EDUCATION
Degree in “Agricultural Sciences” at the University of Bologna in 1986
MSc in “Plant Pathology and Weed Science” at Colorado State University in 1994
PhD in “Seed Science and Technology” at the University of Bologna in 1998
Researcher in “Agronomy and field crops” (AGR/02) at the Department of Plant Sciences of the University of Bologna since 2001
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITY
Vice-Director and Quality Manager Seed Research and Testing Laboratory (LaRAS) (https://distal.unibo.it/it/terza-missione/impresa/consulenze-di-laboratorio/laras), that, in addition of research work, carries out analytical services on seeds for public and private customers.
LaRAS is accredited to the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) in traditional testing (sampling, specific purity, seed moisture, germination and vigour) and innovative (varietal and GMO testing). Since 2010 LaRAS is, sole laboratory in Europe, approved by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) for analytical services for the control of seed imports in that Country.
TEACHING AT UNIBO
Courses
1998-03 “Biology, production and technology” (Degree in Plant Biotechnologies – Old Course)
2004-06 “Biology of seed production” (Degree in Plant Biotechnologies - LS)
2002-09 “Biology and technology of seeds I” (Degree Tecnhology of plant production - LT)
2003-08 “Biology and technology of seeds II” (Degree Science of Agroindustrial Systems - LS)
2011-15 “Seed production and control” (Degree Agricultural Sciences and Technologies - LM)
2015-current “Seed biology, production and technology” del C.I. 79262 “Plant breeding and seed production” (Degree Agricultural Sciences and Technologies - LM)
2019 – module 2 “Plant varieties: procedures, tools and issues int their obtention and protection” within the course – ”Industrial property rights on life: from new plant varieties to biotech inventions” (Collegio Superiore – University of Bologna)
Seminars in the following courses:
2003-04 “Seed biology, production and technology” in “Field Crops I” (Degree Agricultural Sciences and Technologies - VO)
2008-10 “Seed biology, production and technology” in “Field crop breeding” (Degree Agricultural Sciences and Technologies - LM)
2009-18 “The seed production chain” in the course “General Agronomy” (Degree Agricultural Technologies, L)
2019-20 “The seed production chain” in the course “General Agronomy” (Degree Marketing and Economics of the agro-industrial system)
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Organisation and teaching
- ISTA/FAO “Variety Identification and GMO Detection” (2001, Argentina; 2003, South Africa; 2003, Thailand; 2004, Slovenia; 2004, Egypt)
- 2005 "Seed Testing Training Course for the Greater Mekong Sub-region”. FAO, ISTA e National Agro-technical Extension and Service Center. National Seed Testing Center, Beijing, Cina
- 2005 e 2007 ISTA “Statistical aspects of GMO detection”, Argentina and Brasil
- 2008 ISTA “Seed vigour”, Bologna
- 2009 ISTA “Molecular markers for varietal identity and purity”, Bologna
- 2009 ''The Analysis of Agricultural Products for the Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms''. Organsed by Int. Centre Gen. Engin. Biotech. (ICGEB) and Nat. Inst. Gen. Engin. Biotech. (NIGEB). NIGEB, Tehran, Iran
- 2012 ISTA “Workshop for auditors in GMO testing”, Bologna
- 2018 Corso della Società Italiana di Agronomia (SIA) “Seeds: basic knowledge for research and applications di base per ricerche ed applicazioni di livello avanzato”, Bologna
- 2018 – “ISTA Biotechnology Trait Detection Workshop” held at Slava” Technopark in Moscow (Russian Federation). Co-organizzatori: Russian Agricultural Center (RAC) e Genbit LLC (ditta privata).
- 2019 ISTA “Workshop for ISTA auditors in Variety testing”, Bologna
RESEARCH TOPICS
- Evaluation of analytical methods for the assessment of seed quality for predicting field performance.
- Studies on qualitative and quantitative aspects of seed production in response to agroecological factors.
- Applications of molecular tools for variety registration and protection of intellectual property.
- Development of analytical methods for the identification of species and varieties, varietal purity, traceability and detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Development and validation of molecular markers for assisted selection (MAS) in agricultural and vegetable species.
- Investigation on the role of mechanisms of detoxification and protection from oxidative stress in seed deterioration.
COMMITTEE WORK
- Technical regional Committee for the issuance of authorisation to the practice of seed production activity (Regional Law 20 January 2004, n. 3)
- Technical regional Committee for the application of rules for the multiplication of seeds of allogamous and non-allogamous plants (Regional Law 19 January 1998, n. 2)
- Consultative Committee for the update of Italian Official Methods for Seed Testing (Decree n. 1792, 19 December 2008)
- GMO Committee of the International Seed Testing Association
- Working Group “GM Detection Methods” of the "Forage Plants & Amenity Grasses” section of the European Seed Association
- Working Group 9 "Subsampling of seeds and grains" of SubCommittee 16 "Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis" within the Technical Committee 34 of the International Standard Organization (ISO)
