National Research Council of Italy

Institute of Biosciences and BioResources

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Marcella Urbano

Role: Researcher
Section: Researchers and Technologists
Division: Bari
Tel: (39) 0805583400-220
E-mail: marcella.urbano@ibbr.cnr.it


Present position

Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (former Institute of Plant Genetics), CNR, Bari, Italy.

Education and Training

  • 1997: Permanent researcher at the CNR- IBBR (former Institute of Plant Genetics), Bari.
  • 1994 -1997: Researcher-term at the Germplasm Institute (then it became Institute of Plant Genetics), CNR, Bari.
  • 1989-1994: Researcher (fellowship) at the Germplasm Institute, Bari.
  • 1987-1989: Researcher (fellowship) at the Plant Breeding Institute, Agricultural Faculty, University of Bari.
  • 1986: Researcher-term at the Plant Breeding Institute, Agricultural Faculty, University of Bari.
  • 1985: Researcher-term at the Arboricoltural Institute, Agricultural Faculty, University of Bari.
  • 1984: Italian University Degree in Agriculture. Final score: 110/110.
  • 1984: Graduation to Professional Agronomist (Italian legislation).

Main Research Topics

  • Safeguarding enhancement and conservation of genetic resources.
  • Cultivation of ancient wheats, their reintroduction in cultivation and valorisations for the production of innovative niche products with consequent positive effects on the environment, farmers, agro-food industries and consumers.
  • Assessment of the agronomic aspects of protected areas for the proper management of natural/ rural areas.
  • Cultivated species improvement. In particular: bread/durum wheat and its relatives by using seed storage proteins and waxy proteins as molecular and biochemical markers. Such studies are mainly focused on biodiversity, technological properties of wheat flour/semolina, varietal identification, homeology relationships.

Other activities

  • Scientific manager for the rejuvenation/multiplication of the material in conservation at the Germplasm Bank of the CNR-IBBR.
  • Scientific manager for the distribution of the material in conservation at the Germplasm Bank of the CNR-IBBR.
  • Coordinator of the organization of guided educational visits to the Germplasm Bank of the CNR-IBBR.
  • Tutor of foreigner visitors and young graduated and not graduated employed contract; supervisor of final-years university students for conferring degree on Biological Sciences.

Research Projects (from 2020 back to 2006)

  • 2019-2022 “National implementation project of the FAO Treaty on phytogenetic resources” - 6 April 2004, n.101 (scientific collaborator).
  • 2019-2022 “Ottimizzazione degli imput per la sostenibilità della cerealicoltura lucana- Cereso”- istituito ai sensi della Misura 16, sottomis.16.2del Programma di Sviluppo Rurale 2014/2020 della Regione Basilicata (scientific leader, CNR-IBBR as lead partner).
  • 2019-1022 “Reperimento, Caratterizzazione, Conservazione e Moltiplicazione di Germplasm di Cannabis sativa - CA.NA.P.A.” - istituito ai sensi della Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale n. 2171 del 12/12/2017, Legge regionale 6 giugno 2017, n.21. Funded by: Region Puglia) (scientific collaborator and support to the coordination of the project).
  • 2018-2022 “Gestione colturale sostenibile per la standardizzazione delle tecniche di produzione dei cereali lucani - Lucan Cereals" - istituito ai sensi della Misura 16, Sottomis. 16.1 del Programma di Sviluppo Rurale 2014/2020 della Regione Basilicata (technical-scientific director, CNR-IBBR as lead partner.
  • 2016-2018: “Recupero, caratterizzazione, salvaguardia e valorizzazione di leguminose e cereali da granella e foraggio in Puglia”- SaVeGraINPuglia - Programmi di Sviluppo Rurale, P.S.R. Puglia 2014-2020, Misura 10, Art. 28 Reg. UE n. 1305/2013 Sottomisura 10.2. (scientific collaborator, CNR-IBBR as lead partner)
  • 2013-2015: “Recupero, caratterizzazione, salvaguardia e valorizzazione di leguminose e cereali da granella e foraggio in Puglia (SaVeGraINPuglia)”. Regione Puglia - Programma sviluppo rurale (PSR) FEARS 2007-2013 Reg. CE 1698/2005 asse II “Miglioramento dell’ambiente e dello spazio rurale” Misura 214, Azione 4, sub azione a) Progetti integrati per la Biodiversità. (scientific collaborator, CNR-IBBR as lead partner).
  • 2011-2012: Sviluppo di un modello per l’innovazione e la sostenibilità della filiera del frumento duro biologico della Capitanata”. joint project IGV-CNR (Bari)/ Experimental Institute for Cereals (CRA- Foggia) GRANOBIO (OIGA DM 18829/7818, DM 1871. (scientific collaborator).
  • 2007-2010: “Laboratorio di GENomica per caratteri di importanza AGROnomica in frumento duro: identificazione di geni utili, analisi funzionale e selezione assistita con marcatori molecolari per lo sviluppo della filiera sementiera nazionale Unità operativa afferente all’IGV del progetto AGROGEN”. MIUR (Italian Ministry of University and Research) (scientific collaborator).
  • 2007-2009: “Integrated software development for monitoring and management in Natura 2000 protected areas in Greece and Italy- pilot implementation in mutual ecosystems of Greece and Italy”. Interreg III A,Greece-Italy, 3.1, DGR n.1162 del 11.07.07. ) (scientific leader for agronomic surveys and mapping agricultural areas).
  • 2004-2006: “Identification of new genes related with pasta quality in durum wheat germplasm”, joint project CNR (Italy)/CSIRO (Australia) (scientific collaborator).

