About

Bárbara Blanco-Ulate is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from UC Davis, earned in 2014, and a B.Sc. in Biotechnology Engineering from Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica, obtained in 2008. Her research program primarily focuses on fruit biology, encompassing projects related to fruit genomics, biochemistry, and applied postharvest research. Her interests include controlling fruit ripening, improving fruit quality, and understanding fruit-pathogen interactions. She integrates systems biology approaches with biochemical and physiological analyses to study fruit development and quality traits, aiming to establish frameworks for early detection and management of fruit diseases. Her current projects include investigating genetic interactions between ripening regulators to enhance tomato fruit quality, improving tomato fruit texture through modulation of cell wall deconstruction, exploring the intersection between tomato fruit ripening regulation and susceptibility to fungal pathogens, and modeling the strawberry Botrytis cinerea pathosystem to increase disease tolerance. In addition to her research, she teaches courses such as Growth and Yield of Cultivated Plants Laboratory, Fundamentals of Postharvest Biology and Technology, and Postharvest Biology and Biotechnology. She is actively involved in outreach and extension activities, including moderating the UC Davis Annual Undergraduate Research Conference, contributing to the UC Postharvest Technology Short Course, and hosting high school students for summer research internships. Her scholarly contributions include serving as a review editor for Frontiers in Plant Science and reviewing for several scientific journals. She has received awards such as the UC Davis Hellman Fellows in 2019 and is recognized for her contributions to plant biology, particularly in fruit ripening, quality, and postharvest biology.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Biochemistry
• Botany
• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• Immunology
• Cell biology
• Genetics

Selected publications

• Cell layer-specific modification of cell wall is associated with exo-mesocarp split in pistachio ( <i>Pistacia vera L</i> .)

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-06-24

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Pistachio ( Pistacia vera ) is a drought and salinity-tolerant perennial whose fruit features a fleshy exo-mesocarp, or “hull,” that protects the kernel. Hull development and degradation are key to kernel quality, yet the anatomy and mechanisms driving hull breakdown during late-stage development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the hull contains anatomically distinct layers of hypodermal parenchyma and filler parenchyma. Using a combination of transcriptome analyses and immunohistochemistry, we show that changes in pectin associated gene expression and modification of this polysaccharide are involved in hull cell size increase, loss of cell-cell adhesion, and softening. Anatomical analysis shows that filler parenchyma expands during late-stage hull development while hypodermal parenchyma remains constant in size. Field data suggest that irrigation and humidity affect pistachio hull split, implicating a role for water status in cell expansion. In summary, the complex interplay between molecular, cellular, and environmental changes suggests that cell layer–specific modifications of the cell wall are linked to exo-mesocarp splitting, forming a model for understanding the mechanism of fruit split during ripening in non-berry fruit crops. Highlight Cell-layer specific modifications of the cell wall are associated with cell expansion and loss of cell-cell adhesion, leading to hull split during late-stage pistachio fruit development.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cell layer-specific cell wall modification is associated with exo-mesocarp split in pistachio ( <i>Pistacia vera</i> L.)

  Journal of Experimental Botany · 2025-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Pistachio (Pistacia vera) is a drought- and salinity-tolerant perennial whose fruit features a fleshy exo-mesocarp, or 'hull', that protects the kernel. Hull development and degradation are key to kernel quality, yet the anatomy and mechanisms driving hull breakdown during late-stage development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the hull contains anatomically distinct layers of hypodermal parenchyma and filler parenchyma. Using a combination of transcriptome analyses and immunohistochemistry, we show that changes in pectin-associated gene expression and modification of this polysaccharide are involved in hull cell size increase, loss of cell-cell adhesion, and hull softening. Anatomical analysis shows that filler parenchyma expands during late-stage hull development while hypodermal parenchyma remains constant in size. Field data suggest that irrigation and humidity affect pistachio hull split, implicating a role for water status in cell expansion. In summary, the complex interplay between molecular, cellular, and environmental changes suggests that cell layer-specific modifications of the cell wall are linked to exo-mesocarp splitting, forming a model for understanding the mechanism of fruit split during ripening in non-berry fruit crops.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Quantitative Resistance of Papaya Fruit to Anthracnose Is Associated With Surface Topography, Timely Defences and Reduced Susceptibility Factors

