Marina Tucci

---

† Deceased.

Education

1986 - Degree in Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Faculty of Agriculture

1992 - PhD in Productivity of herbaceous crops in the Mediterranean environment, University of Naples Federico II, Faculty of Agriculture

Job Positions

2001-today - Permanent position as scientific researcher at the National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (formerly Institute of Plant Genetics) Portici, Italy.

1995-2001 - Permanent position as scientific researcher at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, Dept. of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture.

1994-1995 - Temporary position as scientific researcher at the National Research Council, Research Centre for Vegetable Breeding, Portici, Italy.

1992-1993 - Research Fellow of the Centro Internacional de la Papa, Lima - Perù at the Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Naples Federico II, Faculty of Agriculture

Main research topics

M. Tucci is leader of the research group “Genetics and biotechnologies for the improvement of agro-industrial productions”, with competences in plant genetics and genomics of agricultural and industrial crops, working in:

• Plant-microbe interactions: using the model system tomato-Trichoderma spp. we investigate the molecular mechanisms activated in plants by rhizosphere beneficial micro-organisms, which underlie the improved growth and stress tolerance induced by the interaction. This will led to the development of an interaction model, useful for designing breeding strategies to improve plant performance and also in limiting environments.
• Biomass production for industrial uses: with the aim of producing renewable bio-based industrial raw materials in economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable ways, we are selecting and improving genotypes of ligno-cellulosic biomass crops with increased tolerance to drought and salt stress and therefore adapted to cultivation in environmentally and agronomically limitant soils, not adapted to food and feed production. Besides, we are developing recombinant plant systems to reduce the production costs of cellulolytic enzymes used in the transformation of ligno-cellulosic biomass in high-added value biofuels and bio-chemicals.
• Quality of vegetable crops: We study the genetic control and regulation of the biosynthesis and accumulation of compounds of the phenylpropanoid pathway important for the nutritional, nutraceutical, sensory and commercial quality of eggplant and globe artichoke. Making use of the increasing genomic knowledge accumulating also for crop species, we are identifying structural and regulatory genes involved in the biosynthesis of relevant polyphenols. Besides, we are carrying out accurate molecular characterisation with DNA markers of high quality local landraces of vegetable crops. These research activities are aimed at obtaining new superior genotypes and valorising most valuable autochtonous Italian vegetable germplasm.

Current research projects

• MIUR PON_03 “Sviluppo di tecnologie verdi per la produzione di BIOchemicals per la sintesi e l’applicazione industriale di materiali POLImerici a partire da biomasse vegetali ottenute da sistemi colturali Sostenibili nella Regione Campania” (BioPoliS) (2014-2015).
• MIUR CLUSTER Tecnologico Nazionale CL.A.N., area applicativa AgriFood, “Nuove tecnologie abilitanti per la food safety e l’integrità delle filiere agro-alimentari in uno scenario globale” (Safe&Smart) (2013-2015).
• MIUR PON_02 “Potenziamento della filiera pomodoro attraverso applicazioni integrate di postgenomica” (GenoPOM-pro) (2012-2015).
• MIUR PON_02 “Valorizzazione di produzioni ortive campane di eccellenza con strumenti di genomica avanzata” (GenHORT) (2012-2015).
• MIUR PON_01 “Filiere agro-industriali integrate ad elevata efficienza energetica per la messa a punto di processi di Produzione Eco-compatibili di Energia e Bio-chemicals da fonte rinnovabile e per la valorizzazione del territorio” (EnerbioChem) (2012-2015).
• Regione Campania PSR 2007-2013 Misura 214 Azione f2 “Salvaguardia della biodiversità vegetale della Campania” (SALVE) (2010-2015).

Main publications

http://scholar.google.it/citations?hl=it&user=X4n_iugAAAAJ

• De Stefano R, Cappetta E, Guida G, Mistretta C, Caruso G, Giorio P, Albrizio R, Tucci M (2018) Screening of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) ecotypes for biomass production under salt stress. Plant Biosyst 152 (5) 911-917. DOI: 10.1080/11263504.2017.1362059 http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PiJzXDgI33qYcapb33km/full

• Valentina Tranchida-Lombardo, Francesco Mercati, Mariano Avino, Paola Punzo, Maria Carola Fiore, Ignazio Poma, Cristina Patanè, Mario Rosario Guarracino, Francesco Sunseri, Marina Tucci & Stefania Grillo (2018) Genetic diversity in a collection of Italian long storage tomato landraces as revealed by SNP markers array. Pages 288-297 doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2018.1478900. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/C3TVMBFFFgjIe45mjEge/full?target=10.1080/11...

