PROIETTI SIMONA

Research fields

My main scientific interests concern plant physiology and biochemistry, with a focus on carbohydrate metabolism and the source-sink relationship of photosynthetic products in cultivated and forest plants. I study the impact of environmental variations, cultivation techniques, and biotic and abiotic stresses on plant production and nutritional quality. Additionally, I am interested in the synthesis and accumulation of nutraceutical metabolites in various food plant species in relation to environmental parameters, particularly light quality and quantity.

These competencies are applied in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and the aerospace sector for the development of bio-regenerative life support systems (BLSS) to sustain human life in space. However, they also have applications in optimizing conventional crop cultivation, enhancing efficiency, food safety, and the nutritional quality of plant-based products.

Furthermore, I study the role of carbohydrates in defining the quality and chemical composition of the cell wall in lignocellulosic biomass intended for biorefinery and bioenergy production. The valorization of these biomasses aims at their integration into sustainable agro-industrial supply chains, promoting circular economy models and regional development.

From a technical perspective, I have expertise in chromatography techniques (IC, HPLC), spectrophotometry, and biochemical analyses for studying enzymatic activities and quantifying plant metabolites. Additionally, I am skilled in applying official protocols, such as NREL protocols, for biomass characterization, as well as in plant cultivation in growth chambers and greenhouses