Victoria Fernández

Victoria Fernández
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Victoria verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
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Victoria verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | UPM · Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales

PhD

About

105
Publications
158,960
Reads
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4,370
Citations
Additional affiliations
January 2011 - present
April 2005 - December 2010
Spanish National Research Council
Position
  • PostDoc Position
March 2000 - September 2004
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Position
  • Wissenschaftlicher mitarbeiter
Education
March 2000 - December 2003
September 1997 - June 1999

Publications

Publications (105)
Article
Full-text available
Foliar fertilization is an agricultural practice of increasing importance in practical terms. Since nutrient sprays are mostly applied as water solutions, the focus of the article was placed on the penetration of ionic, polar solutes through the leaf surface, although the mechanisms of cuticular penetration of lipophilics are also taken into consid...
Article
Full-text available
Plant trichomes play important protective functions and may have a major influence on leaf surface wettability. With the aim of gaining insight into trichome structure, composition and function in relation to water-plant surface interactions, we analyzed the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) as model. By measuring the l...
Article
Full-text available
The surface of most aerial plant organs is covered with a cuticle that provides protection against multiple stress factors including dehydration. Interest on the nature of this external layer dates back to the beginning of the 19th century and since then, several studies facilitated a better understanding of cuticular chemical composition and struc...
Article
The absorption of water and solutes by plant leaves has been recognised since more than two centuries. Given the polar nature of water and solutes, the mechanisms of foliar uptake have been proposed to be similar for water and electrolytes, including nutrient solutions. Research efforts since the 19th century focussed on characterising the properti...
Article
Full-text available
Many biological surfaces have hairs, known as trichomes in plants. Here, the wettability and macro-and micro-scale features of olive leaves are analyzed. The upper leaf side has few trichomes, while the lower side has a high trichome density. By combining different techniques including electron and atomic force microscopy, trichome surfaces are fou...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
about 400 words maximum) Recent nanotechnology approaches in agriculture have promoted the development of foliar fertilization trials as an alternative means to supply nutrients to crop plants. Foliar treatments may improve crop yield and quality and help alleviate stress factors which are becoming more frequent and severe on a global scale, such a...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Foliar application of agrochemical sprays may improve crop yield and quality in agricultural production under stress conditions which are becoming more frequent worldwide. Although calcite (CaCO3) and kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) are already supplied in some fruit growing areas as routine treatments, little is known about their impact on plant physiol...
Poster
Full-text available
Foliar fertilizer sprays are often applied to fruit crops during the growing season for improving plant nutrient status. However, the efficacy of foliar spray treatments may be variable due to factors such as fertilizer formulation properties, environmental conditions or crop physiological state at the time of treatment. Focusing on improving the r...
Technical Report
Full-text available
La variedad de las superficies vegetales es un tesoro biológico aún por explorar. Si la ciencia imita la naturaleza, hay todo un campo en el que apenas se ha mirado: el haz y el envés de las hojas de las plantas. Pero empezamos a asomarnos. Muchos seres vivos poseen pelos de diferente composición y estructura, y entre los seres vivos con pelo tambi...
Article
Full-text available
The application of foliar sprays of suspensions of relatively insoluble essential element salts is gradually becoming common, chiefly with the introduction of nano-technology approaches in agriculture. However, there is controversy about the effectiveness of such sparingly soluble nutrient sources as foliar fertilizers. In this work, we focussed on...
Article
Full-text available
Grapevine is one of the most important perennial fruit crops worldwide. Historically, vineyards were compatible with soil conservation practices and multitrophic biodiversity, but vineyards are now generally eroded and biologically impoverished, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases. However, the idiosyncrasy of the wine sector places...
Article
Full-text available
Soil phosphorus (P) application is the most common fertilisation technique but may involve constraints due to chemical fixation and microbial immobilisation. Furthermore, excessive P fertilisation leads to P runoff into water bodies, threatening ecosystems, so targeted foliar P fertilisation is an interesting alternative. This study aimed to determ...
Article
Full-text available
Foliar fertilisation is an alternative form of nutrient application, which is of particular interest for phosphorus (P), where the efficiency of soil fertilisation is low. However, the uptake of foliar-applied nutrients is insufficiently characterised. The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and combined significance of wettability,...