• De Palma M, Fratianni F, Nazzaro F, Tucci M (2014) Isolation and functional characterization of a novel gene coding for flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase from globe artichoke. Biol Plantarum 58(3): 445-455. DOI 10.1007/s10535-014-0424-7.
• Proietti S, Bertini L, Van der Ent S, Leon-Reyes A, Pieterse CMJ, Tucci M, Caporale C, Caruso C (2011) Cross activity of orthologous WRKY transcription factors in wheat and Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 62(6): 1975-1990.
• Tucci M, Ruocco M, De Masi L., De Palma M, Lorito M (2011) The beneficial effect of Trichoderma spp. on tomato is modulated by the plant genotype. Mol Plant Pathol 12(4): 341-354. ISSN: 1364-3703.
• Sonnante G, D’Amore R, Blanco E, Pierri CL, De Palma M, Luo J, Tucci M, Martin C (2010). Novel Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A Quinate Transferase Genes from Artichoke Are Involved in the Synthesis of Chlorogenic Acid. Plant Physiol 153:1224-1238.
• Fratianni F, Tucci M, De Palma M, Pepe R, Nazzaro F (2007). Polyphenolic composition in different parts of some cultivars of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori). Food Chem 104: 1282-1286. ISSN: 0308-8146.

Selected Publications

(full list available at CNR People)

Abiotic Stresses Elicitation Potentiates the Productiveness of Cardoon Calli as Bio-Factories for Specialized Metabolites Production

D’alessandro R, Docimo T, Graziani G, D’amelia V, De Palma M, Cappetta E, Tucci M

Year: 2022

Phyto-Friendly Soil Bacteria and Fungi Provide Beneficial Outcomes in the Host Plant by Differently Modulating Its Responses through (In)Direct Mechanisms

De Palma M, Scotti R, D’agostino N, Zaccardelli M, Tucci M

Year: 2022

Strategies to Modulate Specialized Metabolism in Mediterranean Crops: From Molecular Aspects to Field

Balestrini R, Brunetti C, Cammareri M, Caretto S, Cavallaro V, Cominelli E, De Palma M, Docimo T, Giovinazzo G, Grandillo S, Locatelli F, Lumini E, Paolo D, Patanè C, Sparvoli F, Tucci M, Zampieri E

Year: 2021

Onion peel: turning a food waste into a resource

Celano R, Docimo T, Piccinelli AL, Gazzerro P, Tucci M, Di Sanzo R, Carabetta S, Campone L, Russo M, Rastrelli L

Year: 2021

Transcriptome modulation by the beneficial fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum drives water stress response and recovery in tomato

De Palma M, Docimo T, Guida G, Salzano M, Albrizio R, Giorio P, Ruocco M, Tucci M

Year: 2021

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cardoon cell cultures allows alteration of the phenylpropanoid pathway

Paolo D, Locatelli F, Cominelli E, Pirona R, Graziani G, Docimo T, Tucci M, Sparvoli F

Year: 2021

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cardoon cell cultures allows alteration of the phenylpropanoid pathway

Paolo D., Locatelli F., Cominelli E., Pirona R., Graziani G., Docimo T., Tucci M., Sparvoli F.

Year: 2021

Towards a Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis)-Based Biorefinery: A Case Study of Improved Cell Cultures via Genetic Modulation of the Phenylpropanoid Pathway

Paolo, D.; Locatelli, F.; Cominelli, E.; Pirona, R.; Pozzo, S.; Graziani, G.; Ritieni, A.; De Palma, M.; Docimo, T.; Tucci, M.; Sparvoli, F.

