Basic research. Studies of plant plant-pathogen interaction, organisation and expression of pathogens’ genome (viruses and fungi), cytopathological alterations, using different approaches i.e. serological (monoclonal antibodies, gold immunolabelling techniques), molecular (nucleic acid hybridisation, PCR, real time PCR, Western blot analysis, synthesis and use of biologically active transcripts, expression of recombinant proteins) and biological (agrobacterium–mediated transformation of plants, transient and constitutive expression of foreign sequences and reporter genes in plants, biocontrol agents and phytopathogenic fungi by agroinfiltration, particle bombardment, electroporation, expression of foreign genes in yeast cells) approaches

Applied research. Development and application of serological (monoclonal antibodies, synthetic antigens produced by phage display) molecular (primers for standard and real-time PCR,DNA and RNA probes) and biological (transgenic indicator plants) methods, for the identification, diagnosis, monitoring and analysis of genetic variation and biodiversity of plant pathogens at large and their antagonists. Real time PCR-based identification of Verticillium dahliae, Phytophthora citrophthora, P. nicotianae, and Rosellinia.necatrix, both in host tissues and soil Use of methods alternative to synthetic fungicides in controlling postharvest decay of fruits and vegetables. Plant viruses control based on virus-elimination (sanitation) through tissue culture, tip micrografting and somatic embryogenesis applied to grapevine, stone fruits, olive, citrus, and artichoke. Development of resistant transgenic plants through the concept of pathogen-derived resistance where a pathogen’s gene or sequence is transformed into the host to induce resistance. Creation and maintenance of databases and collections of selected plant pathogens to be used as reference standards for the Mediterranean pathosystems. Transient expression in planta of heterologous protein of biomedical interest.