Article
Full-text available
Global change is affecting the frequency and temporal distribution of frost events. We can expect damage caused by low temperatures to increase specially at the upper limit of a species’ elevation range. Here, we assessed how Pinus canariensis two-year old seedlings from different islands and elevations responded differently to chilling and freezin...
Article
Full-text available
The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of foliar absorption of magnesium (Mg) salts with different deliquescence and efflorescence relative humidity values (DRH and ERH, also known as point of deliquescence (POD) and point of efflorescence (POE), respectively) when supplied to leaves of model plants with different wettability properti...
Article
Full-text available
Foliar nutrient sprays are broadly used in commercial agriculture. To date, the application of Ca and Si has been little explored in vineyard production but may lead to positive responses at various levels. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplying single or combined calcium (Ca, 120 mM) and silicon (Si, 120 mM) sprays...
Article
Full-text available
Foliar fertilisation is an application technique that is increasingly being used in agriculture and offers the possibility of providing nutrients directly to the site of highest demand. Especially for phosphorus (P), foliar application is an interesting alternative to soil fertilisation, but foliar uptake mechanisms are poorly understood. To gain a...
Article
Full-text available
Aerosols can contribute to plant nutrition via foliar uptake. The conditions for this are best at night because the humidity is high and hygroscopic, saline deposits can deliquesce as a result. Still, stomata tend to be closed at night to avoid unproductive water loss. However, if needed, nutrients are on the leaf surface, and plants could benefit...
Article
Full-text available
Potassium (K) is an essential element, which is often supplied to horticultural crops via foliar spraying. Some studies have investigated the effect of different foliar-applied K compounds; however, most studies have focussed on crop quality and yield parameters, or were performed with isolated leaf cuticles. The aim of this study was to evaluate t...
Article
Full-text available
The ability of trichomes to absorb water and detoxify metals has important implications for plant growth, ecology, the environment, and agriculture. This review discusses the occurrence, mechanisms, and consequences of water absorption and metal detoxication by trichomes. Critical future research directions regarding these two functions of trichome...
Article
Increasing CO2 air concentration may affect wettability, anatomy and ultra-structure of leaves of Patagonian forest species, evergreen and deciduous plants potentially responding differently to such CO2 increases. In this study, we analysed the wettability, anatomy and ultra-structure of leaves of Nothofagus antarctica (deciduous) and N. betuloides...
Article
Full-text available
The essential plant nutrient phosphorus (P) is key for numerous structures and processes in crops and its deficiency can severely restrict yield and quality. As soil P availability for plant uptake is often limited, foliar P application can be an alternative means of supplying P to the plants during the growth period. This study was aimed at invest...
Article
Full-text available
Resprouting species, such as English holly (Ilex aquifolium L.), can be severely affected by long-lasting forest management. In the present study, the clonal and fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) of English holly are evaluated in a sub-Mediterranean mixed forest of Central Spain, where this species was subjected to different and intense h...
Article
Full-text available
In this study, the rate of absorption and transport of calcium (Ca) in orange fruits (Citrus sinensis cv. Fukumoto) after surface treatment with 45Ca was evaluated by supplying treatments at different dates between fruit set and mid-phase II of growth (i.e., 30, 44, 66 and 99 days after full bloom, DAFB). 45Ca absorption was always detected, but 45...
Technical Report
Full-text available
Hace décadas que expertos en ciencia de materiales de todo el mundo tratan de dar respuesta a un bellísimo fenómeno de la naturaleza: el modo en que las esféricas gotitas de rocío se adhieren a los pétalos de la flor más popular del mundo, y no se caen, aunque pongamos la flor boca abajo. Este fenómeno recibe el nombre de efecto pétalo de rosa. Enc...
Chapter
Leaves are protected by the cuticle, stomata and other epidermal structures against the uncontrolled exchange of matter with the environment. Nevertheless, solutes such as mineral fertilizers, biostimulants or pesticides may penetrate the external plant surface Meanwhile, foliar application of plant nutrients is a common agricultural practice, espe...
Article
Full-text available
Rose petals can involve high water contact angles together with drop adhesion which are antagonistic wetting properties. Petal surfaces have a cuticle, a layer that is generally considered a continuous, hydrophobic lipid coating. The peculiar properties of rose petals are not fully understood and have only been associated with high surface roughnes...
