Plant Biology and Microbiology

The lines of research developed by the group are:

• interactions between host and symbiont in mycorrhizal symbiosis, with attention to the qualitative and quantitative effects induced in the plant
• effects of heavy metals and metalloids on plants used as model systems
• phytoremediation of contaminated sites: case studies
• use of biotic resistance elicitors in the fight against phytoplasmosis. Studies in model systems
• use of biofertilizers, mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria, to improve the quality and productivity of agricultural crops, in conditions of low fertilization: case studies
• suppression of opportunistic human pathogens through the use of natural substances (essential oils) (LS6_7)
• analysis of the microbial communities of polluted, natural, stressed and agricultural soils with different management using molecular techniques (LS8-1)
• study of bacteria / mycorrhizal fungi / plants interactions; selection of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and plant growth promoting bacteria (LS8_11)
• identification of beneficial microorganisms for plants (biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioherbicides and modulators of the nutritional parameters of the edible parts) (LS9_5)

Team Leaders: prof. Guido Lingua, prof.ssa Elisa Gamalero

Team members  Flavio Anastasia, Patrizia Cesaro, Elisa Gamalero, Guido Lingua, Nadia Massa, Giorgia Novello, Valeria Todeschini