Maria Carlota Vaz Patto

I am a Principal Investigator at Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA, Oeiras, Portugal) where I am also the Coordinator of the ITQB NOVA Plant Sciences Division and Head of the PlantX Lab. My research focus on the elucidation of the genetic and genomic basis of plant complex traits, using different statistical genetic and genomic approaches. Currently my lab is working on nutritional/health beneficial and organoleptic plant quality traits, and resistance to biotic (fungal diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (drought and flood) on legumes (with a particular focus on grass pea). I have been actively contributing for more than 20 years to the grass pea community through research and dissemination, mainly on the area of plant quantitative genetics applied to breeding, and promoting the participatory engagement of young researchers and end-users (farmers/processors/consumers) on the exploitation of the high potential of this underused legume. I am presently Vice President of the International Legume Society.