Biodiversity
2025

Tuesday, June 3

Auditorium of S. Francesco al Prato Church

Welcome Introduction

10:00 - 15:00

Registration

Registration will be open from 10:00 to 15:00.

15:00 - 16:00

Welcome Introduction

Major of Perugia, Rector of the University of Perugia, Director of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Perugia, Chair of the ASBM, Chair of the Organizing Committee

Auditorium of S. Francesco al Prato Church

Opening Session

Chairs: P. Buzzini (University of Perugia), L. De Bellis (University of Salento)

16:00 - 16:45

Carlo Blasi

Biodiversity monitoring and knowledge in the implementation of the nature restoration regulation - NRR

16:45 - 17:30

Carlo Calfapietra

Nature based solutions for ecosystem restoration: the experience of the National Biodiversity Future Centre

17:30 - 18:15

Valentina Veneroso

10 years after the Nagoya Protocol: the road ahead

Auditorium of S. Francesco al Prato Church

Welcome Party

18:15 - 22:00

Welcome Party

Wednesday, June 4

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Plenary session: Impact of climate change on biodiversity

Chairs: A.C. Elia (University of Perugia), L. De Bellis (University of Salento)

08:30 - 08:50

Claudia Coleine

Global-scale human pathogenic fungi under climate change

08:50 - 09:10

Marta Azzolin

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) in the Adriatic sea: an analysis of their habitat shifts over the last two periods of the habitats directive

09:10 - 09:30

Greta Giovagnoli

Microbiomes in cold soils: novel strategies for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development

09:30 - 09:50

Barbara Caldaroni

Fifty years of changes in phytoplankton diversity in a closed lake. Cyanobacteria like it salty?

09:50 - 10:10

Maria Landolfi

Plant-microbial interactions: tracing a 2 million-year-old alliance with ancient DNA

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Coffee/Tea Break

10:10 - 10:40

Coffee/Tea Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Parallel session: The challenges of crop biodiversity in 21st Century

Chairs: E. Albertini (University of Perugia), S. Salvi (University of Bologna)

10:40 - 10:52

Aaron Anderson

Exploring the process of polyploidization through structural genomic changes in neotetraploid Alfalfa

10:52 - 11:04

Chiara Delvento

Haplotype-resolved assembly and resequencing of wild and cultivated genomes shed light on the almond evolutionary history and the genetic basis of self-compatibility

11:04 - 11:16

Eleonora Grassi

Taxonomical and functional biodiversity of nematodes to assess the eco-friendly potential of alternative approaches in crop protection

11:16 - 11:28

Giacomo Bongiorno

A Pan-Genome of the diplosporous grass Eragrostis curvula to investigate genetic diversification among genotypes with different ploidy levels and reproductive modes

11:28 - 11:40

Marzia Guerriero

Establishment of a comprehensive germplasm collection of chate melon informed with whole-genome sequence and phenotypic data

11:40 - 11:52

Paola Semenzato

LIFE Olivares Vivos+: A scalable model for reconnecting olive farming with biodiversity conservation and supporting the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

11:52 - 12:04

Pasquale Venerito

Varietal characterization and valorization of traditional fruit germoplasm in Puglia

12:04 - 12:16

Francesco Arcieri

Resistance mechanisms to Orobanche crenata in pea (Pisum sativum L.): beyond strigolactones

12:16 - 12:30

Marco Maccaferri

The challenge of developing the tetraploid wheat pangenome and leveraging it to improve wheat resilience to climate change

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room A

Parallel session: Innovation in vine and wine microbiology

Chairs: G. Cardinali (University of Perugia), P. Romano (Universitas Mercatorum, Rome)

10:40 - 10:50

Vittorio Capozzi

Italian Geographical Indications, wine science, microbial diversity and autochthonous resources

10:50 - 11:00

Laura Moretti

Yeasts in the vineyard: a promising tool for biocontrol action

11:00 - 11:10

Angela Capece

Role of apiaries located in the vineyard on biodiversity of culturable yeast population associated with grape must

