15 Feb 2026. New publications out!

New publications out!

We are excited to share three recent publications from our group that advance our understanding of plant–microbiome interactions and plant health in a changing world.

Two of these papers are part of Edda Francomano’s PhD work and explore how plant-associated microbiomes respond to stress and pathogens, including how belowground infections can reshape microbial communities in leaves and inform new microbiome-based diagnostic and management strategies.

The third article is the outcome of a large collaboration focused on the causes, mechanisms, and management of Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS), a complex and emerging threat to perennial crops driven by interactions among abiotic stress, soilborne pathogens, and plant microbiomes.

Together, these studies highlight the importance of considering plants as holobionts and reinforce our lab’s commitment to developing microbiome-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and resilient crop systems.

Read our papers here:

Edda Francomano, Meriem Miyassa Aci, Saveria Mosca, Nesma Zakaria Mohamed, Giovanni Enrico Agosteo, Maria Giulia Li Destri Nicosia, Antonino Malacrinò, Leonardo Schena (2026). Plant health in the era of global changes, holobiont biology, and microbiome-based solutions. Horticulture Research.

DOI

Edda Francomano, Meriem Miyassa Aci, Marialiusa Casuscelli, Leonardo Schena, Antonino Malacrinò (2026). Belowground pathogens rewire the phyllosphere microbiome in tomato plants. Plant and Soil.

DOI

Antonino Malacrinò, Chiara Bernardini, Micol Guaschino, Laura Bardi, Andrea Bossolasco, Guido Cipriani, Gloria De Mori, Giacomo Falcone, Giovanni Mian, Saveria Mosca, Luca Nari, Emanuele Spada, Athina Vasileiadou, Marta Martini, Paolo Ermacora, Davide Spadaro, Leonardo Schena (2026). Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome: etiology, mechanisms, and management of a multifactorial disease. Plant Stress.

DOI