Our research group (www.devoleg.es) at Mision Biologica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC) is focused on the adaptive responses of crops, mainly legumes, including a large seed collection with many landraces and primitive accessions, to their main environmental constraints to ultimately improve yield performance. These studies are carried out at different levels: 1) molecular including gene signalization pathway studies, 2) cellular through the microscopic characterization, 3) plant through physiological studies, and 4) crop scale by mean of greenhouse and field assays. The final aim is the breeding of crops for a more durable tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses.

CSIC is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe with more than 15,000 staff, of whom more than 3,300 are permanent researchers and about 4,300 are pre- and post-doctoral researched. Its mission is to foster, coordinate, develop and promote scientific and technological research, of a multidisciplinary nature, in order to contribute to advancing knowledge and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to train staff and advise public and private entities on this matter. Its research is driven by its centres and institutes, which are spread across all the country. CSIC has considerable experience in both participating and managing R&D projects and training of research personnel. Under the 7th Framework Programme CSIC signed 718 actions. Funding wise, CSIC is listed the 1st organisation in Spain and the 5th in Europe in the 7th Framework Programme, with a total FP7 contribution of over 260 million euros. Its research is driven by its 130 centres and institutes, which are spread across all the country.

Among these, our group Plant Development Genetics Group at the Mision Biologica de Galicia (MBG) has a wide experience in legume agronomy, plant breeding and crop protection, having the necessary infrastructure for plant research as well as wide cooperation with stake holders. The Research team use a variety of methodological techniques to accomplish their objectives, including transcriptomics (RNA-seq), general molecular biology, and plant genetics. Detailed information on the DEVOLEG group can be found at: www.devoleg.es and www.genecrop.es.