11:10 - 11:20

Tiziana Nardi

The grape microbiome throughout post-harvest withering and its correlations with berry metabolites

11:20 - 11:30

Vasileios Englezos

Investigating the role of temperature in shaping the microbiota and its functionality during a wine spontaneous alcoholic fermentation

11:30 - 11:40

Nicola Francesca

Use of novel non-conventional yeasts Candida oleophila and Starmerella lactis-condensi for profiling the fruity and floral aroma of Catarratto wines: focus on microbial interaction and metabolome

11:40 - 11:50

Alessio Pio Rossetti

Effect of Starmerella bacillaris strains on Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine color

11:50 - 12:00

Gianluigi Cardinali

Microbial wine protection and exploitation in view of the new Italian plan for the biodiversity of agricultural interest

12:00 - 12:30

Discussion

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room B

Parallel session: Fungal diversity and bioprospecting (part 1)

Chairs: S. Tosi (University of Pavia), G. Venturella (University of Palermo)

10:40 - 11:02

Lucia Muggia

The diversity of the lichen mycobiota

11:02 - 11:24

Pamela Anelli

Characterization of secondary starters occurring on traditional Apulian cheese: a chance to improve and control the aging process

11:24 - 11:46

Alessia Romano

Graphite for graphene: digging into the diversity of degrading fungi from graphite-containing soils and rocks of NW-Italy

11:46 - 12:08

Lobna Hajji-Hedfi

Mycoconservation in arid and mediterranean North Africa: biodiversity, bioprospecting, threats, and SDG synergies in Tunisia and Egypt

12:08 - 12:30

Simone Buratti

Two different realities come together: how woody decay fungi can lead to safe hydrogen use

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room C

Parallel session: New frontiers in the studies of animal biodiversity

Chairs: E. Lasagna (University of Perugia), M. Albenzio (University of Foggia)

10:40 - 10:58

Francesca Bertolini

Genomic diversity and signatures of selection in Italian heavy pig breeds: insights into the genetic foundation of dry-cured ham production

10:58 - 11:16

Daniele Colombi

Genetic diversity and selection signatures in three Italian local beef cattle breeds

11:16 - 11:34

Lucia Sepe

Chemical characterization of goat meat obtained from native breeds in inland areas of the Basilicata Region – Italy

11:34 - 11:52

Fabio Formenti

IoT Technologies for the sustainability of Suino Nero Cinghiato farming: innovation and biodiversity

11:52 - 12:10

Vittorio Sarchese

Complete genomic sequencing of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) with nanopore technology in wild animals in northern Italy

12:10 - 12:30

Laura Garzoli

Bats as bioindicators of environmental levels of trace elements and legacy organic contaminants through non-invasive approaches

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Lunch Break

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Plenary session: Biodiversity, invasive species and multitrophic interactions

Chairs: E. Conti (University of Perugia), P. Pollegioni (CNR-IRET, Porano)

14:00 - 14:22

Paola Pollegioni

Understanding the invasion mechanisms of the alien tree species Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle across Italy: the role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

14:22 - 14:44

Claudio Cucini

Exploring Popillia japonica through molecular lenses

14:44 - 15:06

Elena Chierici

Manipulating the foraging behaviour of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus: possible non-target effects on local biodiversity

15:06 - 15:28

Francesca Boero

Monitoring of insect invasive alien species Scyphophorus acupunctatus and Xylosandrus spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) in Western Liguria (Northern Italy)

15:28 - 15:50

Irene Tatini

Invasive species monitoring and community engagement: a multilevel approach within the RICONOSCERE Project

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Coffee/Tea Break

15:50 - 16:20

Coffee/Tea Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Parallel session: SUS-MIRRI.IT Strengthening the MIRRI Italian research infrastructure for sustainable bioscience and bioeconomy

Chairs: B. Turchetti (University of Perugia), G. Perrone (CNR-ISPA, Bari)

16:20 - 16:42

Maria Grazia Caruso

Assessment of relationships with indolamines in a collection of tomato culturable endophytic bacteria

16:42 - 17:04

Luciana De Vero

New insights into the long-term preservation of microbial communities associated with Apulian table olives

