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Antonella Castagna

Icona sede Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali

Location: VIA DEL BORGHETTO, 80, 56124 PISA

Email: antonella.castagna@unipi.it

Phone: 050 2216608

Profile

Position: Professore Associato

Unit: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali

Scientific-disciplinary sector: Chimica Agraria AGRI-06/B

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. Evaluationof 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.

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 (May 2026):
H-index 36
N. publications ISI-SCOPUS 113
Citations 3832 by 3209 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
- PRIMA 2019 call: HaloFarMs. Development and Optimization of Halophyte-based Farming systems in salt-affected Mediterranean Soils
- PRIMA 2019 call: Fedkito. Fresh food sustainable packaging in the circular economy
- PRIMA 2023 call: PLAMINPACK. Plant-based antimicrobial and circular packaging for plant products
- Biodiversa+ 2023 call: Salty symphonies: bringing back BiodivErsity in mArginal Saltlands.
- WATER4ALL 2023 call: WeTreat. Optimising wetland-based solutions for improved micropollutant treatment efficiency from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent.

Teaching

Teaching activity

Teaching responsibility for modules/courses

  • Agricultural ecotoxicology and environmental protection (cod. 481GG) per Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie vegetali e microbiche
  • Composti bioattivi e nutraceutica (cod. 0063G) per Laurea Magistrale in Biosicurezza e qualità degli alimenti
  • Metaboliti secondari di origine vegetale (cod. 556GG) per Laurea Magistrale in Sistemi agricoli sostenibili
  • Metaboliti bioattivi delle piante (cod. 0040G) per Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie vegetali e microbiche
Teaching register
Lesson timetable

Student consultation hours

Mode of office hours: Per attività di tutorato e ricevimento, il docente riceve gli studenti in qualsiasi momento, previo appuntamento via mail

Research

Publications

All publications by Antonella Castagna on ARPI, the Research Archive of the University of Pisa
Accedi per modificare i dati
  • Università di Pisa
  • Lungarno Pacinotti, 43
  • P.I. 00286820501 C.F. 80003670504
  • T. +39 050 221 2111
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