2015-up to now: Full Professor of Botany at DeBio, University of Padova. EDUCATION: 1987-1990: Ph.D Course in Evolutionary Biology- Laboratory of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, DeBio, UniPd (Italy). Thesis defence: October 1990. 1988: One-year stay at the l'IJM, Universitè Paris VII, France. 1989: One-year stay at the IBPC (CNRS), Paris, France. 1981-1985: University Course in Biology, University of Padova, Italy. Degree in Biology with full marks and honours (110/110 cum laude). RELEVANT ROLES 2024- : member of the GEV 05 Committee (VQR 2020-2024) 2024- : member of the SBI committee (role: secretary) 2015-2021: Director of the Botanical Garden, UniPd 2016-present: Rector’s delegate in the Scientific Committee of the Azienda Agraria Sperimentale "L. Toniolo", Legnaro, Padova 2016-2018: member of the ASN Committee (05/A1 sector) 2015-2020: member of the Scientific Committee of the DiBio, UniPd 2013-2015 Vice-director of Centro di Ateneo Botanical Garden, UniPd. 2012-2015: member of the scientific committee of the Botanical Garden 2012-2015: appointed member of School of Sciences committee, UniPd 2009-2015: Head of the Molecular Biology (3+2 years) Degrees, School of Sciences, 2009-present: member of PhD committee, Scuola di Dottorato in Bioscienze e Biotecnologie, Evolutionary Biology 2008-2022: Scientific coordinator of the Electron Microscopy Service of DiBio, DISTINCTIONS 1991: Zeiss prize for the best work in electronic microscopy field Author of 109 publications in international journals with referees and I.F. and of three book chapters. Total citations: 3314; H-index: 34 (Scopus). In the past, the research work has mainly concerned plant cell biology: programmed cell death in plants and plant propagation (micropropagation, in vitro organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis); in the last years, the research has been addressed to the characterization (by molecular, biochemical, physiological approaches) of microbial endophytes, living in grapevine inner tissues, for their potential application to improve crop productivity and plant disease biocontrol. Very recently, linked to the new research activity in the Botanic Garden of Padova, molecular biology studies have been set up: a) molecular identification of fungal specimens from the historical Saccardo’s collection, known at international level and conserved in the Herbarium of the Botanic Garden belonging to Padova University; b) the study of MADS-box genes that are expressed in the floral buds and in the reproductive structures of basal angiosperms that belong to the Nymphaeales order, with the purpose to better understand the MADS-box genes expression pattern involved in these species, thus contributing to an update of the ‘ABC(D)E’ model in these organisms; c) morphological and molecular studies on reproductive structure development in Gymnosperms (Ginkgo and Cycas); d) Characterization of bacterial communities living in compost and studies on their effect in crops.

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Molecular characterization of fungi from Saccardo's mycological herbarium The main objective of this research project is the molecular identification of fungal specimens belonging to one of the most important collections in the world: Pier Andrea Saccardo's mycological herbarium. This collection, preserved at the Botanical Garden of Padua, has a special scientific importance due to the presence of various specimens that have been used by Saccardo for the morphological descriptions of new fungal species and are therefore known as types. For this purpose, it will be necessary to develop a method for the extraction of DNA from ancient herbarium material and to select specific molecular markers to be used for the univocal identification of the species in the collection. Then, the obtained data will be used for the creation of a database, accessible to the national and international mycological community, in which the analyzed species of the collection will have linked the relevant molecular information used for their identification. Floral evolution of Nymphaeales using MADS-box genes as markers Nymphaeales is an order of aquatic plants placed to the base of the angiosperms phylogeny that includes three families: Nymphaeaceae, Cabombaceae and Hydatellaceae (APG III system of flowering plant classification, 2009). The study of MADS-box genes involved in the floral development of some Nymphaeales’ members could offer insights in their phylogeny. This research line aims to obtain sequences of MADS-box genes from representative species of the Nymphaeales’ families, to use these molecular data to investigate the relationships between these families, and to improve information about the aspect of some of the earliest flowers that appear in the history of angiosperms. Plant endo-microbiome: towards a sustainable crop management By influencing metabolic and biochemical pathways, beneficial bacterial communities, harbored within plant tissues can interact with their hosts. This project aims to characterize beneficial traits of endophytes, isolated from Vitis vinifera, for their potential utility, as alternative environmentally friendly approach, in plant growth promotion and stress alleviation. In parallel we are considering the biological control as innovative strategy which involves the use of beneficial organisms (bacteria) able to cope with plant pathogens, directly interacting with them by the production of many antimicrobial molecules. Among these metabolites, we are investigating lipopeptides. Insights into biocontrol effects are pivotal to develop new agricultural practices for decreasing plant pathogens and negative impact of agricultural chemicals on the environment.

a) molecular identification of fungal specimens from the historical Saccardo’s collection, known at international level and conserved in the Herbarium of the Botanic Garden belonging to Padova University; b) study of MADS-box genes that are expressed in the floral buds and in the reproductive structures of basal angiosperms that belong to the Nymphaeales order, with the purpose to better understand the MADS-box genes expression pattern involved in these species, thus contributing to an update of the ‘ABC(D)E’ model in these organisms. c) characterization (by molecular, biochemical, physiological approaches) of microbial endophytes, living in grapevine inner tissues, for their potential application to improve crop productivity and plant disease biocontrol.

Last update: 09/06/2025