Piante officinali - Forestry and Wood

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Trento

For further information please contact:  Pietro Fusani

In this laboratory, studies are focused on the conservation and characterization of medicinal and aromatic plant genetic resources, in particular alpine species (RGV/FAO Project), through the collection, conservation, characterization and propagation of the species investigated. Agronomic studies are carried out on edible mountain species subject to harvesting in the wild, to support experimental agronomic trials in the open field, also in the alpine environment, for the definition of the most effective cultivation techniques and the domestication of the species studied. 

In particular, the following activities are carried out: 

• Morphologic and biometric data collection of the investigated species; 
• Preparation of fresh and dry drug samples for analysis; 
• Essential oil extraction from plant material by hydro and steam distillation, and by the use of solvents too; 
• Seed testing (germination trials etc.) based on National and ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) protocols; 
• Short- and medium-term conservation of propagation material (seeds) of the species under investigation; 
• Definition of micropropagation protocols aimed at the development of breeding programs.