Article
Full-text available
The cuticle is a lipid-rich layer that protects aerial plant organs against multiple stress factors such as dehydration. In this study, cuticle composition and structure in relation to water loss are examined in a broad ecophysiological context, taking into consideration leaf age and side from Ilex aquifolium (holly) in comparison with Eucalyptus g...
Article
Full-text available
Trichomes are potentially important for absorption of foliar fertilizers, yet little is known in this regard despite previous study showing that the non-glandular trichromes (NGTs) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) accumulate high concentrations of foliar-applied Zn. This study investigated how foliar-applied Zn accumulates in the NGTs and the subse...
Article
Full-text available
Calcium (Ca) is often supplied to crop species to prevent the occurrence of Ca-related disorders. Mechanisms of Ca absorption and transport are not fully understood and the effectiveness of root and/or foliar Ca fertilization may be variable. To characterize the rate of Ca absorption and transport, trials were developed with chili pepper and sweet...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Hygroscopic salts are often applied as foliar fertilizers and calcium (Ca) salts have been used as model for cuticular permeability studies, with focus on their Point of Deliquescence (POD). Aim: This study was aimed at characterizing water sorption and desorption processes at 20, 30, and 40°C temperature (T), of two model Ca salts comm...
Article
Full-text available
BACKGROUND The mechanisms of calcium (Ca) absorption and transport in plants are still poorly understood. This study focused on assessing the absorption and distribution of Ca in different plant organs after root (soil), foliar, or fruit application to 6‐year‐old ‘Clemenules’ mandarin trees, grown in pots, using ⁴⁵Ca as a tracer. RESULTS The rate...
Article
Microbial processing of aggregate‐unprotected organic matter inputs is key for soil fertility, long‐term ecosystem carbon and nutrient sequestration and sustainable agriculture. We investigated the effects of adding multiple nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plus nine essential macro‐ and micro‐nutrients) on decomposition and biochemica...
Article
Growing conditions at different tree canopy positions may significantly vary and lead to foliar changes even within the same tree. An assessment of foliar anatomy, including also epidermal features, can help us understand how plants respond to environmental factors. Working with two model tree species (i.e., Quercus petraea and Fa-gus sylvatica) gr...
Article
Full-text available
Humic substances (HS, fulvic and humic acids) are widely used as fertilizers or plant growth stimulants, although their mechanism of action still remains partially unknown. Humic substances may be applied either directly to the soil or as foliar sprays. Despite both kind of application are commonly used in agricultural practices, most of the studie...
Data
Foliar fertilizer sprays are increasingly used in agriculture for improving crop yield and quality, and also for improving plant performance under potential abiotic and/or biotic stress threats. This chapter focuses on new findings related to the nature of plant surfaces as a barrier for the absorption of agrochemicals. The chapter describes curren...
Chapter
Foliar fertilizer sprays are increasingly used in agriculture for improving crop yield and quality, and also for improving plant performance under potential abiotic and/or biotic stress threats. This chapter focuses on new findings related to the nature of plant surfaces as a barrier for the absorption of agrochemicals. The chapter describes curren...
Article
Full-text available
Nutrient resorption is crucial for mineral element conservation and efficiency of forest species, but knowledge on its significance and the mechanisms involved is still limited for most species and habitats. Focusing on the harsh conditions for plant growth and survival of southern Patagonia, a field study for comparing the rate of foliar resorptio...
Article
The role of soil fertility in modulating plant water utilization from rainfall pulses under dryland conditions is poorly understood. Moreover, the effectiveness of soil fertilization in drylands is difficult to ensure due to immobilization of nutrients such as phosphorus and micronutrients. The use of foliar fertilization could overcome these diffi...
Article
Full-text available
Aims Despite the importance of foliar Zn fertilisation, it remains unclear how the Zn status of the plant itself influences the efficacy of foliar applied Zn, with this forming the focus of the present study. Methods Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was grown in nutrient solutions with either 0.5 (sufficient) or 0 μM Zn (deficient) to relate the abso...
Poster
Full-text available
Iron deficiency chlorosis of lemon trees induces changes at the leaf surface level which may affect solid/liquid/gas surface interactions and foliar permeability to different substances.
Article
Full-text available
Plant surfaces have a considerable degree of chemical and physical variability also in relation to different environmental conditions, organs and state of development. The potential changes on plant surface properties in association with environmental variations have been little explored so far. Using two model tree species (i.e., Quercus petraea,...
