Point of contact at UniTrento
prof. Michele Perazzolli (coordinator)
prof. Gerardo Puopolo
prof.ssa Ilaria Pertot
prof. Gianfranco Anfora
prof. Massimo Bertamini
dott.ssa Veronica Castellari (PhD student)
dott.sa Sara Cremonesi (research fellow)
dott. Stefano Galvagni (PhD student)
dott.ssa Ilaria Larini (research fellow)
dott.ssa Sofia Montanari (PhD student)
dott.ssa Anna Smaldone (PhD student)
dott. Arjun Sham Valiyaveettil Shamgopal (research fellow)
Collaborations with Fondazione Edmund Mach
dott.ssa Carmela Sicher
dott. Oscar Giovannini
The main focus of the research group is the molecular and functional characterization of plant defence mechanisms against stresses, to understand the communication mechanisms of crops with beneficial microorganisms and the molecular processes responsible for plant resistance induction against pathogens and abiotic stresses related to climate change, also considering innovative cropping system as indoor microgreens.
The cluster focuses on understanding how plants perceive, respond to and withstand biotic and abiotic stresses, with particular attention to challenges associated with climate change. The goal is to understand molecular and functional mechanisms underlying plant defence and adaptation.
Research topics include how plants communicate with other plants and with beneficial microorganisms, and how these interactions contribute to resistance against pathogens and tolerance to environmental stresses (drought, heat and cold) and how beneficial microorganisms activate plant defence pathways, as well as the identification of environmental and biological factors that shape plant microbiota diversity and functionality.
The methodologies include plant physiology, molecular biology, functional genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics with controlled-environment and field-based experiments. By linking signalling molecules, microbial communities and plant responses, the research generates mechanistic insights and translational knowledge.
The outputs include development of biostimulants and bioinoculants, improved crop management strategies and tools to reduce chemical inputs while enhancing sustainability in agricultural systems.
Research lines:
- Plant-plant and plant-microbe communication mediated by soluble and volatile organic compounds
- Role of beneficial microorganisms in plant tolerance to climate-related abiotic stresses
- Environmental and biological drivers of plant microbiota diversity and efficacy against biotic and abiotic stress.
- Plant-environment-microbe interaction in microgreens cultivation.