The Plant Molecular Genetics Laboratory, coordinated by Professor Maria Magdalena Rossi, uses functional genomics and molecular physiology approaches to understand and manipulate plant metabolism in order to improve yield and nutritional quality using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as model species, particularly in the context of light signaling.

Through genetic manipulation techniques (editing via CRISPR/Cas9, silencing or overexpression), the group aims to identify the role of target proteins in development, flowering, plant yield and/or fruit quality. From this characterization, the molecular mechanism, through which the protein regulates a given process, is further explored by assays for identification of DNA-protein interaction (Chip-qPCR, yeast one-hybrid), transcriptional modulation (qPCR, promoter transactivation), protein-protein (BiFC, yeast two-hybrid).