We are looking for innovative and sustainable solutions to protect plants from disease.
We are seeking innovative and sustainable solutions to protect plants from disease without the use of synthetic pesticides that are harmful to the environment and human health.
The excessive use of synthetic plant protection products poses a serious threat to biodiversity and human health. For this reason, the search for natural alternatives for plant protection is a global priority.
Our team combines traditional microbiology, advanced molecular technologies and biotechnology to study the interactions between plants, pathogens and the environment, with the aim of identifying new eco-friendly molecules and microorganisms for crop protection.
Thanks to national and international collaborations, we have achieved promising results in the development of bio-pesticides by studying the bacterial and fungal pathogens responsible for major crop diseases, such as kiwifruit canker, fusarium wilt, Xylella, tomato spotted wilt and kiwifruit dieback.
We firmly believe that scientific research can help build a more sustainable future for agriculture. Our laboratory is committed to providing practical solutions to address the challenges posed by climate change and the growing demand for healthy and safe food.
Prof. Balestra, Dr. Schiavi, Dr. Ciurnelli, and Dr. Muawiya actively participated in the 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa, organized by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in Bari. During the round table discussion titled
Over the past decade, Italian kiwifruit orchards and overall production have faced a significant threat from Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS). Despite the insights gained from metagenomics studies into the microbial communities associated with the disease, unanswered questions still remain. In this study, the evolution of