  Plant Pathology · 2025-07-28

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  ABSTRACT Anthracnose disease, caused by Colletotrichum spp., leads to significant postharvest losses in papaya fruit. In this study, we identified a papaya genotype with quantitative resistance to anthracnose and investigated the mechanisms underlying this resistance using microscopy, fruit physicochemical analyses and transcriptomics. The resistant genotype exhibited several beneficial traits compared to a susceptible genotype, including a thicker cuticular layer, lower stomatal density, greater firmness and lower total soluble sugars. These characteristics can be considered preformed barriers or constitutive defences, or correlate with reduced susceptibility factors. We also found that the resistant genotype responds more rapidly to fungal presence by synthesising components that maintain surface and cell wall integrity, such as cutin and cuticular elements, and by depositing callose. In contrast, the susceptible genotype accumulated more susceptibility factors, including elevated sugar content and activation of cell wall‐degrading enzymes. While the susceptible genotype had a more robust immune response at the later stages of infection, the combination of susceptibility factors and a delayed response to the pathogen was insufficient to control the disease. This study highlights the need to characterise potential susceptibility factors and physicochemical traits to better understand fruit–pathogen interactions. Such knowledge can provide breeding programmes with strong targets for developing crop varieties that are less susceptible to fungal diseases yet maintain quality traits that consumers expect.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genetic basis of fruit quality traits in processing tomatoes

  Journal of Agriculture and Food Research · 2025-06-12 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Tomato varieties used for processed products, such as paste, sauces, and crushed tomatoes, differ from their fresh-market counterparts based on plant structure, fruit morphology, and fruit biochemistry. Processing tomato varieties have been bred to withstand mechanical harvesting and to yield good-quality cooked products. Although there has been substantial research on fresh-market tomatoes, there needs to be more emphasis on the traits required for processing varieties. Characteristics such as juice thickness (consistency), ease of removing fruit skin (peelability), and fruit maturity concentration may not be important to fresh-market tomato growers; however, they play crucial roles in determining the best varieties for processing. Major genes involved in many processed quality traits, often subject to significant environmental influences, have yet to be revealed. Application of advanced genomic tools and gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR Cas9, could clarify the leading players driving these traits and support breeding efforts. This review article presents what is known about the genetics underlying important key traits in processing tomatoes that impact the product quality and production efficiency of processed tomato products and addresses areas where more work is needed. • Fresh-market and processing tomatoes present distinct plant and fruit phenotypes. • Research on fresh-market tomatoes often cannot be applied to processing varieties. • Genetic-by-environment factors significantly influence processing quality traits. • Many genes controlling key quality traits in processing types are still unknown. • Advances in genomic tools can enhance tomato breeding and product quality.

  PublisherDOI

• Soybean single-seed respiration evaluation through spectral imaging

  Seed Science Research · 2025-09-01 · 13 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Seed respiration is a key metabolic process linked to physiological status. Q2 respiration analysis enables detailed profiling of individual seeds, and combined with multispectral imaging, allows to explore seed-to-seed relationships between respiration and spectral or morphological traits. Thus,the study aims to investigate the relationship between the respiration profiles of individual soybean seeds and their morphological and spectral characteristics, using single-seed respiration analysis and multispectral imaging. Multispectral images were captured from 1,808 seeds using the VideometerLab system, from which 75 features were extracted. The seeds were placed in vials with 0.4% (w/v) agar to induce germination and sealed with caps containing a fluorescent polymer dot. The Q2 analyzer, tracked the oxygen consumption of each seed during germination. Both the VideometerLab and Q2 analyzer data were categorized through hierarchical clustering, and a subpopulation of seeds was selected from three categories of respiration profiles due to computational limitations. The association between respiration patterns and biometric features was analyzed using contingency tables and entropy analysis. The results revealed significant differences in respiration patterns, particularly in autofluorescence excitation-emission at 365/600, 430/700, 450/700 and 470/700 nm, as well as in reflectance at 365, 690 and 405 nm. Notably, 75% of seeds with similar respiration profiles were grouped based on similarities in their biometric characteristics, suggesting a relationship between respiration patterns and biometric features. Additionally, patterns of certain biometric traits indicated that different combinations can lead to similar respiration profiles, highlighting the complexity of evaluating this association.

  PublisherDOI

• Homogalacturonan Methylesterification and Cell Wall Regulation: Integrating Biochemistry, Mechanics, and Developmental Signaling for Crop Improvement

  Agronomy · 2025-11-18

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Homogalacturonan (HG) methylesterification is a key determinant of plant cell wall (CW) structure and function, shaping growth, morphogenesis, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review highlights recent advances in the regulation of homogalacturonan (HG) methylesterification, focusing on the coordinated roles of pectin methylesterases (PMEs), pectin methylesterase inhibitors (PMEIs), transcription factors (TFs), and hormonal signals. We examine how these regulators interact within the CW microenvironment to modulate elasticity, porosity, and remodeling dynamics. Insights from immunolocalization and biomechanical studies reveal the spatiotemporal patterning of HG de-esterification and its integration with developmental and stress-adaptive signaling. Beyond basic biology, HG methylesterification dynamics directly influence traits such as fruit firmness, pathogen resistance, and stress tolerance, positioning HG methylesterification-related genes as promising targets for molecular breeding and biotechnological interventions. By integrating mechanistic understanding with genomic and phenotypic selection approaches, breeders can precisely tailor CW properties to enhance crop resilience and quality. A comprehensive view of HG methylesterification—from enzymatic control to mechanical feedback—offers a conceptual and practical framework for guiding crop improvement and sustainable agricultural practices.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• In a nutshell: pistachio genome and kernel development

