Adriano SofoUniversità degli Studi della Basilicata | UniBas · Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (DAFE)
Adriano Sofo
PhD
Always open to scientific works, discussions and collaborations.
About
262
Publications
103,443
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
7,336
Citations
Introduction
1) Associate Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Basilicata, IT.
2) Fulbright Scholar and visiting peofessor - UCDavis, CA, USA.
3) OECD Scholar - Waikato Univ, NZ, and EFPL, CH.
4) JSPS Scholar - Kindai Univ, JP.
5) DAAD Scholar - Bremen Univ, DE.
6) Weizmann Institute of Science Scholar - IL.
7) Editor-in-Chief of the Int J Plant Biol (MDPI).
8) Section Editor-in-Chief of Plants (MDPI).
9) Associate Editor of Funct Plant Biol (CSIRO) and Soil Use Manage (Wiley).
Additional affiliations
August 2021 - September 2021
August 2021 - September 2021
July 2019 - September 2019
Education
November 1999 - February 2003
October 1992 - December 1997
Publications
Publications (262)
The escalating global climate shifts lead to several negative impacts, including a continuous increase in average temperatures, imposing significant consequences on plant physiology, biochemical dynamics, and molecular processes. Central to these ramifications is the process of photosynthesis, pivotal for carbohydrate synthesis and essential for su...
Soil salinity poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, impacting the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. This study investigates the potential of melatonin (MT; 100 µM) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S; 200 µM sodium hydrosulfide, NaHS) to confer the tolerance of wheat plants to 100 mM NaCl. Salinity stress induced the...
In recent years, long periods of drought and heat waves have become increasingly frequent, causing forest dieback phenomena that make stands more sensitive to biotic stressors. How trees may respond to extreme climatic events and which metabolites are involved under stress conditions is still not clear. In this study, we analysed by SPME how diebac...
The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large‐scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial m...
Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS) is an emerging challenge related to various factors, including water stagnation, soil compaction, root hypoxia, imbalanced soil redox potential, soil nutrient imbalance and fungal pathogens, yet its definitive causes remain unconfirmed. This study compared soils and roots of healthy plants (CTRL group) and pla...
Background
Plants mediate several defense mechanisms to withstand abiotic stresses. Several gene families respond to stress as well as multiple transcription factors to minimize abiotic stresses without minimizing their effects on performance potential. RNA helicase (RH) is one of the foremost critical gene families that can play an influential rol...
A significant threat to the ongoing rise in temperature caused by global warming. Plants have many stress-resistance mechanisms, which is responsible for maintaining plant homeostasis. Abiotic stresses largely increase gaseous molecules' synthesis in plants. The study of gaseous signaling molecules has gained attention in recent years. The role of...
Citation: Srikanth, P.; Maxton, A.; Masih, S.A.; Sofo, A.; Khan, N.A. Abstract: Isoprene, a lipophilic and unstable compound with the chemical formula C5H8, is transported to plant chloroplasts via the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, which relies on photosynthesis. Although only about 20% of terrestrial plants can synthesize isop...
According to a 2019 United Nations report, of all the known species, up to 1 million face extinction globally. Despite being considered a pressing global risk with several international efforts to protect and to restore, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems continue at an alarming rate. In December 2022, the UN Biodiversity Conferenc...
Climate change negatively affects crop productivity, threatening the survival of entire populations from many vulnerable hotspot regions of the world with the risk of exacerbating hunger, malnutrition and international inequality. Selecting plant species manifesting abiotic stress-tolerant adaptive traits represents a challenge towards ensuring tha...
o Restoring forest ecosystems not only has the potential to enrich biodiversity, but also to
mitigate climate change, support climate adaptation, mitigate the effects of droughts and
floods, enhance water availability, improve water quality, reduce erosion, and lower
avalanche induction.
o Given their wide range of ecosystem services, the EGU Biodi...
The International Journal of Plant Biology is embarking on an exciting new journey as we expand our horizons and delve deeper into the multifaceted world of plant science. In response to the ever-evolving landscape of plant biology research, we are pleased to introduce several temporary sections that will run alongside our existing thematic areas....
In recent years, application of bio-fertilizers (BFs) in intercropping systems has become known as one of the main sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for improving the quantity and quality of forage crops. In order to evaluate the forage quantity and quality of sorghum intercropped with soybean, a two-year field experiment was carried out as f...
