Stefano Benvenuti

- Ecology and agronomic management of wild flora both in terms of biology of individual species and mutual interactions in the various phytocoenoses. In particular, the level of biodiversity is used as an "indicator" of agro-environmental sustainability.

- Eco-physiology of germination and seed dormancy of cultivated and spontaneous species. Ecological conditions necessary to trigger the germination processes as well as identification of those treatments to the seed (physical, mechanical, physiological, etc.) capable of removing the dormancy of the seed.

- Analysis of the soil "seedbank" as stock of dormant and/or quiescent seeds and seedli emergence dynamics and interference with the various crops is determined. To this end, experience has been acquired in terms of both materials and methods of seed extraction as well as their recognition.

- Agro-ecology of aromatic and medicinal species from the perspective of planting methods (sowing/transplanting) and agronomic management for defense against weeds.

- Ecology of the wild flora of the urban ecosystem both with regard to the various strategies of colonization of the various available ecological niches and of survival over time. Particular attention has been paid to the methods of dissemination and the identification of preventive methods capable of preventing or hindering the dynamics of re-colonization of the various urban areas.

- Innovative urban greenery at the level of "green roofs" and "vertical gardens", terms now widely used in the international panorama with regard to the implementation of the level of aesthetic and landscape comfort of urban areas.

- Biodiversity of ecosystems both in terms of its "in situ" protection (especially in the surviving agro-ecological oases) and of the "ex situ" study and propagation of species that are now rare and sometimes at risk of extinction. In particular, a collection of seeds of "rare" species is created so that they can be used for the restoration of biodiversity.

- Wildflowers as an agronomic strategy for the restoration of the landscape and biodiversity of degraded areas. The various floristic associations characterized by entomogamous pollination are in fact inserted in special strips of vegetation adjacent to the various crops in order to implement faunal biodiversity especially at the level of those pollinators (bees, bumblebees, lepidoptera, etc.) that are one of the environmental indicators of health of the agro-ecosystem.

- Agricultural landscape studied in its space-time dynamics giving particular emphasis to the landscape elements that are a historical memory of rural traditions and agricultural activities that have now disappeared.

- Phyto-alimurgic flora studied both in its ecological and nutraceutical characteristics as well as for the purposes of their potential agronomic valorization. In this context, both spontaneous herbs of historical food interest and edible flowers were studied as the latter are also assuming a growing gastronomic and commercial interest.

- Urban horticulture intended as a therapeutic and educational tool. This is a topic that, although mainly of informative activity, involves research aspects especially in terms of ecological learning for the diversified methods of educational involvement (communication methods, involvement in the perception of tastes and aromas, etc.).

- Natural herbicides extracted from plants and capable of showing toxicity towards the infesting flora. In this context, both essential oils and a vinegar-based preparation characterized by high acidity have been successfully tested.

- Edible flowers of ethnobotanical tradition both from a nutraceutical and organoleptic point of view through the study of the respective "sensory profiles.

Ecological education carried out in schools with the aim of "literacy" the youngest towards an ecological perception useful for their individual well-being as well as for the aptitude for horizontal (among classmates) and vertical (parents and grandparents, useful for their own ethnobotanical testimonies). To this end, spontaneous herbs of the cities were used as an indicator of a biological becoming that is both eco-centric and anthropo-centric.