Guglielmo Fichera
Tutor: Cherubino Leonardi
- 01/11/2025 - Ongoing: PhD Course in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Catania. Research project: "Enhancing the Resilience of Mediterranean Greenhouse Tomato to Abiotic Stressors by Modulating Its Antioxidant System: Benefits for Plant and Human Health''. Supervisor: Prof. Cherubino Leonardi.
- 25/08/2024 - 31/10/2025: Research fellowship on the “ON Foods - Research and innovation network on food and nutrition Sustainability, Safety and Security – Working ON Foods” project (Spoke 4 - “Food quality and nutrition”). University of Catania - Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A). Title: "Qualitative Analysis of Innovative Carrot and Tomato Cultivars". Supervisor: Prof. Cherubino Leonardi.
- 2024: Master's Degree in Plant biotechnologies (LM-7), University of Turin. Degree thesis:“Indole-3-acetic acid methyltransferases influences high-temperature responses in tomato”. Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Moglia. Co-supervisor: Prof. Antonio Granell Richart.
- 01/03/2023 - 01/09/2023: Erasmus+ Traineeship at Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP) in Valencia (Spain). Research activity: Expression of candidate genes through agroinfiltration in Nicotiana benthamiana and assessment of monoterpenoid content.
- 2021: Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (L-25), University of Catania. Degree thesis: “Foliar Fertilization for the Production of Biofortified Vegetables”. Supervisor: Prof. Cherubino Leonardi.
- 2018: High School Graduation, “Gulli e Pennisi” Classical High School - Acireale (CT).
The research project "Enhancing the Resilience of Mediterranean Greenhouse Tomato to Abiotic Stressors by Modulating Its Antioxidant System: Benefits for Plant and Human Health" focuses on improving the abiotic stress tolerance of fresh-market tomatoes cultivated in Mediterranean protected environments. Through an integrated approach, the project aims to evaluate the efficacy of biostimulant molecules and the variability of genotypes with different pigmentations in modulating the plant’s antioxidant system. The investigation combines agronomic assessments, biochemical analyses, and gene expression characterization to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying stress tolerance and the nutraceutical quality of the fruit. The ultimate goal is to define sustainable agronomic protocols designed to ensure high production performance and enhance the content of bioactive compounds beneficial to human health.
• Leonardi C., Cannata C., Giuffrida F., Basile F., Fichera G., Mauro R.P. (2025). Title: Agronomic mineral biofortification to enhance the nutritional value of vegetables: a review. Acta Horticulturae, 1422: 37–44. [DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1422.5]
• Cannata C., Mei L., Mauro R.P., Fichera G., Pepe G., Aquino G., Sabatino L., Vultaggio L., Leonardi C. (2025). Title: Effects of foliar applications of zinc on fruit biofortification and quality traits of greenhouse mini plum tomato cultivars. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 21: 101978. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101978]
• Rutigliano C.A.C., Cannata C., Basile F., Fichera G., Muratore G., Restuccia C., Sabatino L., La Bella E., Leonardi C., Mauro R.P. (2025). Title: Shelf life of fresh-cut yellow carrot as affected by chitosan or locust bean gum edible coatings. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 22: 102149. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102149]
• Cannata C., Basile F., Mauro R.P., Fichera G., Giordano M., Leonardi C. (2025). Title: Un futuro colorato per i mini plum. Orticoltura e Floricoltura, n. 4/2025: 24-27. [ISSN 3035-4501]