Despite being considered one of the most pressing global issues, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems is continuing at an alarming rate. In December 2022, COP15 saw the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, where four overarching international goals for biodiversity and 23 targets. While these targets are a...
Earthworms are "ecosystem engineers" that improve soil water and nutrient content, soil macroporosity, and aeration, and provide suitable habitats for microbial populations. This study aimed at defining if the presence of epigeic earthworms (Eise-nia sp.) affected the growth and development of two plant species (Brassica oleracea and Vicia faba) vi...
Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality, and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms (Eisenia sp.) affected the (a) soil bacterial community composition, (b) litter decomposition, and (c) plant grow...
Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality and fertility , but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms [Eisenia fetida (Savi-gny, 1826)] affected the a) soil bacterial community composition, b) litter decomposition,...
We investigated the effect of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation on the development of black spot disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae Wolf., which is a major problematic disease in rose (Rosa × hybrida) production. The growth of D. rosae colonies was suppressed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium under UV-B irradiation (peak wavelength: 310 nm; full...
The file contains mean k and S value per GPS location, with as meta-data the starting date, duration and biome of the study.
The file contains mean k and S value per GPS location, with as meta-data the starting date, duration and biome of the study.
The file contains mean k and S value per GPS location, with as meta-data the starting date, duration and biome of the study.
Phytohormones have a role in stress adaptation. The major mechanism underlying the role of exogenously-sourced nitric oxide (NO; as sodium nitroprusside, SNP: 50.0 µM) and salicylic acid (SA; 0.5 mM) in the presence of 2.0 mM SO4−2 was assessed in heat stress (HS; 40 °C for 6 h daily for 15 days) tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. HD-3226...
La riduzione dei ristagni idrici, l'adozione di strategie irrigue e di gestione sostenibile del suolo sono fondamentali per evitare il deperimento di nuovi actinidieti dovute alle abbondanti piogge invernali e molto poca rilevanza alle condizioni che si possono venire a determinare in seguito agli eccessi di irrigazione. Un'errata gestione dell'irr...
Ethylene is a gaseous plant growth hormone that regulates various plant developmental processes, ranging from seed germination to senescence. The mechanisms underlying ethylene bi-osynthesis and signaling involve multistep mechanisms representing different control levels to regulate its production and response. Ethylene is an established phytohormo...
The EGU Biodiversity Task Force welcomes the ambitious targets outlined in the Nature Restoration Law that was presented by the European Commission on 22 June 2022. The Nature Restoration Law's binding targets to restore degraded terrestrial land and marine ecosystems across the EU is a positive step for biodiversity and will enable the EU to take...
The mulberry tree (Morus alba) is a perennial and fast-growing tree distributed worldwide under different climatic conditions. Most of the world’s silk production (>90%) is facilitated by the feeding of silkworm larvae on the leaves of mulberry (Morus alba L.) varieties. Therefore, exploration of the protocol for improving the propagation efficienc...
It was time to take stock. We modified the humipedon classification key published in 2018 to make it easier and more practical. This morpho-functional taxonomy of the topsoil (humipedon) was only available in English; we also translated it into French and Italian. A standardized morpho-functional classification of humipedons (roughly the top 30–40...
The salinization of agriculture soils over the globe has become one of the most devastating stresses and is significantly limiting cultivated land area, and crop productivity and quality. It is very imperative to explore both salinity tolerance in plants and insights into approaches (and underlying mechanisms) for effectively controlling salinity-i...
An essential approach to reduce drought in plants is to maximize the use of most limited available resources. The increase in water-use efficiency (WUE) is important to maximally utilize the available water to increase photosynthesis and growth of plants under water-deficit stress. Both WUE and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE), as the...
It was time to take stock. We modified the humipedons classification key published in 2018, to make it easier and more practical. This morpho-functional taxonomy of the topsoil (humipedon) was only available in English: we also translated it into French and Italian.
A standardized morpho-functional classification of humipedon (roughly the top 30-40...
Pages 10 to 14 of the Volume I of the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World. Using an electronic tool, it is easy to enlarge the quoted parts and read them. Otherwise, just open the site http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/en/ and download the whole volume.
Quotation from Waksman, S. A. (1936). HUMUS. Origin, chemical composition and importance in nature. The Williams & Wilkins Company. The whole “outlook” of the authors can be found here: https://soilcarboncoalition.org/files/Waksman-Humus.pdf, particularly at pages 397-398.