  New Phytologist · 2025-03-19 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Pistachio is a sustainable nut crop with exceptional climate resilience and nutritional value. However, the molecular processes underlying pistachio nut development and nutritional traits are largely unknown, compounded by limited genomic and molecular resources. To advance pistachios as a future food source and a model system for hard-shelled fruits, we generated a chromosome-scale reference genome of the most widely grown pistachio cultivar (Pistacia vera 'Kerman') and a spatiotemporal study of nut development. We integrated tissue-level physiological data from thousands of nuts over three growing seasons with transcriptomic data encompassing 14 developmental time points of the hull, shell, and kernel to assemble gene modules associated with physiological changes. Our study defined four distinct stages of pistachio nut growth and maturation. We then focused on the kernel to identify transcriptional and metabolic changes in molecular pathways governing nutritional quality, such as the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids, which are vital for shelf life and dietary value. These findings revealed key candidate conserved regulatory genes, such as PvAP2-WRI1 and PvNFYB-LEC1, likely involved in oil accumulation in kernels. This work yields new knowledge and resources that will inform other woody crops and facilitate further improvement of pistachio as a globally significant, sustainable, and nutritious crop.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evolving topological colour landscape unravels the final stages of pistachio nut development and the incidence of blank nuts

  Journal of The Royal Society Interface · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Pistachio is a major nut crop worldwide; however, there is a lack of standardized non-destructive methods to effectively evaluate maturity and kernel filling for improved management and harvest timing. This study presents an image-based approach to determine pistachio nut maturation and blank kernel incidence by analysing the surface colour patterns of individual nuts at three time points during late development. We identified eight major hull colours to represent the full colour spectrum and applied principal component analysis to divide each nut into seven spatial sections. Within each section, we constructed eight colour-based feature variables (covariates) and associated them with a binary response variable indicating kernel presence or absence. We explored the specific response-covariate relationships at each developmental time point using a data-driven method called categorical exploratory data analysis, which identified key first-order and second-order feature-categories that link hull colour patterns with kernel status. These relationships were visualized using block-structured heatmaps, revealing consistent distinctions between filled and blank nuts. Based on these findings, we developed an algorithm with two main functions: (i) identifying a nut's growth stage from its image for optimal harvest timing and (ii) estimating blank nut incidence for quality assessment and economic decision-making.

  PublisherDOI

• In a nutshell: pistachio genome and kernel development

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-06-27 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Pistachio is a sustainable nut crop with exceptional climate resilience and nutritional value. To advance pistachios as a future food source and a model system for hard-shelled fruits, we generated a chromosome-scale reference genome of the most widely grown pistachio cultivar (Pistacia vera 'Kerman') and a spatiotemporal developmental study of the hull, shell, and kernel. Our study defined four distinct stages of pistachio growth and maturation by integrating tissue-level physiological and molecular data from thousands of nuts across twenty-four time points over three growing seasons. Transcriptional and metabolic changes in the kernel elucidate molecular pathways governing nutritional quality, such as the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids, which are vital for shelf-life and dietary value. This work yields new knowledge and resources that will inform other woody crops and facilitate further improvement of pistachio as a globally significant, sustainable, and nutritious crop.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Non-wounding Contact-based Inoculation of Fruits with Fungal Pathogens in Postharvest

  Research Square · 2024-04-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Dario Cantù

  University of California, Davis

  33 shared

• Saskia D. Mesquida-Pesci

  University of California, Davis

  18 shared

• Ann L. T. Powell

  University of California, Davis

  16 shared

• Christian J. Silva

  University of California, Davis

  14 shared

• Jaclyn A. Adaskaveg

  Plant (United States)

  14 shared

• Rosa Figueroa‐Balderas

  University of California, Davis

  11 shared

• Isabel Ortega‐Salazar

  Plant (United States)

  11 shared

• Andrea Minio

  University of California, Davis

  11 shared

Education

• PhD, Plant Biology

  University of California Davis

  2014

Awards & honors

• UC Davis Hellman Fellows (2019)
• Blanco lab members win ISHS Young Minds awards (2025)
• Collaborative culture in Blanco-Ulate Lab lands campus Safet…
• UC Davis plant scientists receive $1.1M FFAR grant to develo…