Silviero Sansavini
Emeritus Professor
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
Emeritus of the University of Bologna (since 2009). Full Professor of the chair “Frutticoltura” (Pomology) since 1974 and Director of the “Dipartimento di Colture Arboree” (Department of Fruit and Woody Plant Sciences), formerly Istituto di Coltivazioni Arboree, from 1977 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2007. Head of the “Centro per il Miglioramento Varietale in Frutticoltura” (Research Centre for Fruit Breeding and Variety Improvement), 1975-2008. Retired since November 2008. His career was entirely developed at the University of Bologna, starting in 1962 as assistant of Professor Enrico Baldini.
Honorary Degrees
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Budapest, 1981.
- University and Academy of Agriculture, Bucharest, 2011.
- Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, 2013.
Academic activities
- 1984-2008 Coordinator of the Doctorate Program Committee on “Fruit and Woody Plant Science and Landscape Planning”.
- 2009-2014 Contributor of the International Doctoral School for Genomic and Molecular Physiology of fruit, founded by Professor F. Salamini at San Michele all’Adige, Trento University.
- 1999-2006 Appointed Professor of Fruit Science and Technology at the Free - University of Bozen.
- “Visiting Associate Professor” at the University of California, at Davis, Dept. of Pomology, in 1969 and 1974, and at the Qingdao University (Shandong, China) in 2010.
- Elected Member of the University of Bologna Senate (1997-99).
- The WCHR, World Conference on Horticultural Research, (Rome, 1998) was the most important organisational effort: as leader of a joint-venture between ISHS and ASHS, trying to start new scientific, technologic and political actions in promoting international cooperation in research and development of horticulture, especially in favour of developing countries.
- Co-Founder of EUFRIN, the European network for research collaboration in a dozen fruit science fields (2001) and member of the W.G. on Breeding and Fruit Variety Evaluation (2001-2018).
- President of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) (1994 – 1998) and Chairman of its Fruit Section (1986-1994). Designated Member of the ISHS Council (2001-2006).
- President of Italian Society for Horticulture – SOI (1986-1992) and Chairman of its Fruit section (1974-1986).
Research Projects
- 1976-1982: “Fruit Tree Fertility”, part of the “Biology of Reproduction Project” of Italy's National Research Council (Rome).
- 1982-1988: IPRA Project of CNR (the National Research Council). Coordinator of the working group on “Pollination and Growth Regulators in Fruit Production” (Roma).
- 1993-1997: RAISA Project of CNR (National Research Council). Coordinator of the research area “Factors and Mechanisms regulating fruit quality”, Roma.
- 1993-1999: CRPV at Cesena and - Regional Government of Emilia-Romagna (Bologna): Apple and Peach Program for growth modelling and highquality control in “Integrated production”
- 1991-2002: MIPAF – Ministry of Agriculture, national project on “Frutticoltura”; Coordinator of “Pome fruits breedings” and “Genetic resistance to biotic stresses”: Breeding program on scab resistance of apple and use of molecular markers Roma.
- 1996-2002 National Biotechnology Program (MAF, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, Roma): member of the Scientific Committee and national coordinator of the research area “cell manipulation” and local leader in “early assisted selection”, regeneration and Vf gene transfer in apple breeding.
- 1998-2002: Coordinator of MURST project on “Grafting incompatibility physiology (pear on quince) and functional aspects of scion-rootstock systems”, Roma.
- 2000-2002: Coordinator of MURST project on Genetic and molecular studies on PPV/Sharka in apricot, Roma.
- 1999-2003: Coordinator of an Interdipartimental project on Organic fruit production (Biofruit), at University of Bologna.
- 1994-2018: Coordinator of the MIPAF – National Project for “Pome fruit evaluation” of new varieties (annual lists for grower orientation), Roma.
- 1998-2002: EU Project D.A.R.E., Italy group leader for “Durable resistance to fungi diseases in apple” and partner of EU Project HiDRAS “High quality disease resistant apples” (2003-2006).
- 1998-2004: Leader of the Italian-Swiss team (University of Bologna and ETH Zurich, partnership with Professor C. Gessler) that engineered apple cv. Gala with scab resistance gene Vf (2004).
- 2002-2005: a) DCA coordinator of MIUR-FIRB 1 Project – Integrated molecular approach to apply genetic variability in agriculture; b) Partner of FIRB 2 (2004 – --2007) Project – TDF (transcript derived fragment) Automatic clonage for resistance to pathogens, Roma.
Editorial activity
- Director (1986-2021) of the monthly journal Rivista di Frutticoltura, published by New Business Media - Edagricole, Bologna/Milano.
- Editor and co-author of a trilogy of university books:
“Nuove frontiere dell'arboricoltura italiana”, (New Frontiers of Italian Arboriculture), Oasi Gruppo Perdisa, Ozzano, Bologna, 2007.
"Manuale di Ortofrutticoltura" (Handbook of Fruits and Vegetable Industry), in collaboration with P. Ranalli, Edagricole, Bologna, 2012.
"Arboricoltura Generale" (General Arboriculture), coordinating 44 Co-Authors, Patron Editore, Bologna, 2012.
- Editor and co-author of a ISHS book: “Principles of Modern Fruit Science”, co-editors: G.Costa, R. Gucci, P. Inglese, A. Ramina, C. Xyloyannis; technical editing of Y. Dejardines, Laval University, Montreal, Canada, 2019.
Academic Honorary Recognition
- Italy’s National Academy of Agriculture, Bologna.
- Academy of Science, Bologna.
- National Academy of Georgofili, Firenze.
- Italian Academy of vine and wine, Conegliano Veneto.
- Honorary Correspondent Member of Academy of Agriculture of France, Paris.
Awards
- Recipient of the National Canners Association Award by the American Society for Horticultural Sciences for his work on “ripening of nectarines and canning peaches” (1971).
- ASHS “Fellow-elect” 1995 (Montreal, Canada); ISHS “Fellow elect” (2002); previously cited (1998) for his “outstanding effort in the planning of the joint ISHS-ASHS “WCHR”, Rome, 1998.
- Recipient of the “Wilder Medal 2000” by the American Pomological Society and of the “Gold Veitch Memorial Medal” (2001) of the Royal Hortic. Society (London).
- Recipient of the President of Italy's award “Gold medal” as ”Benemerito della Scienza e della Cultura” (2001) for his "outstanding contributions to science and culture".
Updated June 2024, Bologna.