Chapter
Fruits may be exposed to several unfavourable mechanical, climatic and biological factors along ripening. Harvest and storage also challenge fruit integrity before fruits reach the consumer. In order to preserve its properties/characteristics it is essential that the structural and chemical integrity of the cuticle is maintained throughout fruit de...
Poster
Full-text available
Nutrient resorption understood as the“migration” of nutrients from leaves prior to abscission towards other tissues or for storage has been suggested to be a key component of nutrient conservation in deciduous forests pecies. Native forests in southern Argentinean Patagonia cover approximately 1.2 million ha, corresponding more than 95% of these fo...
Article
Full-text available
Most aerial plant surfaces are covered with a lipid-rich cuticle which is the barrier for the bidirectional transport of substances between the plant and the surrounding environment. This review article is aimed at giving an overview of the significance of the leaf cuticle as barrier for the deposition and absorption of water and electrolytes. Afte...
Article
Full-text available
Plant surface properties influence solid–liquid interactions and matter exchange between the organs and their surrounding environment. In the case of fruits, surface processes may be of relevance for seed production and dispersal. To gain insight into the relationship between surface structure, chemical composition and function of aerial reproducti...
Article
Full-text available
The importance of grasses and graminoids for sheep nutrition in Argentinian Patagonia is widely recognized. Focusing on sheep nutrition, we assessed the concentration of mineral elements in grasses growing in three ecological areas of southern Patagonia, representing a vegetation and climate gradient. With the aim of establishing potential relation...
Article
Full-text available
In this study we evaluated the leaf surface properties of maize populations native to different water availability environments. Leaf surface topography, wettability and gas exchange performance of five maize populations from the Sahara desert, dry (south) and humid (north-western) areas of Spain were analysed. Differences in wettability, stomatal...
Article
Full-text available
Plant cuticles have been traditionally classified on the basis of their ultra-structure, with certain chemical composition assumptions. However, the nature of the plant cuticle may be misinterpreted in the prevailing model, which was established more than 150 years ago. Using the adaxial leaf cuticle of Ficus elastica, a study was conducted with th...
Book
Full-text available
La fertilización foliar es una estrategia de nutrición de cultivos ampliamente utilizada y de creciente importancia a nivel mundial. Utilizándolos de manera adecuada, los fertilizantes foliares pueden ser más amigables con el medio ambiente y eficaces que la fertilización al suelo, aunque a veces la respuesta de las plantas a estos tratamientos pue...
Article
Full-text available
Plant surfaces have been found to have a major chemical and physical heterogeneity and play a key protecting role against multiple stress factors. During the last decade, there is a raising interest in examining plant surface properties for the development of biomimetic materials. Contact angle measurement of different liquids is a common tool for...
Article
Full-text available
European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pallas) populations are scarce, small and fragmented in the Iberian Peninsula. Due to these characteristics the indigenous status of the species in the region has been questioned, whilst the species’ role in Iberian riparian forest ecology has been neglected. Herein we review past studies regarding this species’ dis...
Article
Full-text available
Background and Aims Although foliar fertilisation using liquid forms of phosphorus (P) is not a new concept, its adoption has been hindered by a limited understanding of the variability in performance of fluid forms of foliar P applied to broadacre crops. There is a need to identify how the surface structure of leaves influences the uptake/transloc...
Article
Full-text available
Aims This study aimed to analyse the effect of phosphorus (P) nutritional status on wheat leaf surface properties, in relation to foliar P absorption and translocation. Methods Plants of Triticum aestivum cv. Axe were grown with three rates of root P supply (equivalent to 24, 8 and 0 kg P ha-1) under controlled conditions. Foliar P treatments were...
Article
Full-text available
The plant cuticle has traditionally been conceived as an independent hydrophobic layer that covers the external epidermal cell wall. Due to its complexity, the existing relationship between cuticle chemical composition and ultra-structure remains unclear to date. This study aimed to examine the link between chemical composition and structure of iso...
Article
Full-text available
While plant roots are specialized organs for the uptake and transport of water and nutrients, the absorption of gaseous or liquid mineral elements by aerial plant parts has been recognized since more than one century. Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient which generally absorbed either as nitrate (NO⁻3) or ammonium (NH⁺4) by plant roots. Gase...