Algae and plant biotechnology

Research activities focus on the study of plant biology at all levels of organisation, including photoautotrophic prokaryotes, algae and terrestrial organisms. These organisms are studied in terms of their molecular, cytological, histological, reproductive and developmental characteristics, as well as their possible biotechnological applications.

The ways in which cells, tissues and organs acquire specialised structures and functions are analysed, including the production of biomolecules in relation to the biotic and abiotic components of the environment. Through the use of in vitro cell cultures or algal cultures, the production of bioactive molecules such as specialised metabolites is studied and optimised, and potentially useful applications for the environment and humans are investigated, such as the bioremediation of wastewater and waste gas and the production of substances of nutraceutical, food and/or cosmetic interest. Studies on algae are carried out on strains isolated from the environment and cultured, with scalability tests performed in photobioreactors and pilot tanks.