My principal research aims at deepening the knolwdge of hazelnut reproductive biology. Special regard is given to the gametophyte and to the mechanism of anemophylous pollination. I'm currently developing new semi-automated viability assays in microscopy, new effective liquid germination media and employing impedance flow cytometry to unravel the role of environmental and genetic factors in determing pollen viability and sterility in hazelnuts. Moreover, I'm also studying the relationship between airborne pollen concentrations and hazelnut yields as a stepping stone in the definition of a reliable yield forecasting system. My interests expand to automated microscopy applied in aerobiology and to possible ripercussion of the above research in agriculture, in particular to the emerging field of artificial pollination.
