ESOPO – Enhancing the organic supply chain of aromatic and medicinal plants to define biopesticides and biostimulants for organic tomato cultivation. When adopting organic production methods, one of the main problems to be addressed is protecting plants from diseases and finding alternative, effective approaches to using agrochemicals. This project involves public and private partners working together to evaluate the use of natural extracts and essential oils as biopesticides and biostimulants in the organic cultivation of tomatoes (Solanum tuberosum). The effectiveness of natural plant extracts will be tested and selected for…
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INTERPOP
INTERPOP-Optimisation of eco-sustainable protocols based on RNA INTERference for the control of the Japanese scarab beetle POPillia japonica In this project, RNAi will be explored for the control of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica, a highly polyphagous alien quarantine species that causes serious damage to crops. The management of P. japonica in Italy is under the official control of the National Phytosanitary Services and is mainly based on the application of chemical insecticides. Therefore, innovative and sustainable alternative strategies are urgently needed. The project involves: i) the selection, based on…
Read MoreLIFE RECLOAK – Restore and improve the conservation status of threatened forests by holm oak dieback
LIFE RECLOAK – Restore and improve the conservation status of threatened forests by holm oak dieback – LIFE24-NAT-IT-LIFE RECLOAK (Nature & Biodiversity – Standard Action Projects (SAP)) – Grant Agreement 101214542 The overall objective of the LIFE RECLOAK project is to achieve reforestation of areas affected by holm oak decline and mortality, thus improving natural regeneration and ecosystem functioning in habitat 9340 “Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forest”. As Mediterranean holm oak forests constitute a complex, adaptive and resilient biological system, project activities are designed to strengthen biodiversity, improve…
Read MoreDissection of molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to virus and viroid infection in grafted tomato plants (DiVInGrafT)
Dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to virus and viroid infection in grafted tomato plants (DiVInGrafT) PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE (PRIN)– Bando 2022; Finanziato dall’Unione Europea – Next Generation EU The DiVInGrafT research project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms of grafting in the activation of defence mechanisms against biotic stress, in order to develop sustainable protection strategies of tomato plants crops from diseases induced by viruses and viroids. It has long been known that grafted plants show greater resilience to stresses. However, the molecular mechanisms…
Read MoreCropSafe project – Crop Protection Strategies for the Transition to Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture
CropSafe is a European project that addresses the challenge of reducing chemical pesticides through a systemic and sustainable approach. The consortium, composed of universities, research centers, and companies from seven countries (Spain, Norway, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, and Switzerland), develops biopesticides based on bioactive compounds extracted from residual biomass of marine, forestry, and agri-food origin. These molecules, characterized by specific biocide activity, aim to combat key pests such as Globodera spp. (potato cyst nematode), Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot nematode), Cosmopolites sordidus (banana weevil) and Fusarium oxysporum. The goal is…
Read MoreGRAPEVINE AI ASSISTANT
The system proposed in this project consists of a Cloud-based web platform for monitoring the health status of vineyards. It includes an Artificial Intelligence module trained to detect the presence of the Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp) and its vector, Scaphoideus titanus, through the analysis of leaf images.The AI is trained via a simple web interface and an automated Machine Learning process. The platform provides interactive dashboards to visualize the vineyard’s health status in real time, offering 2D and 3D reconstructions of the field and the ability to compare data collected…
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