TEAM

National Coordinator of HEATSTOP and, in this project, management figure of the unit within the BIGEA Department of the University of Bologna. Full Professor of General Botany at the University of Bologna, he directs the Laboratory of Plant Biology and Diversity. His research activities mainly focus on genetic, molecular, and biochemical studies related to plants, particularly concerning reproduction through the study of pollen, pollen tube growth, and how it is regulated. His research field also includes aspects related to their presence in the atmosphere and pollen allergies, as well as plant responses to various types of abiotic and biotic stresses. In this project, his main role will be to carefully plan and coordinate activities based on his extensive experience. Additionally, he will manage funds and interactions between partners and service providers and will supervise the doctoral student during their year of work on the project. The aim will be to explore the factors governing pollen-pistil interactions and the role of nanovesicles in pollen-pistil communication, even under conditions of stress induced by high temperatures.

I am an Associate Professor of General Botany at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Co-PI (unit of the University of Rome Tor Vergata) of the HEATSTOP project, alongside Professor Stefano Del Duca. During my doctoral research, I acquired expertise in studying the regulation of transcriptional and translational processes in eukaryotes, including ribosome assembly and function, and the development of new and specific protocols. My interests lie in genetic, molecular, bioinformatic, and biochemical studies related to plants. Currently, my research focuses on plant metabolomics and microRNAs. Specifically, I have profiled the miRNome of leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruits of various plant species (such as Moringa oleifera, Malva sylvestris, Corylus avellana, Mentha spicata) and studied their potential biological effects. Additionally, I have detected, for the first time, the presence of plant microRNAs in honey.
For HEATSTOP, I will analyze the signaling molecules involved in pollen-pistil crosstalk, under standard conditions and heat stress, with particular attention to lipophilic compounds and microRNAs. Specifically, miRNome and chemical characterization will be performed on germinated and ungerminated pollen and its secretome. Once the samples are selected, my research group will perform miRNA purification, library preparation for NGS, and subsequent bioinformatic analysis of the data, including miRNA target prediction. On the other hand, the lipophilic fraction will be isolated from the same samples and analyzed using GC-MS. I will supervise and coordinate all scientific activities related to my research unit, also validating extraction methodologies specifically created for the isolation and study of biomolecules involved in pollen-pistil communication.

Graduated in Agricultural Sciences with a focus on Plant Production and Genetic Improvement, I have worked for 15 years in the plant genetics group at the Department of Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, where I carried out both research support activities and laboratory management. These activities have resulted in several scientific publications and tutoring activities in various degree courses, as well as thesis supervision.
Moving to the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and studies in the fields of basic science in both plant and animal areas. Thus, I have been able to continue both research support activities and laboratory management and coordination of students, but I have also had the opportunity to create new and useful collaborations.

Chiara Suanno holds a degree in Biodiversity and Evolution and obtained her Ph.D. in 2022 from the University of Bologna with a thesis titled "Relationships between airborne pollen allergens and environmental factors." Since then, she has been a Research Fellow at the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences at the same university, conducting research activities focused on pollen, ranging from aeropalynology to pollen allergy, to plant developmental biology. Throughout her scientific career, she has gained expertise in experimental design, vegetation and pollen sampling, biomonitoring, calculation of ecological and allergenic indices, molecular analysis of pollen allergens and pollen-released nanovesicles, as well as statistical analysis of data. She contributed to the design and drafting of the HEATSTOP project and will participate in laboratory activities, data analysis, and dissemination, mentoring thesis students and a doctoral candidate on the project.

I am a Ph.D. candidate at the BiGeA (Biology, Geology, and Environmental Sciences) section of the University of Bologna.

I obtained my bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences  the University of Ferrara and my master's degree in Science and Nature Management from the University of Bologna.

My scientific interests include Botany, Palynology, and Molecular Biology.

For the Heatstop project, I will be responsible for plant growth and germination, followed by the collection of anthers and pollen grains from selected varieties, and all subsequent proteomic analyses for the isolation of pollensomes to identify and understand the protein components of the pollen secretions.

At the University of Rome Tor Vergata, I am a Full Professor of General Botany, Director of the Department of Biology, and Vice-Rector for Environment, Sustainability, and Energy Transition. Additionally, I oversee the Botanical Garden of Rome Tor Vergata. My interests include germplasm conservation, biodiversity studies, plant genetics, cellular and molecular biology, biotechnological applications for organic agriculture systems, and sustainable green management. In this project, alongside Professor Gismondi, I will supervise all scientific activities.

I am a Researcher in General Botany at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, specializing in plant metabolomics and morphological analysis of pollen. I also teach a course on food plants. I earned my Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology in 2014. My research activity focuses on the use of chromatographic techniques (e.g., GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC-DAD) for the characterization of phytochemicals. In this project, I will contribute to the development of specific extraction methods to characterize the lipophilic fraction (e.g., fatty acids, terpenes, terpenoids) of pollen (germinated or not) and its secretome, both under control conditions and heat stress.

I am a post-doc researcher in General Botany at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. I received my PhD in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology in 2023. My expertise primarily includes biochemical, genetic, and molecular analyses of plant material and extracts. In HEATSTOP, my attention will be focused on the analysis of the function of miRNAs in the communication between pistil and pollen and the characterization of the lipophilic fraction of pollen (germinated or not) and pollen secretome, both in control and heat stress conditions.