Antonella Castagna

POSITION AND EDUCATION
- Graduated in Biological Sciences.
- PhD in Fertility and Conservation of the Plant-Soil System (University of Pisa): “Biochemical indicators of oxidative stress in iron-deficient sunflower plants”.
- Associate professor of Agricultural Chemistry at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa.

TEACHING ACTIVITY
Present courses:
Agricultural Ecotoxicology and Environmental Protection
Bioactive Compounds and Metabolomics
Bioactive Compounds and Nutraceutics

RESEARCH ACTIVITY
- Study of the effects of environmental stressors on plant biochemical and physiological processes. Research focuses on the early responses of plants to different oxidative stresses or environmental factors, such as air pollutants (e.g. ozone), heavy metals, soil salinity, mineral deficiency, changes in light intensity and composition (e.g. ultraviolet radiation), with the aim of understanding primary target sites, signalling mechanisms and the progression of kinetics of damage/defence responses. Attention is addressed to the responses of the photosynthetic process and to the stimulation of the antioxidant defence systems (enzymes and metabolites) at extra- and sub-cellular level.
- Study of the plant secondary metabolism in response to changes in environmental conditions, with a focus on phenolic compounds, tocopherols, ascorbic acid and carotenoids, also for their role as bio-protective compounds at the basis of the nutraceutical quality of plant food. Attention is paid to the possibility to increase their accumulation and to prolong shelf life of fruits and vegetables by eco-friendly approaches, as modulation of the environmental growth conditions and/or the use of elicitors (UV-B radiation, ethylene, CO2).
- Valorisation of by-products of the agri-food chain aimed to reduce wastes and to recover important resources for animal and human nutrition, as well as for use as food supplements or as edible coatings. Evaluation of the effectiveness of natural biopolymers as edible coating or films for fresh foods, to extend shelf life and to slow down the loss of nutraceuticals during storage. Attention is also given to the possibility to improve the functional properties of the edible coatings/films by the addition of bioactive molecules with antioxidant and/or antimicrobial activity.

The research activity is documented by many papers published in qualified International Journals and presentations at National and International Congresses.
More information available at:
- CINECA-IRIS (https://arpi.unipi.it/simple-search?query=castagna&location=&sort_by=score&order=desc&rpp=10&etal=0&filtername=author&filterquery=rp14970&filtertype=authority#.XslSWmgzZPY)
- ORCID (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6481-4570)
- RESEARCH GATE (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Antonella_Castagna)
- LOOP (https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/608008/overview)

Bibliometric parameters (January 2023):
H-index 30
N. publications ISI-SCOPUS 91
Citations 2560 by 2115 documents

AC has been (is) involved in several Research Programs funded by European Commission, Italian Ministries, Regional administrations, and private companies among which:
- EC Fifth Framework Program 2000: BIOSTRESS - Biodiversity in Herbaceous Semi-Natural Ecosystems under Stress by Global Change Components
- MAE Executive Program of Scientific and Technologic Cooperation Italy-Tunisia 2005-2007, project n° A3: Studio delle interazioni tra tolleranza allo stress salino e capacità antiossidanti in alofite oleaginose: identificazione di bioindicatori fisiologici e biochimici per lo screening della sale-tolleranza
- MAE Executive Program of Scientific and Technologic Cooperation Italy-Egypt 2008-2010, project n° 20 ENV: Phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils by Mediterranean hyperaccumulating plants
- MAE Executive Program of Scientific and Technologic Cooperation Italy-Argentina 2008-2010, Ricadute agronomic