C.R.A. Plant Pathology Research Center - Rome

The Conference will be held in the facilities of the historical Plant Pathology Research Center (CRA-PAV), which is located in Rome and is a research institution of the same level of the university institutes, with operative competency all over the country.

CRA-PAV carries out studies and researches aimed at improving the knowledge of disease agents and protecting crops through the development of strategies involving low risks for health and the environment. The studies, deployed in the laboratories and in specially equipped areas all over the country, have made it possible to achieve important results in basic areas of Plant Pathology. Namely, innovative methods to detect pathogens or to define the threshold at which a pathogen causes economically important losses, have been developed. Treatments for plant protection have been optimized concerning timing and techniques. Sources of resistance to diseases to be used in breeding programmes have been found. Progress has been made in the knowledge of climatic, soil and human factors involved in forest decline. Biological and integrated control of biotic stress factors have been developed in order to assure both farmers' revenue and human and environmental protection. Other important aspects have resulted in recognized achievements concerning pesticide residues on crops and the production of healthy seeds and propagating material (read more…)