Prof. Schena’s Curriculum Vitae and list of publications reflect his ability to conduct excellent basic and applied research in plant pathology.  He is trained in modern molecular techniques but is also knowledgeable in more classical methods of studying and identifying phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria as well as biocontrol agents.

Field of expertise can be summarised in two main groups:

1) Biological control of plant diseases
Prof. Schena has extensive experience in the use of alternative control strategies against soil-borne pathogens and postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. Alternative control means include a large number of microbial antagonists, organic and inorganic salts and natural compounds such as chitosan, glycol-chitosan, plant extracts, essential oils etc. He was a pioneer in the combined application of molecular and biological characterizations to select effective microbial antagonists.

2) Development and application of molecular detection methods
Prof. Schena collaborated to the developed of molecular methods to detect and quantify a large number of microrganisms including field applied biocontrol agents and phytophathogenic bacteria (Erwinia amylovora), fungi (Rosellinia necatrix, Verticillium dahliae, Phellinus torulosus) and Oomycota (Phytophthora nicotianae, P. citrophthora, P. cactorum, P. cambivora, P. cinnamomi, P. citricola, P. europaea, P. inundata, P. lateralis, P. megasperma, P. nemorosa, P. kernoviae, P. pseudosyringae, P. psychrophila, P. quercina, P. ramorum, and P. ilicis). Most of these methods are based on the combination of real-time PCR approaches (Taq-Man or Scorpion-PCR) with rapid protocols to extract and purify DNA from environmental samples (soil, host tissues, water etc.). Recently, he has been involved in the application of molecular approaches to study the ecology of Phytophthora spp. in natural ecosystems and in the study of the expression profile of resistance genes induced by microbial antagonists.