The agrobiotechnology research of the PhD in Crop Science spans genetics, molecular biology, plant development, bioprocess engineering, and sustainable bio-based production. Together, these studies illustrate how biotechnology can address global challenges related to plant productivity, climate change, crop improvement, and renewable resource generation. Research within the Agrobiotechnology groups of the PhD highlights the rapid evolution of molecular, genomic, and biotechnological tools aimed at improving crops, optimizing bio-based production, and enhancing sustainability.
Genetics
The Genetics Research Group operates in the field of plant genomics and genetic improvement, addressing fundamental and applied research questions to promote innovation and sustainability in agriculture. Research activities span from basic studies on genome structure and function to the application of molecular tools for crop improvement, breeding, and traceability.
The main topics are:
- Genome Organization and Structural Genomics: investigations on plant genome architecture and evolution through next-generation sequencing, assembling high-quality reference genomes for species such as grapevine, fennel, and Cichorium
- Functional Genomics and Transcriptomics: research focuses on gene expression dynamics and molecular mechanisms underlying plant and organ development, as well as responses to environmental stress
- CRISPR-Based Systems: development and application of CRISPR–Cas technologies for both genome editing (in grapevine, tomato, and Cichorium) and non-editing purposes, including chromatin profiling, transcriptional regulation, and genomic imaging
- Crop Epigenomics and Epigenetic Mechanisms: exploring the role of epigenetic regulation in plant development and environmental interactions, focusing on heritable epigenetic marks and those reset between generations
- Genotyping and Breeding Applications: NGS-based genotyping supports breeding programs in bread and durum wheat, pumpkin, chicory, and endive, enabling varietal characterization and genetic traceability along agri-food value chains
- Sustainable Innovation in Crop Improvement: the integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic knowledge with conventional breeding promotes sustainable crop improvement and advances our understanding of the molecular basis of key agronomic traits.
Arboriculture and Viticulture
This research line mainly deals with i) the pre- and post-harvest factors affecting the quality of production in the major temperate fruit crops, such as apple, peach and kiwifruit, and ii) grapevine physiology and vineyard management, with a strong focus on understanding and mitigating the impacts of environmental stress and climate change. Specific activities are also carried out regarding the development of micropropagation protocols for the propagation of tree species, recalcitrant to root or to graft, in the context of a more sustainable nursery production.
The main topics are:
- Temperature-Mediated Bud Development: study of the developmental and molecular processes regulating dormancy release and seasonal fertility in peach under fluctuating winter–spring conditions
- Floral Induction: study of the molecular mechanisms controlling flowering and their interaction with the main environmental drivers in peach and apple
- Fruit Thinning: identification of the abscission signals and setting up of methods to predict the efficacy of thinning in apple and peach
- Epigenetic Regulation of Fruit Development and Ripening: integration of methylation, histone modifications and transcriptomic data to investigate how environmental and storage conditions modulate gene expression and postharvest disorder incidence
- Postharvest Physiology: analysis of the physiological and molecular factors controlling fruit quality, ripening behavior and susceptibility to chilling injury in peach, kiwifruit and apples
- Fruit tree responses to low oxygen: characterizing the physiological and molecular factors determining the responses of fruits to extreme low oxygen during storage and of tree crops to flooding in the field
- Olive tree performance in a changing climate: studying the behavior in northern environments of new olive varieties, selected for super high-density cultivation
- Vine Physiology and Stress Responses: investigation of grapevine eco-physiological responses to abiotic stresses and the effects of biostimulants to enhance resilience
- Yield Prediction and Monitoring: analysis of bud fertility for yield forecasting and development of remote sensing techniques to study vineyard structural and functional properties
- Climate Impact and Adaptation: study of vine responses to extreme weather events and their impact on physiology, productivity, and fruit quality. Development of adaptation strategies (canopy management, biostimulants, irrigation)
- Precision Viticulture: integration of remote and proximal sensing with plant physiology, canopy architecture, and quality parameters to promote precision agriculture approaches
- Modeling and Footprint Analysis: application of models for estimating vine growth, biomass partitioning, and water use efficiency. Measurement of vineyard carbon and water footprints using micrometeorological and remote sensing techniques
- Molecular and Hormonal Regulation: study of the hormonal and molecular mechanisms controlling fruit ripening through transcriptomics, functional gene analysis, and genome editing.
Agricultural and Microbial Biotechnology
The Agricultural and Microbial Biotechnology sector deals with the development of innovative microbial biotechnologies to process industrial waste streams into valuable resources. The research explores advanced microbial systems to convert residues, bioplastics, and conventional plastics into high-value products such as biofuels (bioethanol, biogas and biohydrogen), industrial enzymes, agricultural biostimulants, and bioplastics. The microbial applications span from 1 to 50 L reactor scale.
The work integrates microbial ecology, metabolic engineering, and sustainable bioprocess design, with a strong emphasis on understanding and harnessing microbe–environment interactions. The group is designing, engineering and optimizing of microbes capable of efficiently degrading complex waste while contributing to environmentally friendly and circular bio-based solutions (www.wastetobioproducts.com).
In addition, ecological approaches are also tailored towards sustainable agriculture, including microbe-driven strategies to enhance plant growth, soil health, and resilience to environmental stress.
These research activities are embedded in a multidisciplinary environment with collaborations across academic and industrial partners, where technology transfer plays a central role, as demonstrated by the two new startups, Urobo Biotech (https://www.urobobiotech.com/) and Agri-E (https://agri-e.it/).
Molecular and Physiological Bases of Plant Adaptation to Environmental Change
This research line is mainly focused on the study of how plants perceive and respond to climate-driven environmental stresses, combining physiology, molecular biology, and cell biology. Research focuses on nutrient-sensing pathways—particularly root nitrogen sensing—and their impact on development under variable conditions. Specific studies are carried out also on strigolactone-mediated stress tolerance and the molecular and physiological bases of plant biostimulant action to support more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
