College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Education

B.S University of Vigo (Spain), Biology
M.S University of Vigo (Spain), Advanced Biotechnology
Ph.D. University of Vigo (Spain), Plant Physiology 

Research

I completed my PhD at the University of Vigo, where I investigated the mode of action of two natural specialized metabolites, azelaic acid and harmaline, through a combination of morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses. My work aimed to support the development of environmentally friendly weed control strategies. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Eric Patterson’s lab at Michigan State University, expanding my research into weed genomics and herbicide resistance.

My current projects focus on characterizing the molecular mechanisms of resistance to PPO-inhibiting herbicides in key weed species such as Amaranthus and Ambrosia. This includes distinguishing between target-site and metabolic resistance and developing molecular diagnostics for early detection. I also coordinate HERMON, a multi-regional project focused on improving herbicide resistance monitoring across major U.S. soybean-producing regions. In addition, I contribute to a high-throughput protein modeling project (GREEEN) that uses AI to predict herbicide-target interactions and assess the impact of resistance mutations.

Publications

López-González, D., Usero, M. M., Hermida-Ramón, J. M., Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., Araniti, F., Teijeira, M., ... & Sánchez-Moreiras, A. M. (2024). Pelargonic acid’s interaction with the auxin transporter PIN1: A potential mechanism behind its phytotoxic effects on plant metabolism. Plant Science, 349, 112278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112278

Álvarez‐Rodríguez, S., Senizza, B., Araniti, F., Lucini, L., Lucchini, G., & Sánchez‐Moreiras, A. M. (2024). Evaluating the effects of azelaic acid in the metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings through untargeted metabolomics and ionomics approaches. Physiologia Plantarum, 176(5), e14550. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.14550

Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., Araniti, F., Teijeira, M., Reigosa, M. J., & Sánchez-Moreiras, A. M. (2024). Azelaic acid can efficiently compete for the auxin binding site TIR1, altering auxin polar transport, gravitropic response, and root growth and architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 210, 108592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108592

Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., Spinozzi, E., Sánchez-Moreiras, A. M., López-González, D., Ferrati, M., Lucchini, G., ... & Araniti, F. (2023). Investigating the phytotoxic potential of Carlina acaulis essential oil against the weed Bidens pilosa through a physiological and metabolomic approach. Industrial Crops and Products, 203, 117149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117149

Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., Alvite, C. M., Reigosa, M. J., Sánchez-Moreiras, A. M., & Araniti, F. (2023). Application of indole-alkaloid harmaline induces physical damage to photosystem II antenna complexes in adult plants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Journ al of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 71(15), 6073-6086. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00531

Araniti, F., Talarico, E., Madeo, M. L., Greco, E., Minervino, M., Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., ... & Bruno, L. (2023). Short-term exposition to acute cadmium toxicity induces the loss of root gravitropic stimuli perception through PIN2-mediated auxin redistribution in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Plant Science, 332, 111726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111726

Álvarez-Rodríguez, S., López-González, D., Reigosa, M. J., Araniti, F., & Sánchez-Moreiras, A. M. (2022). Ultrastructural and hormonal changes related to harmaline-induced treatment in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. root meristem. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 179, 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.03.022