(Nucleus of Applied Biology, Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, Brazil)

Claudia Guimaraes is researcher at Nucleus of Applied Biology, Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, Brazil. Her main research field is on genetics and molecular mechanisms of maize and sorghum in response to abiotic stresses, particularly aluminum toxicity, phosphorus deficiency and drought. Mapping and functional studies are applied in gene discovery, such as the molecular cloning of aluminum tolerance genes in sorghum and maize, which are transferred via marker-assisted breeding to improve crop yield and yield stability on acid soils. She is a graduate professor at Federal University of Minas Gerais (Graduate Program on Genetics) and at Federal University of Sao Joao del Rei (Graduate Program on Bioengineering), supervising MS and PhD students.