Team leader
Dott. Rita Musetti, senior researcher of plant pathology

Scientists and student tutors 
Dott. Paolo Ermacora, scientist
Dott. Marta Martini, scientist
Dott. Rachele Polizzotto, post-doc
 

Research 

The research activity is focused on the study of phytoplasma diseases of grapevine and fruit trees, with competences in epidemiology, diagnosis and plant/pathogen interactions, activities accredited by numerous publications on national and international journals. In particular, the group is involved in the study of phytoplasma/host-plant interactions at cytological and molecular level, taking part to several research projects (PRIN Projects, Mipaf Project, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Projects -ex Legge regionale 26/2005, Agribio Project, Project Interreg IIIA-funded by European Union, Ager Project Funded by Fondazione CARIPLO, Italy).
More recently, the research activity is also focused on endophyte/phytoplasma/host plant interactions.

Lab facilities 
Electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscope, ultramicrotome
Environmented greenhouse
Real-time PCR apparatus
Lab of molecular biology

Topics offered for thesis

• Role of the phloem proteins and other occlusion systems during phytoplasma colonization in host plants.
• Phytoplasma diseases and ‘recovery’ phenomena: physiological and molecular bases.
• Fungal endophytes