Laboratorio di Patologia vegetale e Micotossine - Cereal and Industrial Crops

Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Diagnostics of Mycotoxins

The Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Diagnostics of Mycotoxins is a laboratory of CREA - Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, currently located in Rovigo and Bergamo. It owns the proper equipment and expertise for plant pathology studies and for the characterization and traceability of mycotoxins.

This laboratory implements diagnostic methods for the isolation and classification of pathogens of the main industrial and cereal crops, conducts analyses for the evaluation of resistance to different pathogens on industrial and cereal crops and analysis of soil microflora. It has both an area with flow hood for the sterile preparation of different growth medium than another with Biohazard hood used for the management of  pathogens. There are also two growth rooms equipped with environmental control and NUV light.
A small molecular biology laboratory is entirely dedicated to phytopathological diagnostics, where it is possible to carry out simple analyses to refute morphological identifications of fungi and some bacteria. Finally, an area is set up with optical microscopes and stereoscopes installed with related cameras for image capture. There is also a walk growth chamber where it is possible to structure tests of pathogenicity and resistance to pathogens. Chemical hoods, autoclaves, incubators, stoves and all the necessary equipment are also available for carrying out development activities and implementation of diagnostic methods and  analysis for the evaluation of resistance to different pathogens on industrial and cereal crops and also analysis of soil microflora.
In Bergamo, the mycotoxin laboratory carries out the analysis of the main maize mycotoxins in grain and silage and in other cereals and crop. Analyses of the accumulation of fumonisins, aflatoxins B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone are conducted by ELISA tests. The quality of the analyses is guaranteed by the regular participation in ring tests with inter-laboratory comparison of the results. 

The laboratory has a grinding room equipped with:

1 Retsch ZM 200 ultracentrifuge mill, 0.5 and 1 mm sieve size;

2 mills Vercella mod. ETS, 1 and 1.5 mm sieve size;

1 Retsch GMbH mill, SM1, for silage; 

1 dust extraction hood, Bicasa, Lite 180 type; 

Mycotoxin extraction and analysis laboratory equipped with a chemical hood and extraction shaker;

Chemwell automated system (Awareness technologies inc) that allows the simultaneous analysis of 84 samples  by Elisa tests specific to each mycotoxin;

HPLC Beckman System Gold with UV, fluorimeter and ELSD detection system.

For more informations
chiara.lanzanova@crea.gov.it -Bergamo Site

sabrina.locatelli@crea.gov.it - Bergamo Site

ilaria.alberti@crea.gov.it - Rovigo Site