Mario Davino

Biography

Graduated in Agricultural Sciences on 13/11/1971 with the highest marks. Prof. ord. of Plant Pathology of the University of Catania from AA 2000-2001. From 1984 to 1986 and subsequently from 1986 to 1989 he was nationally responsible for a 40% MURST project on "Viroids and plant diseases caused by viroids". From 1990 to 1994 he was responsible for the CNR-RAISA project: "Expression and replication of the genome of the sadness virus and some citrus viroids". From 1990 to today it is responsible for local projects MIUR 40 and 60%. He has obtained two scholarships, the first 8 months at the USDA virology laboratory in Florida, the second for 4 months at Pat. veg. Univ. of California (Riverside). During that time he worked on some wickedness tests of the sadness virus (ds RNA). During 1994 and 1996 he took a one-month study internship at the VIVIA plant virology laboratory in Valencia (SP), headed by Dr. P. Moreno. Prof. Davino is the author of 213 publications on original topics, many of which are on viruses and citrus fruits and especially on the virus of sadness. 

Research Interest

Prof. Davino has been involved in plant diseases for several years, mainly caused by viruses and viroids. Research topics related to viruses of hybrid plants and citrus fruits. As regards the tomato, numerous surveys have been carried out throughout Sicily concerning the diffusion of different isolates of the Yellow Foliar Yellow Foliar (TYLCV) virus and the Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) virus. The results have been published in several international journals. Tests have also been carried out to ascertain the tolerance of several lines of tomato plants to these pathogens. Investigations have been made in recent years to ascertain the presence of the citrus soreness virus (CTV) as well as the presence of different isolates and their virulence. As known, the sadness virus has caused the deaths of millions of citrus plants and huge damage to all agrarian states in the world. The results of these researches have also been published in international journals. A project funded by the Sicilian Region has allowed several CTV outbreaks to be verified in our region. At the same time, techniques were developed to ensure CTV virulence. For the first time in Europe viral CTV strains have been reported (EFSA Journal 2014,12 (32), 32 pp., Davino At the same time, techniques were developed to ensure CTV virulence. For the first time in Europe viral CTV strains have been reported (EFSA Journal 2014,12 (32), 32 pp., Davino At the same time, techniques were developed to ensure CTV virulence. For the first time in Europe viral CTV strains have been reported (EFSA Journal 2014,12 (32), 32 pp., Davinoet al ., 2005; 2013). From 2013 to today he is responsible for a UO of a Research Project titled "Citrus tristeza virus and Huanglongbin: Development of fast, efficient and easy-to-use integrated defense techniques", which includes the IEMEST Institute for Euro- Mediterranean Science and Technology of Palermo and the Vivai Chiarello Agricultural Enterprise of Mazzarà S. Andrea.