17:04 - 17:26

Annamaria Bevivino

Enhancing the ENEA Microbial Culture Collection: a valuable resource for advancing biotechnology and bioeconomy development

17:26 - 17:48

Sandro Gepiro Contaldo

Empowering Microbial Research: SUS-MIRRI.IT collaborative working environment platform

17:48 - 18:10

Marino Moretti

The Future Sustainability of the Research Infrastructure MIRRI-IT: an overview on objectives to pursue, KPIs to reach, and strategies to adopt

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room A

Parallel session: Insect genetic and functional biodiversity

Chairs: M.A. Bologna (University of Rome3), F. Frati (University of Siena)

16:20 - 16:35

Ilaria Latella

Biodiversity of diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera in different environments of South Italy

16:35 - 16:50

Martina Falagiarda

How diversity of stink bugs and their parasitoids is affected by habitats and host plants

16:50 - 17:05

Antonio Gugliuzzo

Increasing plant diversity into Mediterranean tomato greenhouses: benefits for natural enemies and effects on key pest management

17:05 - 17:20

Roberto Catania

Towards integrated pest and pollinator management: the role of functional biodiversity

17:20 - 17:35

Alessandra Riccieri

Patterns of endemism of Italian insects: different biogeographic histories uncovered by phylogenetic and phylogeographic approaches

17:35 - 17:50

Emiliano Mancini

Conservation of saproxylic beetles in the genomics era

17:50 - 18:10

Davide Badano

Pit-traps and pitfalls: reconstructing the evolutionary history of neuropteroid insects

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room B

Parallel session: Fungal diversity and bioprospecting (part 2)

Chairs: S. Tosi (University of Pavia), G. Venturella (University of Palermo)

16:20 - 16:38

Giuseppe Venturella

Bioprospecting of medicinal mushrooms: a bet for the future

16:38 - 16:56

Francesco Bergese

Exploring the plastisphere: a culturomic approach to uncover the floating microplastic-related fungal biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea

16:56 - 17:14

Mara Rondolini

Unraveling the soil fungal diversity of a white truffle-producing floodplain forest

17:14 - 17:32

Segula Masaphy

Diversity of Morchella species: effect of ecosystem changes on proliferation of two ecotypes of Morchella spp. in Israel

17:32 - 17:50

Francesco Di Serio

Viroid-like RNAs infecting fungi: an unforeseen source of biodiversity and of potential innovative biotechnological tools

17:50 - 18:10

Carolina Elena Girometta

Diversity of corticoid fungi in the relict Abies alba population of Monte Nero (North Apennines)

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room C

Parallel session: Animal biodiversity hotspots and conservation strategies for endangered species

Chairs: F.M. Sarti (University of Perugia), A. Sevi (University of Foggia)

16:20 - 16:35

Caterina Spiezio

Breeding success of the critically endangered red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus): an international partnership to save the species from the extinction

16:35 - 16:50

Lorenzo Attili

Genetic variability and differentiation of an endangered Mediterranean falcon (Falco biarmicus feldeggii) through a multi-marker approach: a support for conservation efforts

16:50 - 17:05

Francesca Maria Sarti

MuVal – The future of tradition: an immersive journey through Valnerina

17:05 - 17:20

Morena Carlentini

Characterization of heterozygosity‑rich regions in Sicilian horse breeds

17:20 - 17:35

Marco Bertoli

Ecology of the lasca Protochondrostoma genei (Bonaparte 1939) in the Chiarò di Cialla Creek (Northeast Italy): new insights from a biodiversity hotspot affected by human impacts and alien species

17:35 - 17:50

Francesco Perini

Genetic characterization and conservation strategies for Mediterranean trout (Salmo ghigii) in Italian freshwater ecosystems

17:50 - 18:10

Serena Tumino

Genomic insights into runs of homozygosity and heterozygosity of Sicilian cattle breeds

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Poster Session

18:10 - 19:30

Poster session

Thursday, June 5

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Plenary session: Biodiversity in anthropized environments: issues and prospects

