This project aims to investigate the contribution of polyamines (PAs) and their metabolism to plant stress responses and to assess whether genetic manipulation of PA metabolism may provide crops with improved stress tolerance, yield and nutritional value. The project is based on experimental evidence from Arabidopsis and tomato plants, which highlighted the important role of PAs in plant growth and stress responses. Arabidopsis polyamine oxidase 5 (AtPAO5), which is involved in PA catabolism, interferes with PA homeostasis, plant development, and stress defence mechanisms. In tomato, three AtPAO5 homologs are present (SlPAO2, SlPAO3, SlPAO4) and preliminary data indicate that slpao3 mutants, obtained through the innovative Genome Editing technology, exhibit improved tolerance to water stress compared to parental lines. The project proposes to: -Characterize tomato plants with altered expression levels of genes involved in PA metabolism, such as mutants for PA catabolic (e.g., SlPAO2, SlPAO3 and SlPAO4) and biosynthetic genes, for growth, yield and nutritional value under normal and environmental stress conditions. -Screen a number of important, traditional and modern, Italian tomato varieties and identify those with optimal PA levels for high stress tolerance, yield and nutritional value. -Develop new formulations of PA-based bio-fertilizers. This study will provide genetic resources and molecular tools to breeders and plant growers for crop improvement.

Experimental and theoretical skills in gene expression studies, in basic molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, and in plant morphological, histological, anatomical and metabolic analyses.

The research team of the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology of University 'Roma Tre' coordinated by Paraskevi Tavladoraki takes part of the integrated Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology which involves a Full Professor, two Associate Professors, two Researchers and two Doctorate students. The Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology is well equipped with a plant growth chamber, microscopy and facilities for tissue culture, molecular analyses and physiological studies. Furthermore, this laboratory has a strong expertise in polyamine metabolism, plant developmental, hormone signalling and defence mechanisms, and techniques of genetic engineering and plant transformation.