, A., San Andres, V., Cervera, M., Redondo, A., Alquezar, B., Shimada, T., Gadea, J., Rodrigo, M., Zacarías, L., Palou, L., Lopez, M. M., Castanera, P. and Pena, L. (2011). The monoterpene limonene in orange peels attracts pests and microorganisms. Plant Signal Behav 6(11): 1820-1823.
    
19. Gonzalez-Candelas, L., Alamar, S., Sanchez-Torres, P., Zacarías, L. and Marcos, J. F. (2010). A transcriptomic approach highlights induction of secondary metabolism in citrus fruit in response to Penicillium digitatum infection. BMC Plant Biol 10: 194.
    
20. Rios, G., Naranjo, M. A., Rodrigo, M. J., Alós, E., Zacarías, L., Cercos, M. and Talon, M. (2010). Identification of a GCC transcription factor responding to fruit colour change events in citrus through the transcriptomic analyses of two mutants. BMC Plant Biol 10: 276.
    
21. Alférez, F., Alquezar, B., Burns, J. K. and Zacarías, L. (2010). Variations in water, osmotic and turgor potentials in peel of 'Marsh' grapefruit during development of postharvest peel pitting. Postharvest Biol Tec 56: 44-49.
    
22. Alquezar, B., Mesejo, C., Alférez, F., Agustí and Zacarías, L. (2010). Morphological and ultrastructural changes in the peel of 'Navelate' oranges in relation to variations in relative humidity during postharvest storage and development of peel pitting. Postharvest Biol Tec 56: 163-170.
    
23. Orihuel-Iranzo, B., Miranda, M., Zacarías, L. and Lafuente, M. T. (2010). Temperature and ultra low oxygen effects and involvement of ethylene in chilling injury of 'Rojo Brillante' persimmon fruit. Food Sci Technol Int 16(2): 159-167.
    

Book chapters (last 5 years)

1. Zacarías, L.,  Ballester, A. R.,  Marcos, J. F. and Pérez-Gago, B. (2014). Avances en la postcosecha de frutas y hortalizas. Fundación Universidad-Empresa ADEIT.  
2. Rodrigo, M. J., Alquezar, B., Alferez, F. and Zacarías, L. (2012). Biochemistry of fruits and fruit products. (Chapter 2). In: Hiu, Y. H. (ed). Handbook of fruits processing and technology. Blackwell Publishing, 13-50. 
3. El-Otmani, M., Ait-Oubahou, A. and Zacarías, L. (2011). Citrus spp.: orange, mandarin, tangerine, clementine, grapefruit, pomelo, lemon and lime (Chapter 21). In: Yahia, E. M. (ed). Postharvest biology and technology of tropical and subtrocipal fruits. Woodhead Publishing Limited, 437-514.