Research Agreements

  • 2018-2023: Agreement characterization and material multiplication of the Seed Bank of the CNR-IBBR with the company Rijk Zwaan Breeding B.V., Netherlands.
  • 2018-2020: Agreement with the Agenzia Lucana di Sviluppo e di Innovazione in Agricoltura (ALSIA) for the long-term conservation of native plant genetic material of Pollino (Basilicata Region, Italy).
  • 2017-2020: Collaborative research agreement "“Mantenimento in purezza e riproduzione di seme di base e di pre-base di antiche varietà.” "(Organizations involved: consortium Con.pro.Bio Lucano, SAFE-UNIBAS, ALSIA, I.I.S.S. E. Majorana).

Selected papers

  • Margiotta B., Colaprico G., Urbano M., Veronico G., Tommasi F. and Tomaselli V. (2020) Halophile wheatgrass Thinopyrum elongatum (Host) D.R. Dewey (Poaceae) in three Apulian coastal wetlands: vegetation survey and genetic diversity. Plant Biosystems, 1-15. DOI: 1080/11263504.2020.1829732.
  • Laghetti G., Bisignano V., Urbano M. (2018). Genetic resources of vegetable crops and their safeguarding in Italy. Horticulture international journal 2 (3): 73-75 DOI: 15406/hij.2018.02.00029.
  • Urbano, V. Tomaselli, V. Bisignano, G. Veronico, K. Hammer, G. Laghetti (2017). Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve: from gathering of wild plants to some attempts of cultivation in Apulia region (southern Italy). Genetic resources and crop evolution 64(6): 1466-1472. DOI: 10.1007/s10722-017-0521-5.
  • Margiotta B., Colaprico G., Urbano M. (2014). Polymorphism of high M r glutenin subunits in wild emmer Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccoides: chromatographic, electrophoretic separations and PCR analysis of their encoding genes. Genetic resources and crop evolution 61 (2):331-343. DOI: 10.1007/s10722-013-0037-6.
  • Margiotta B., Colaprico G., Urbano M. (2014) Polymorphism of High Mr Glutenin Subunits in wild emmer Triticum dicoccoides: chromatographic, electrophoretic separations and PCR analysis of their encoding genes. Genet Resour Crop Evol, 61(2), 331-343, DOI 10.1007/s10722-013-0037-6.
  • Jonnala R.S., MacRitchie F., Smail V.W., Seabourn B.W.,Tilley M., Lafiandra D., Urbano M. (2010). “Protein and quality characterization of complete and partial near isogenic lines of waxy wheat”, Cereal Chem. 87(6):538-545. DOI: 10.1094/cchem-07-09-0102
  • Tomaselli V., Sciandrello S., Dibitonto P., Wagensommer R.P., Urbano M., Calabrese I.T., Garziano G., Cimarrusti G., Di Pietro R. (2010) Analisi del paesaggio vegetale ed agricolo della Riserva Naturale Statale di “Torre Guaceto” (Brindisi-Puglia). Cartografia della vegetazione, degli habitat e dell’uso del suolo. Quad.Bot.Amb.Appl. 21: 33-49
  • Tomaselli V., Urbano M., Sciandrello S., Wagensommer R.P., Costanzo E., Albano A., Medagli P., Mele C., Di Pietro R., 2010. Cartografia tematica ed analisi del paesaggio vegetale ed agricolo del Parco Naturale Regionale “Saline di Punta della Contessa” (Brindisi-Puglia), Quad.Bot.Amb.Appl.,21: 53-76.
  • Lafiandra D., Ceoloni C., Carozza R., Margiotta B., Urbano M., Colaprico G. and D’Egidio M. G. (2007). Introduction Of D-Genome Related Gluten Proteins Into Durum Wheat. In: Wheat Production in Stressed Environments, published by Springer, Eds. H. T. Buck, J. E. Nisi and N. Salomón, v.12, pp.449-454.
  • Monari A.M., Simeone M.C., Urbano M., Margiotta B., Lafiandra D. (2005) Molecular characterization of new waxy mutants identified in bread and durum wheat. Theor.Appl.Genet. 110 pp: 1481-1489. DOI: 10.1007/s00122-005-1983-y.
 

Selected Publications

(full list available at CNR People)

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