Year: 2021

Genome-wide identification of Dof transcription factors in cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var altilis)

Cappetta E, Esposito S, D’Alessandro R, De Palma M, Docimo T, Tucci M

Year: 2020

Changes in transcription and metabolic fluxes induced by cold and salt in cardoon calli differ with stress duration and intensity

D’Alessandro R, Cappetta E, Sparvoli F, De Palma M, Docimo T, Tucci M

Year: 2020

Plant roots release small extracellular vesicles with antifungal activity

De Palma M, Ambrosone A, Leone A, Del Gaudio P, Ruocco M, Turiák L, Bokka R, Fiume I, Tucci M, Pocsfalvi G

Year: 2020

Physiological, biochemical, and metabolic responses to short and prolonged saline stress in two cultivated cardoon genotypes

Docimo T, De Stefano R, Cappetta E, Piccinelli AL, Celano R, De Palma M, Tucci M

Year: 2020

Transcriptional, metabolic and DNA methylation changes underpinning the response of Arundo donax ecotypes to NaCl excess

Docimo T, De Stefano R, De Palma M, Cappetta E, Villano C, Aversano R, Tucci M

Year: 2020

Biochemical characterization of traditional varieties of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) of the Campania Region, Southern Italy

Fratianni F, d’Acierno A, Cozzolino A, Spigno P, Riccardi R, Raimo F, Pane C, Zaccardelli M, Tranchida Lombardo V, Tucci M, Grillo S, Coppola R, Nazzaro F

Year: 2020

Changes in phenolics and fatty acids composition and related gene expression during the development from seed to leaves of three cultivated cardoon genotypes

Graziani G, Docimo T, De Palma M, Sparvoli F, Izzo L, Tucci M, Ritieni A

Year: 2020

Transcriptome reprogramming, epigenetic modifications and alternative splicing orchestrate the tomato root response to the beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum

De Palma M, Salzano M, Villano C, Aversano R, Lorito M, Ruocco M, Docimo T, Piccinelli AL, D’agostino N, Tucci M

Year: 2019

Genetic diversity in a collection of Italian long storage tomato landraces as revealed by SNP markers array

Tranchida-Lombardo V, Mercati F, Avino M, Punzo P, Fiore MC, Poma I, Patanè C, Guarracino MR, Sunseri F, Tucci M, Grillo S

Year: 2019

BOBCAt: BiOtechnologies for sustainable production of Bio-based commodities and specialty products in a CArdoon-based biorefinery

Tucci M, Docimo T, De Palma M, Ritieni A, Martello A, Langellotti AL, Graziani G, Rizzo M, Antonello V, Re I, D’Imporzano G, Baldoni E, Cominelli E, Sparvoli F

Year: 2019

Metabolomics-guided investigations of unintended effects of the expression of the hydroxycinnamoyl quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (hqt 1) gene from Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus in Nicotiana tabacum cell cultures

Mudau S, Steenkamp P, Piater L, De Palma M, Tucci M, Madala N, Dubery I

Year: 2018

Insights into sequence variations underpinning key commercial traits in two tomato landraces

Tranchida-Lombardo V, Aiese Cigliano R, Anzar I, Landi S, Palombieri S, Colantuono C, Bostan H, Termolino P, Aversano R, Batelli G, Cammareri M, Carputo D, Chiusano ML, Conicella C, Consiglio MF, D’Agostino N, De Palma M, Di Matteo A, Grandillo S, Sanseverino W, Tucci M, Grillo S

Year: 2018

Biosynthesis of Salvia specialized metabolites and biotechnological approaches to increase their production

D’Amelia V, Ruggiero A, Tranchida-Lombardo V, Leone A, Tucci M, Docimo T

Year: 2017

Screening of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) ecotypes for biomass production under salt stress

De Stefano R, Cappetta E, Guida G, Mistretta C, Caruso G, Giorio P, Albrizio R, Tucci M

Year: 2017

Whole-genome re-sequencing of two Italian tomato landraces reveals sequence variations in genes associated with stress tolerance, fruit quality and long shelf-life traits

Tranchida-Lombardo V, Aiese Cigliano R, Anzar I, Landi S, Palombieri S, Colantuono C, Bostan H, Termolino P, Aversano R, Batelli G, Cammareri M, Carputo D, Chiusano ML, Conicella C, Consiglio F, D’agostino N, De Palma M, Di Matteo A, Grandillo S, Sanseverino W, Tucci M, Grillo S

