Turin Headquarters Research Projects

The aim of PHASER is to study the presence of bacteriophages in four insect vectors of important plant diseases, using both an innovative, based on RNAseq analysis, and a traditional, based on microscopic observations, approach. The chosen insects are the phytoplasma vectors Scaphoideus titanus and Euscelidius variegatus, and the virus ...

Phosphorus is an essential compound for wheat growth. Due to massive phosphorus fertilizer applications from the 60’s to the mid 80’s, phosphorus availability from the soil is, nowadays, not a major issue for bread wheat in most Western European countries. Nevertheless, recent studies demonstrated that it could become a real ...

Despite the overwhelming amount of recent advanced studies, the current knowledge of the plant microbiome is far from being complete. Unravelling the complexity of the microbial systems within the same host and their interactions with external factors represents a major challenge. The current project aims at the production and use ...

PROTECTION project aims: creation of innovative products, services and technologies to be applied in agriculture to promote the use of biological control and sustainable defense strategies. General objectives: Selection and application of novel natural bioformulates (i.e. based on microorganisms, or plants extracts) to improve crops production. The implementation of appropriate ...

The ReSet project aims to explore the mechanism of RNAi applied to control phytoplasma insect vectors, endowed with pierce/sucking mouthparts. Research activities will be focused on the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), main vector of the grapevine Flavescence dorée (FD) phytoplasma. The presence of an effective RNAi mechanism in the ...

RESCHEDULE principal goal is to develop scientifically-informed  and locally-adapted solutions that improve the resilience of smallholder farms to climate change (SOM and nutrient depletion, desertification, erosion). Solutions targeting mainly on soil health restoration consistent with agroecology principles (no tillage, intercropping, tolerant to abiotic factors genotypes, soil microbiota) will be evaluated ...

In the HEMINT Project, RNAi will be explored for the control of two hemipteran species that cause severe damages to crops: the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), main vector of Flavescence dorée (FD) phytoplasmas of grapevine. Both species currently require ...

In the present project, RNAi will be explored for the control of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), an alien quarantine species highly polyphagous that cause severe damages to crops. The management of P. japonica in Italy is under the official control of the National Plant Protection Services and ...

Bio-based solutions, such as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), are a sustainable agriculture practice to promote crop yield under increasing stress conditions caused by Climate change (CC). The Joint Lab project between Italy and Pakistan will assess the effects of PGPR strains selected from arid environments on the performance of ...

The aim of the project is the development of a cell for dielectrophoresis (DEP) coupled to a Raman microscope for the characterization and diagnosis of viruses and the evaluation of antiviral molecules. DEP allows to concentrate the viral particles present in a sample. The subsequent analysis in Raman spectroscopy will ...

The impact of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection on pepper crops in Piedmont is considerable, as the cultivated varieties are generally susceptible to this virus and do not have specific resistance genes. TSWV is one of the most economically harmful viruses worldwide and its infection can lead to the ...

VertiGROW is aimed i) to apply high-efficiency light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to drive production of secondary metabolites (SM) in plants by manipulating light spectral composition and ii) to produce a laboratory prototype of LED powered by beyond-silicon innovative photon-to-electron conversion devices to stimulate crop growth and drive SM production. The activities ...

The aim of VIROPLANT is to apply NGS technology and empirical biological experiments to develop new environmentally friendly virus-based control strategies to manage bacterial, fungal and insect vector-transmitted diseases (phytoplasmas and viruses) as well as insect pests. VIROPLANT will create a database of new viruses (and virus derived biotechnological products) ...