The URT of Metaponto was founded with the aim of developing a platform of “Plant Phenomics for digital agriculture”. High-performance phenotyping (HTPP) enables dynamic and non-invasive examination of phenotypic characteristics through plant imaging (e.g. Multi-spectral, Hyper-spectral, Thermal Camera, LiDAR) in a controlled environment or in the open field. The use of algorithms for image processing enables a quantitative description of the phenotypic characteristics of the studied plants. These results allow us study the complex Genotype x Environment interactions to improve the resilience of agricultural systems to the effects of climate change. The primary objective of the URT understanding and optimizing biological and environmental resources for sustainable agriculture.
Research activities are carried out in various disciplinary fields such as biochemistry, plant ecophysiology, molecular biology and industrial biotechnology. Specifically, the thematic areas concern:
- Management of water resources: Application of innovative technologies for the characterisation of drought tolerant crops that are able to use water more efficiently and increase productivity in unfavourable environmental conditions;
- Genomic Research for sustainable, precision and integrated agriculture: High-performance Phenotyping technologies can bridge the gap between genomic, physiological and agronomic approaches. Genomic studies are aimed at verifying the environmental effects on the genetic potential of the organism, through microdissection laser of tissues, and analysis of genetic expression.
- Green Chemistry: In the field of green chemistry, studies are aimed at the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass. In particular, the transformation of various lignocellulosic matrices, by means of fungal Solid State Fermentation (SSF) to produce of biofertilizers, chemicals or biofuels.
The URT in Metaponto aims to build new infrastructure for the re-use of urban wastewater. The main objective of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on Water “Ipazia D’Alessandria” (formed by an agreement between CNR and ENI) is the study of innovative solutions and technologies for the efficient optimization of water management in agriculture.