My research focus on investigating the effect of biotic and abiotic stresses on plant performance and productivity. The research projects I have undertaken range from physiology to genomics, and have been operational in controlled conditions, field and laboratory settings combining techniques for molecular biology and plant physiology/phytopathology analyses in plants. I am particularly interested in understanding plant defense mechanisms to insect and fungal attack under adverse conditions (i.e. drought stress), and also in plant water relations and resistance to water deficit conditions.