Alessandro Vitale

Biography

Alessandro Vitale received Ph.D. in Pharmacy Technology in 2004 at the University of Catania. At present, he is a researcher at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania according to current legislation (Law No. 240/2010). He was also a research grant ( ante L. 240/2010 ) for a four-year term (2010-2014) at the Department of Management of Agro-Food and Environmental Systems (now Di3A) with a research program "Defense and Survival Strategies of soil pathogens in protected crops "and still holds an additional annual allowance(2007/2008) "Validation of defense strategies against soil and soil pathogens in the orto-flora-ornamental sector". He currently holds additional teaching assignments for the disciplines relating to the " Plant Pathology " sector and has been a Professor for a five-year term (from 2006/07 to 2010/2011) of "Fédatria" and "Fundamentals and Teaching of Plant Pathology". Its research activity focuses on the diagnosis of fungal pathogens responsible for new and / or untreated diseases of cultured plants (orthoses, ornamental, fruity, tropical, etc.), on the study of the pathogenic pathogens, on integrated disease management biological and agronomic methods such as grafting and antagonist microorganisms, the use of reduced doses of fungicides, physical means such as solarization and integrated fight media). Investigations, study on resistance to fungicides and solutions for its proper management; biological fight for the containment of post-harvest diseases on citrus fruits and table grapes; and the use of plant-induced systemic resistance and the application of transgenic plants to contain fungal diseases represent other important research topics.

Research Interest

Study of diseases caused by the Calonectria genus in relation to their growing importance in the ornamental sector; study the practical aspects of the biological and integrated fighters; study of resistance to field fungicides in populations of fungal pathogens of cultivated plants to prolong the effectiveness of fungicides over time and a balanced relationship between cost of treatment / phytosanitary efficacy; development of innovative experimental protocols for the application of solarization alone and / or integrated with other means of combating soil pathogens to suggest their use on a large scale; post-harvest disease study and innovative aspects of their biological defense.