Quotation from Waksman, S. A. (1936). HUMUS. Origin, chemical composition and importance in nature. The Williams & Wilkins Company. The whole “outlook” of the authors can be found here: https://soilcarboncoalition.org/files/Waksman-Humus.pdf, particularly at pages 397-398.
Soils and crops are particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental stresses. In many agrosystems, soil biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by soils are under threat from a range of natural and human drivers. Agricultural soils are often subject to agronomic practices that disrupt soil trophic networks and make soils less produ...
Pages 10 to 14 of the Volume I of the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World. Using an electronic tool, it is easy to enlarge the quoted parts and read them. Otherwise, just open the site http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/en/ and download the whole volume.
Nitric oxide (NO) and abscisic acid (ABA) play a significant role to combat abiotic stress. Application of 100 μM sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor) or ABA alleviated heat stress effects on photosynthesis and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants exposed to 40 °C for 6 h every day for 15 days. We have shown that ABA and NO synergistically...
In C 3 plants, carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C) is influenced by isotopic effects during diffusion from the atmosphere to the chloroplasts and carboxylation reactions. This work aimed to demonstrate if δ 13 C of leaf soluble carbohydrates (δ 13 C leaves) and of dry matter from new-growth shoots (δ 13 C shoots) of Prunus plants subjected to a per...
With great pleasure, I welcome you to this new version of the International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB), an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal about all different subdisciplines of plant biology published quarterly online by MDPI [...]
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) of varied types can be yielded in plants at several primary sites (such as the chloroplast, mitochondria, and peroxisomes) under normal aerobic metabolism via processes including photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport chains. However, impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance and extreme growth conditions in plan...
Contamination of soil by heavy metals severely affects plant growth and causes soil pollution. While effects on plant growth have been investigated for metals taken individually or in groups, less is known about their comparative effects. In this study Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were grown for 14 days in Petri dishes containing medium contamina...
The aim of this experiment was to investigate the exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) on morpho-physiological and molecular characteristics of Impatiens walleriana plants grown under water deficit stress. Three levels of soil water contents (95, 85, and 75% of field capacity; FC) and three levels of SA (0, 1, and 2 mM) were applied on two...
In Mediterranean orchards, soil organic matter (SOM) plays a crucial role and its level is principally determined by the continuous physical and chemical action of soil fauna. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare C/N dynamics and other soil physicochemical parameters, soil macrofauna abundance, bioturbation and litter/SOM decomposi...
Soils and crops are nowadays particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental stresses. In many agrosystems, soil biodiversity and the ecosystem services soil provides are under threat from a range of natural and manmade drivers. Agricultural soils are often subjected to agronomic practices that disrupt soil trophic networks to a large e...
Peroxisomes are important in plant physiological functions and stress responses. Through the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), and antioxidant defense enzymes, peroxisomes control cellular redox homeostasis. Peroxin (PEX) proteins, such as PEX7 and PEX5, recognize peroxisome targeting signals (PTS1/PTS2) important fo...
Living soil cover (living mulch, green manure), no-till; organic matter additions (treated urban wastewater), chemical and mineral fertilization (fertigation), soil water management (drip irrigation).
Photosynthesis is a pivotal process that determines the synthesis of carbohydrates required for sustaining growth under normal or stress situation. Stress exposure reduces the photo-synthetic potential owing to the excess synthesis of reactive oxygen species that disturb the proper functioning of photosynthetic apparatus. This decreased photosynthe...
Coumarin is a phytotoxic natural compound able to affect plant growth and development. Previous studies have demonstrated that this molecule at low concentrations (100 µM) can reduce primary root growth and stimulate lateral root formation, suggesting an auxin-like activity. In the present study, we evaluated coumarin’s effects (used at lateral roo...
An essential approach to reduce drought in plants is to maximize the use of most limited resources. The increase in water-use efficiency (WUE) is important to maximally utilize the available water to increase photosynthesis and growth of plants under water-deficit stress. Both WUE and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), as the indices of...
In the present study, the potential of ethylene as ethephon (an ethylene source) was investigated individually and in combination with split doses of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) soil treatments for removal of the damaging effects of salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Plants were grown with 50 mg N plus 50 mg S kg−1 soil at s...
Photosynthesis is a pivotal process that determines the synthesis of carbohydrates required for sustaining growth under normal or stress situation. Stress exposure reduces the photosynthetic potential owing to the excess synthesis of reactive oxygen species that disturb the proper functioning of photosynthetic apparatus. This decreased photosynthes...
