Education

- Since 2019: Associate Professor at university of Trento

- 2010-2019: Researcher at Fondazione Edmund Mach.

- 2007-2010: Post-doctoral research fellowship at Fondazione Edmund Mach, founded by the Autonomous Province of Trento.

- 2005-2007: Post-doctoral research fellowship at Fondazione Edmund Mach.

- 2002-2005: PhD in Molecular Biotechnology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in collaboration with Prof. Massimo Delledonne (University of Verona).

- 1996-2002: MSc Degree in Agro-Industrial Biotechnology, University of Verona.

Research interests

Physiology of plant-microbe and plant-environment interactions.

His main research interest is in plant physiology, particularly in the mechanisms of plant-microbe and microbe-microbe communications responsible for resistance induction in crops, for biological control against plant pathogens and for sustainable plant growth stimulation and tolerance against abiotic stresses.

Research work

His research activity was mainly focusing on molecular and functional characterization of plant defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. He contributed to the characterization of the signaling molecule nitric oxide under plant stress conditions. He participated to the genome sequencing projects of grapevine and apple, and to the characterization of resistance and susceptibility genes. He contributed to the functional and molecular characterization of induced resistance mechanisms in crops and to the functional dynamics of the plant microbiota.

 

The aim of his research is the understanding of mechanisms of plant-microbe and micro-microbe interactions to increase plant self-defense against pathogens and plant tolerance against abiotic stresses associated to climate changes.

Memberships in societies and scientific committees

Italian Society of Plant Biology (SIBV)

IOBC-WPRS - Induced Resistance in Plants Against Insects and Diseases (Steering Committee) 

Other work

Projects

- Functional characterisation of downy mildew control mechanisms mediated by volatile organic compounds in grapevine (GrapeVOC) - EPPN2020 

- Assessment of downy mildew development in grapevine plants exposed to bioactive volatile organic compounds (DownyGrape)  - EPPN2020 

- Impact of climate change on plant-microbe interaction: a focus on tripartite plant-fungus-virus relationship and on their bioactive compounds - MIUR, PNRA18

- From microbial interactions to new-concept biopesticides and biofertilizers - H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN-EID) - INTERFUTURE

- Replacement of contentious inputs in organic farming systems - H2020 Research and Innovation Programme - RELACS.

- Sustainable orchard (MePS) - Autonomous Province of Trento’s ‘Programma di Sviluppo Rurale 2014-2020’ within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership ‘Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability