Valeria Todeschini
University of Piemonte Orientale, Italy
Biography
Valeria Todeschini is a researcher in Botany since November 2016. She obtained her graduation in Biology at the University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO) in July 2003, achieving in the same year the qualification to the profession of biologist. In 2007 she received her PhD in “Scienze Ambientali, Acque Interne e Agroecosistemi” from the same University. After discussing her PhD thesis, she continued her research relying on post-doctoral fixed-term positions. She regularly serves as a reviewer for various international scientific journals; from May 2015 she is a member of the “Plant Physiology and Biochemistry” editorial board. At present she is in charge with the teaching of the Plant Biotechnology course. Her studies are focused on plant-microbe interaction. In particular, she worked on phytoremediation of soils polluted by heavy metals, relying on poplar plants inoculated or not with soil beneficial microorganisms (PGPB and AMF). The effects both of pollutants and inoculation have been investigated at different levels: whole plants, cellular and molecular. Since 2013 her research line concerned also the qualitative improvement of crop and medicinal plants using bio-inoculants. In particular, growth parameters, photosynthetic activity, fruit yield and quality of crop and medicinal plants were assessed in response to different AMF and PGPB inoculation at different levels of fertilization. Her studies have been carried out with researchers from various Italian and foreign Universities. The above described activities have been disseminated in the national and international scientific communities attending conferences, submitting communications, publishing papers (17) and book chapters (1).