In the present study, the potential of ethylene as ethephon (an ethylene source) was investigated individually or with a combination of the split dosage of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) soil treatments for the removal of damaging effects of salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Plants were grown with 50 mg N plus 50 mg S kg −1 so...
WEBINAR: https://unipd.zoom.us/j/5745799331
TITLE: SOIL BIODIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT - Practical tools and actions for facing the future
JUNE 24th 14h30-16h30
1. Topsoil classification
QUESTION: Is there a wise way to use the soil?
15h30 - 16h30 GENERAL DISCUSSION
JUNE 25th 14h00-15h00 2.
2.1. Soil and biodiversity
QUESTION: Is soil biodiversity...
The effect of four soil-applied sulfur (100 mg S kg1 soil (100S) and 200 mg S kg1 soil (200S)) in different sources (elemental S, ammonium sulfate, gypsum or magnesium sulfate) in protecting mustard (Brassica juncea L. (Czern & Coss.)) from cadmium effects was studied. Based on the observed reduction in growth and photosynthesis in plants subject...
Italy, the second-largest kiwifruit producing country in the world, has lost 10 percent of its production in recent years to Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS). Now a comprehensive examination of environmental factors, soil quality; fertility issues and kiwifruit crop management techniques could help the industry to better understand the phenom...
The effect of four soil-applied sulfur [S; 100 mg S kg-1 soil (100S) and 200 mg S kg-1 soil (200S)] in different sources (elemental S, ammonium sulfate, gypsum or magnesium sulfate) in protecting mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) from cadmium effects was studied. Based on the observed reduction in growth and photosynthesis in plants subjec...
Olive is a widespread crop within Mediterranean area and Italy is one of the biggest producer of olives and oil in the world. From an environmental point of view, centered on carbon (C) sequestration, managing olive orchards sustainably is an urgent and actual issue.
This trial was done in a 2-ha olive orchard (Olea europaea L., cv. ‘Maiatica’; 70-...
Salvia ceratophylloides (Ard.) is an endemic and rare plant species recently rediscovered as very few individuals at two different Southern Italy sites. The study of within-plant variation is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and consequently to preserve plant biodiversity. Here, we...
Salvia ceratophylloides (Ard.) is an endemic and rare plant species recently rediscovered as very few individuals at two different Southern Italy sites. The study of within-plant variation is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and consequently to preserve plant biodiversity. Here, we...
Aims
The conventional management adopted in many Mediterranean olive orchards makes them more vulnerable to climate change and attacks by pathogens, due to the decreased chemical plant defenses. In this scenario, a metabolomic analysis was carried out on the xylem sap (Xsap) of olive plants (Olea europaea L.) grown in the Salento peninsula (Italy)....
Salvia ceratophylloides (Ard.) is an endemic, rare, threatened plant species recently rediscovered in very few individuals in two different sites of South Italy. The study of within-plant variation more than among-plant one is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and consequently to pre...
The rise in Covid-19 infections and the consequent social isolation have led to a widespread surge in interest in home baking, particularly of sourdough breads. In Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by Covid-19, and in many other countries, social gatherings beyond household members are discouraged. People are advised to limit their shopping e...
Quotation from Waksman, S. A. (1936). HUMUS. Origin, chemical composition and importance in nature. The Williams & Wilkins Company. The whole “outlook” of the authors can be found here: https://soilcarboncoalition.org/files/Waksman-Humus.pdf, particularly at pages 397-398.
Pages 10 to 14 of the Volume I of the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World. Using an electronic tool, it is easy to enlarge the quoted parts and read them. Otherwise, just open the site http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/en/ and download the whole volume.
This study explored the interactive effect of ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid; an ethylene source) and sulfur (S) in regulating the antioxidant system and ABA content and in maintaining stomatal responses, chloroplast structure, and photosynthetic performance of mustard plants (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) grown under 100 mM NaCl stress. The...
This study explored the interactive effect of ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid; an ethylene source) and sulfur (S) in regulating the antioxidant system and ABA content and in maintaining stomatal responses, chloroplast structure, and photosynthetic performance of mustard plants (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) grown under 100 mM NaCl stress. The...
There is increasing attention to the importance of biodiversity for food security and nutrition, especially above-ground biodiversity such as plants and animals. However, less attention is being paid to the biodiversity beneath our feet, soil biodiversity, which drives many processes that produce food or purify soil and water. This report is the re...