Year: 2017

Suppression Subtractive Hybridization analysis provides new insights into the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) response to the plant probiotic microorganism Trichoderma longibrachiatum MK1

De Palma M, D’Agostino N, Proietti S, Bertini L, Lorito M, Ruocco M, Caruso C, Chiusano ML, Tucci M

Year: 2016

Insights in the Fruit Flesh Browning Mechanisms in Solanum melongena Genetic Lines with Opposite Postcut Behavior

Docimo T, Francese G, De Palma M, Mennella D, Toppino L, Lo Scalzo R, Mennella G, Tucci M

Year: 2016

Phenylpropanoids Accumulation in Eggplant Fruit: Characterization of Biosynthetic Genes and Regulation by a MYB Transcription Factor

Docimo T, Francese G, Ruggiero A, Batelli G, De Palma M, Bassolino L, Toppino L, Rotino GL, Mennella G, Tucci M

Year: 2016

Isolation and functional characterization of a novel gene coding for flavonoid 3

De Palma M, Fratianni F, Nazzaro F, Tucci M

Year: 2014

Isolation and functional characterization of a novel flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase gene from globe artichoke

De Palma M, Fratianni F, Nazzaro F, Tucci M

Year: 2013

Schede valutative di alcuni genotipi di carciofo realizzate nell’ambito del progetto MiPAAF "CAR-VARVI-Valorizzazione di germoplasma di carciofo attraverso la costituzione varietale e il risanamento da virus

Saccardo F, Pagnotta MA, Temperini O, Colla G, Mondini L, Rey N, Ciancolini A, Tavazza R, Crinò P, Barba M, Pasquini G, Dragone I, Morone-Fortunato I, Ruta C, Tagarelli A, Rodio A, Perrini R, Campanelli A, Ferrari V, Ficcadenti N, Campanelli G, Bertone A, Piccinini E, Pepe R, Trotta N, Rofrano G, Vivone A, Tedesco P, De Vivo G, Mennella G, D’Alessandro A, Francese G, Cardi T, Giovanni M, Mario M, Angelo L, Antonino R, Grazia LAM, Alessia R, Rosario M, Sara L, Gaetano P, Sebastiano S, Vincenzo C, Graifenberg A, Pardossi A, Ceccarelli N, Picciarelli P, Curadi M, Botrini L, Granchi G, Lanteri S, Portis E, Sonnante G, De Lisi A, Sarli G, Tucci M, De Masi L, Sonnante G, El-Bahrawy A, Calabrese N, Boari F, Cantore V, Di Venere D, Pieralice M, De Palma E, Linsalata V, Pietro S, Sumerano P, Cadinu M, Pisanu AB, Repetto A, Baghino L, Mallica G, Munton M, Maiani G

Year: 2013

Microsatellite and morpho-agronomic polymorphisms in eggplant and pepper: genotyping and identification of traditional cultivars

Tranchida-Lombardo V, Spigno P, Riccardi R, De Palma M, Nunziata A, Nurcato R, Grillo S, Tucci M

Year: 2013

Cross activity of orthologous WRKY transcription factors in wheat and Arabidopsis

Proietti S, Bertini L, Van der Ent S, Leon-Reyes A, Pieterse CM, Tucci M, Caporale C, Caruso C

Year: 2011

The beneficial effect of Trichoderma spp. on tomato is modulated by the plant genotype

Tucci M, Ruocco M, De Masi L, De Palma M, Lorito M

Year: 2011

The beneficial effect of Trichoderma spp. on tomato is modulated by the plant genotype

Tucci M, Ruocco M, De Masi L, De Palma M, Lorito M

Year: 2011

Novel Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A Quinate Transferase Genes from Artichoke Are Involved in the Synthesis of Chlorogenic Acid

Sonnante G, D’Amore R, Blanco E, Pierri CL, De Palma M, Luo J, Tucci M, Martin C

Year: 2010

Polyphenolic composition in different parts of some cultivars of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori)

Fratianni F, Tucci M, De Palma M, Pepe R, Nazzaro F

Year: 2007