Chairs: M. Rebora (University of Perugia), P. Mattarelli (University of Bologna)

08:30 - 08:43

Gianni Gilioli

Discovering unexpected pollinators suitability in urban environment

08:43 - 08:56

Anna Poli

Enrichment procedures for the selection and isolation of promising polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - degrading fungal strains: towards a Nature Based Solution (NBS) soil restoration

08:56 - 09:09

Beatrice Falcinelli

The effect of biodiversity on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of sprouts from fruit-tree species

09:09 - 09:22

Giulio Barone

An updated Plant Landscape Map of the Oreto river basin (Palermo, NW Sicily)

09:22 - 09:35

Ilaria Fracasso

Impact of ski slope management on soil properties and biodiversity in mountain grasslands

09:35 - 09:48

Laura Scirè Calabrisotto

Novel aerobic 1,2-DCA degrading consortia from a contaminated aquifer for enhanced bioremediation purposes

09:48 - 10:01

Antonella Trisorio

A strategic tool for agrobiodiversity: the national portal of genetic resources for food and agriculture

10:01 - 10:15

Raffaella Pergamo

The role of organic districts in nature and biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation. The example of the biodistricts in the Lazio Region

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Coffee/Tea Break

10:15 - 10:45

Coffee/Tea Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Parallel session: Biodiversity in cropping systems

Chairs: C. Moretti (University of Perugia), A. Ferrante (Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa)

10:45 - 11:06

Ilaria Bruno

From diversity to multifunctionality: Integrating marginal area and cover crops for enhanced agroecosystem performance

11:06 - 11:27

Luigi De Bellis

Physiology and endophytic communities of Xylella-resistant and susceptible olive tree cultivars

11:27 - 11:48

Alessandro Frontini

Structural and metabolic changes in Xylella fastidiosa resistant and susceptible olives

11:48 - 12:09

Beppe Benedetto Consentino

Solanum aethiopicum gr. gilo accessions and their potential use as eggplant rootstock

12:09 - 12:30

Francesco Vitali

Multilevel assessment of soil biodiversity after application of biostimulant based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in three cropping systems

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room A

Parallel session: Insect biodiversity in the modern era

Chairs: R. Romani (University of Perugia), G. Burgio (University of Bologna)

10:45 - 11:02

Matteo Montagna

Insect taxonomic and functional diversity: opportunities from genetic approaches

11:02 - 11:19

Daniele Sommaggio

Hoverfly (Diptera, Syrphidae) biodiversity in Italian National Parks

11:19 - 11:36

Adriana Poccia

Using biosolutions in fruit orchards against the invasive Halyomorpha halys to reduce pest control impact on biodiversity

11:36 - 11:53

Stefano Vanin

Funerary archaeoentomology: a discipline to investigate biodiversity, local extinction and new arrivals

11:53 - 12:10

Giuseppina Carta

The use of archaeoentomology and cartography to investigate the landscape transformation in the modern era

12:10 - 12:30

Barbara Manachini

Small creatures, big impact: unveiling the power of nematode diversity in the Mediterranean ecoregion

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room B

Parallel session: Microbial biodiversity in foods: evolving insights and uncharted horizons

Chairs: M. Gullo (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), V. Capozzi (CNR-ISPA, Foggia)

10:45 - 11:06

Maria De Angelis

Phenotypic and genomic assessment of sugar assimilation in the pomegranate yeast Hanseniaspora valbyensis

11:06 - 11:27

Davide Gottardi

From by-product to innovation: exploiting biodiversity of Yarrowia lipolytica strains to valorize cheese whey and develop adjunct cultures for improved cheese ripening and quality

11:27 - 11:48

Chiara Nasuti

Development of a new brewing strain with improved aroma through hybridization and UV mutagenesis

11:48 - 12:09

Michela Pellegrini

Microbial resources for sustainable meat productions in the green deal era

12:09 - 12:30

Giovanni De Francesco

Yeast biodiversity in brewing: a comprehensive screening of 30 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from different ecological niches

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Lunch Break

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Parallel session: Plant biodiversity: environmental preservation to face global change

