Carmen Romeralo Tapia

I am a forest pathologist interested in studying tree fungal diseases, host-pathogen interactions and control of plant diseases. I have a keen interest in invasive pathogens and ways to obviate their impact. I am currently working on how the biotic environment experienced by the parents, in particular, the mothers, can influence the offspring phenotype in terms of growth, chemical traits, resistance to pathogen infections and associated biodiversity (i.e. maternal effects).

I have interest in fungal endophytes (i.e. fungi that live inside plants) and how they vary in different ecosystems, their relation to host physiology and how they influence plant disease.

My PhD mainly focused on the biological control of the pathogen Gremmeniella abietina though I worked on different aspects of the fungus, including the study of its life cycle and the severity and incidence of the disease in the field. In addition, I have worked with other fungal pathogens including Fusarium circinatum, Heterobasidion anossum, Phytophthora sp., Diplodia pinea, Armillaria sp. and with many other fungal species such as Trichoderma, Aureobasidion, Truncatella, etc.

During the development of my PhD, I took part in the teaching activity (lecture, lab
and/or field work) of the following University courses: Forest Pest and Diseases (Master MEDfOR, Erasmus Mundus Master Course Programme); Diagnosis and control of forest diseases (Master of Research in Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Systems) and Forest Pest and Diseases (Bachelor of Forestry Engineering).

National and European projects:
* Biological Control of Gremmeniella abietina in Spain (AGL2008-03622).
* Mycoviruses as biological controllers of pine pitch canker (AGL2012-39912). 
* PLURIFOR: Transnational plans for the management of forests risks (Interreg Sudoe). 
* REINFFORCE: REsource INFrastructure for monitoring and adapting European Atlantic FORests under Changing climate. 
* COST ACTION FP1406 - Pine pitch canker - strategies for management of Gibberella circinata in greenhouses and forests (PINESTRENGTH).
Government projects:
* ICP-Forest Monitoring Network Level II in Spain (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
* Characterization and location of Quercus sp. with symptoms of Oak Decline (2006, 2007).
* Measurements of eradication and control of Fusarium circinatum in pine stands (2006, 2007).
* Field sampling to determine the presence of Phytophthora spp. in alder stands (2006, 2007).
* Regional Forest Health Monitoring Network (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
* Phytosanitary evaluation of unique Elms and Chestnuts (2006, 2007).

Professional and academic experience 
2019-2021 Postdoctoral Researcher from Carl Trygger's foundation at Southern Sweden Forest Research Centre, from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden. "Consequences of tree decline for seedling performance via maternal effects".
2017-2018 Postdoctoral Researcher (Junior Researcher) at Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Palencia, Spain. "Transnational Plans for the Management of Forest Risks, Interreg Sudoe PLURIFOR" and "Pine pitch canker - strategies for management of Gibberella circinata in greenhouses and forests (PINESTRENGTH) COST Action.
2015-2016 Research collaborator-Transfer of knowledge agent at Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Palencia, Spain.
2010-2015 PhD Student at Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Palencia, Spain. "Management of Gremmeniella abietina by means of biological control agents and host resistance"
2008-2009 Undergraduate Research Assistant at Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. "Reliability of Rotfinder instrument in detecting decay in standing trees".
2005-2008 Forest Engineer (Forest Pathologist) at Tecmena S.L., Madrid, Spain. IPC Forest Monitoring Networks.

Education
2015 PhD University of Valladolid.
2012 Master´s Degree in Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Systems. University of Valladolid.
2010 MSc Forest Engineer. University of Lleida.
2005 BSc Forest Engineer. University of Valladolid.

I have been co-supervisor of two Msc students, the external reviewer of one PhD Thesis and member of a tribunal of another PhD candidate.

Peer-reviewed journals:
8. Romeralo C.*, Bezos D.*, Martínez-Álvarez P., Diez J.J. (2018). Vertical Transmission of Fusarium circinatum Mitoviruses FcMV1 and FcMV2-2 via Microconidia. Forests 9, 356; doi:10.3390/f9060356. * (both authors contributed equally).
7. Romeralo C., Witzell J., Diez J.J. (2016). Aleppo pine provenances vary in susceptibility and secondary chemical response to Gremmeniella abietina infection. Plant Pathology 65: 664-672.
6. Romeralo C., Witzell J., Romeralo-Tapia R., Botella L., Diez J.J. (2015). Antagonistic
activity of fungal endophyte filtrates against Gremmeniella abietina infections on
Aleppo pine seedlings. European Journal of Plant Pathology 143: 691-704.
5. Romeralo C., Santamaria O., Pando V., Diez J.J. (2015). Fungal endophytes reduce
necrosis length produced by Gremmeniella abietina in Pinus halepensis seedlings.
Biological Control 80: 30-39.
4. Romeralo, C., Diez, J.J., Santiago, F. (2012). Presence of fungi in pine needles found
to correlate with air quality as measured by bioindicators in Northern Spain. Forest
Pathology 42: 443-453.
3. Romeralo C., Botella L., Santamaria O., Diez J., (2012). Effect of putative mitoviruses
on in vitro growth of Gremmeniella abietina isolates under different laboratory
conditions. Forest Systems 21 (3): 515-525.
2. Prieto-Recio, C., Romeralo, C., Bezos, D., Martín-García, J., Martínez-Álvarez, P.,
Botella, L., Diez, J.J. (2012). First Report of Heterobasidion annosum on Pinus pinaster in
Spain. Plant Disease 96: 770-770.
1. Oliva, J., Romeralo, C., Stenlid, J. (2011). Accuracy of the Rotfinder instrument in
detecting decay on Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees. Forest Ecology and Management
262: 1378-1386.

Publications in peer-reviewed conference proceedings:
* Romeralo, C., Côté C., Laflamme G., Santamaría, O., Paredes V., Diez, J.J. Estudio de la presencia y distribución de Gremmeniella abietina en Castilla y León a través de evaluación en campo e imágenes de satélite. 7th Spanish Forest Congress, Plasencia, Spain. June 2017.
* Romeralo, C., Witzell, J., Diez, J.J. Diferentes procedencias de pino carrasco varían en su respuesta a la infección del patógeno Gremmeniella abietina. III Reunión Grupo de Trabajo de Sanidad Forestal. Madrid, October 2015.
* Romeralo C., Botella L., Santamaría O., Diez J.J. Fungal endophytes reduced necrosis length produced by Gremmeniella abietina in Pinus halepensis seedlings. 5th International Symposium on Plant Protection and Plant Health in Europe. Endophytes for plant protection: the state of the art. Berlin, Germany, 2013.
* Romeralo C., Botella L., Santamaría O., Diez J.J. Control biológico de Gremmeniella abietina con endófitos en plántulas de pino carrasco en invernadero. 6th Spanish Forest Congress. Vitoria, Spain, 2013.
* Romeralo Tapia C., Oliva Palau J., Stenlid J. Fiabilidad del instrumento de precisión Rotfinder en la detección de la pudrición de árboles en pie. 5º Congreso Forestal Español. Ávila, España. September 2009.
* Romeralo C., Díez J., Santiago N.F. Estudio de bioindicadores relacionados con la contaminación e incidencia en masas de Pinus sylvestris L. próximas a una central térmica en el norte de España. V Internacional Congress / XI National Congress of Environmental Sciences. University of Morelos State, Mexico, 2006.

Forest Pathology Lab-Alnarp