FRANCO NIGRO

In the last 20 years he has been working on some fungal diseases of olive, and citrus, focusing on diagnosis, aetiology, and control. He contributed to develop a highly specific, sensitive, rapid, and simple molecular approach to diagnose Phytophthora citrophthora, and P. nicotianae, Verticillium dahliae, and Rosellinia necatrix, both in host tissues and soils samples. Researches on the control concern the use of gene silencing by virus vector, beneficial soil bacteria, organic amendments to control verticillium wilt and antrachnose of olive and to promote plant growth. Currently, he is involved in the researches on the “Quick Decline Syndrome of olive”, caused by Xylella fastidiosa. He reported some undescribed fungal species associated with QDSO, and whose role is currently under investigation. On the whole, his research activity is documented by more than 70 papers published on referenced international journals.