Vittorio Maria Nicoloso, council member

About my research

Structural variations (SVs) are major changes in the genome that shape diversity, evolution, and adaptation. Among them, copy number variations (CNVs) – duplications or deletions of DNA regions – are particularly powerful because they alter gene dosage and can drive important traits in crops. In Cucumis sativa, CNVs influence disease resistance, yield, and fruit ripening, making them highly relevant for breeding. My work focuses on uncovering how CNVs form, how they impact gene expression, and how they can be harnessed to improve agronomic traits. To do this, I combine long-read sequencing, gene expression profiling, and functional validation to better understand the role of CNVs in crop evolution. By linking structural variation to function, I aim to provide insights and tools for precision breeding strategies that improve crop resilience and performance.