Guest Editors
Alice Checcucci
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence
<p>Alice Checcucci is a researcher with expertise in microbial genetics and plant-microorganism interactions, with a background in microbiology, biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture. She obtained her PhD in biology from the University of Florence, where her research focused on plant colonization by symbiotic bacteria.</p><p><br></p><p>Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various national and international research institutes, contributing to projects ranging from the analysis of antibiotic resistance in agricultural wastewater to the study of microbiota associated with higher organisms. Currently, she is a researcher at the DAGRI Department of the University of Florence, where she continues to investigate the genetics of plant-microbe interactions and applied microbiology in agriculture.</p>
Riccardo Marziali
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) University of Florence
<p>Riccardo Marziali is a PhD student in agricultural and environmental sciences at the University of Florence. His current research, conducted within the Agricultural Genetics Group (DAGRI), focuses on the application of genomic and biotechnological approaches to develop Rhizobium-based bioinoculants aimed at enhancing chickpea resilience under drought conditions.</p><p><br></p><p>Prior to his doctoral studies, he served as a research fellow at the Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (IBBA CNR) in Milan, where he investigated maize drought tolerance and stomatal guard cell signaling in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>. He holds a master’s degree in agricultural sciences from the University of Bologna, where he specialized in the genetic control of root architecture in barley.</p><p><br></p><p>By integrating genetic improvement with plant-microbe interactions, his work aims to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change on modern agriculture.</p>
Collection Overview
Plant–microbe interactions are fundamental to plant health, productivity, and resilience, playing a crucial role in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem functioning. Understanding the genetic basis of these interactions, together with advances in genomics and phenomics, is essential for harnessing beneficial microbes.
This Topical Collection aims to showcase cutting-edge methodologies and experimental approaches that elucidate plants–microbe beneficial interaction, from molecular mechanisms to applied outcomes. By focusing on reproducible protocols and innovative tools, it will provide researchers with practical guidance to study complex interactions and translate discoveries into agricultural applications.
Ultimately, this collection will support the development of next-generation bioinoculants and microbial-based solutions, promoting collaboration across disciplines and accelerating the adoption of sustainable strategies in crop production. It will serve as a valuable resource for both researchers and applied scientists working to bridge the gap between genes and real-world agricultural applications.