Chairs: L. Reale (University of Perugia), A. Canini (University of Rome Tor Vergata)

14:00 - 14:22

Giuseppe Bonanno

Climate changes, habitat transformation and germination behavior. A complex story from three Mediterranean plants of conservation interest: Muscari gussonei, Petagnaea gussonei and Poterium spinosum

14:22 - 14:44

Laura Bassolino

Shading lights on Silybum genus biodiversity: chemodiversity, genetic and genomic characterization of a wide germplasm collection

14:44 - 15:06

Waed Tarraf

The potential of the terpene profile of Mediterranean fir species in the chemotaxonomic study and the conservation prospects

15:06 - 15:28

Daniela Gigante

Conservation status of Annex I habitats in Italy: first overview from the Fifth National Report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive

15:28 - 15:50

Camilla Wellstein

Plant biodiversity and conservation of endemic species of the Dolomites and Southeastern Alps

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room A

Parallel session: Round table - Biodiversity and PNRR infrastructures: what future beyond projects?

Chairs: P. Buzzini (University of Perugia), A. Bevivino (ENEA, Rome)

14:00 - 15:50

Discussion

with F. Frati (NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY FUTURE CENTER), F. Pennacchio (AGRITECH CENTER) and A. Moretti (SUS-MIRRI.IT)

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room B

Parallel session: Agro-environmental microbiology: emerging perspectives and new frontiers

Chairs: C. Sannino (University of Perugia), L. Borruso (University of Bozen)

14:00 - 14:16

Silvia Gattucci

Occurrence and distribution of yeast communities related to honeybees system: an ecological overview

14:16 - 14:32

Sara Del Duca

Enhancing soil bacterial community profiling: PMA treatment and long-read sequencing across biogeographic regions and land uses

14:32 - 14:48

Debora Casagrande Pierantoni

Plant Growth-Promoting Yeasts (PGPYs) as a sustainable solution to mitigate salt-induced stress on zucchini plant growth

14:48 - 15:04

Oussama Bouaicha

Cascade effect of microplastic aerial deposition affects tomato growth, root metabolome and exudome, and rhizosphere microbiome

15:04 - 15:20

Michela Paglialunga

Characterisation of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Italian strains causing severe wilting in eggplants

15:20 - 15:35

Simone Cutajar

The environmental context of honey bee gut microbiota: insights from the endemic Maltese subspecies, Apis mellifera ruttneri

15:35 - 15:50

Daniele Alberoni

Microbial drivers of nectar flows: the case study of sunflower

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Coffee/Tea Break

15:50 - 16:20

Coffee/Tea Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Room A

ASBM General Assembly

16:20 - 18:00

ASBM General Assembly

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Poster Session 2

16:20 - 19:00

Poster session

Hotel Giotto - Assisi

Gala Dinner (optional)

19:30 - 00:00

Dinner

Friday, June 6

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Plenary session: Challenges and opportunities for the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law

Chairs: L. Rocchi (University of Perugia), C. Catalano (CNR-IRET), L. Servadei (CREA-PB)

09:00 - 09:30

Chiara Catalano, Luigi Servadei

The challenges and opportunities of the EU Nature Restoration Law and the role of research. The national project for the development of a catalogue and planning support tool for Nature-Based Solutions

09:30 - 10:00

Luisa Paolotti

The role of integrated LIFE programmes in restoring ecosystems: a case study from the “Integrated management and actions for a green and Innovative nature” Project

10:00 - 10:30

Matteo Pallottini

The LIFE IMAGINE UMBRIA project for the conservation of insect species of community importance in Umbria

10:30 - 11:00

Franziska Zimmermann

Tipping points of biodiversity and sustainability of South Tyrol traditional pasture systems (BIOPAS)

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre

Coffee/Tea Break

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee/Tea Break

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

Farewell considerations and introduction of the next meetings

11:30 - 12:00

Awards

Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 15th National Conference on Biodiversity - 2nd International Conference on Mediterranean Biodiversity, Chair of the ASBM

Hotel Giò - Perugia Congress Centre - Auditorium

End of the Conference and Departure