Sergio Argento

Graduated in Agricultural Sciences in 1998 from the University of Catania, where he also obtained professional qualification as Agronomist and Forester. In 2004, he earned a Ph.D. in “Crop Productivity” with a dissertation on the “Biophysical and Productive Implications of Grafting in Horticulture.” He is a subject expert in the scientific-disciplinary sector AGR/04 “Horticulture and Floriculture” at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A, University of Catania), and has held adjunct teaching positions at the University of Reggio Calabria. Following his Ph.D., he conducted research at Di3A until 2011. From 2012 to 2016, he was a researcher at ISAFoM (CNR), Catania branch, where he contributed to studies on bioactive compounds extracted from citrus fruits with potential immunostimulant effects.
Since 2019, he has been a researcher at the National Research Council (CNR), and since 2023 he has been affiliated with the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB-CNR), Catania branch, focusing on:
Quality, diversification, and sustainability of horticultural and medicinal plant production
Agrobiodiversity and agroecology
Selection of crop wild relatives with metabolic profiles beneficial to human health
Valorization of Sicilian Brassicaceae biodiversity
Improving water and nutrient use efficiency and resistance to abiotic and biotic stress in vegetable crops. Author of over 120 scientific publications

Orticoltura mediterranea

Agrobiodiversità

Sostenibilità ambientale

Innovazione agroalimentare

Crop wild relatives

Molecole bioattive

Resistenza a stress abiotici e biotici

1. MUMIVAND H., KHANIZADEHA P., MORSHEDLOOB M.R, HASANVANDC E. AND ARGENTO S. 2025. Synergistic application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and iron oxide nanoparticles enhances agro-physiological traits, antioxidant properties, and essential oil production in Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad: A sustainable biofortification approach. Industrial Crops & Products 2025, 234 121543 doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121543

2. GHAHREMANI-MAJD H., MUMIVAND H., KHANIZADEH P. AND ARGENTO S. 2025. Optimizing Ergothioneine Biosynthesis and Antioxidant Activity in Agaricus spp. Through Amino Acid Supplementation and Yeast–Peptone Mixtures. Horticulturae, 2025, 11, 348 doi.org/103390/horticulturae11040348.

3. BEIRANVANDI M., AKBARI N., AHMADI A., MUMIVAND H., FIROUZABADI F. N., AND ARGENTO S. 2025. Impact of Biochar and Hydroretentive Polymers on the Biochemical and Physiological Traits of Satureja rechingeri Jamzad Under Water Deficit Stress. Horticulturae, 2025, 11, 169 doi.org/103390/horticulturae11020169.

4. JAHANBANI S., MUMIVAND H., ZAHEDI B. AND ARGENTO S. 2024. Foliar Application of Urea and Amino Acids Regulates Growth, Photosynthesis, Pigments, Antioxidant Activity, and the Essential Oil Content and Composition of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Agronomy 2024, 14, 2950. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122950.

5. YARAHMADI R., MUMIVAND H., NIA A. E., RAJI M. R., AND ARGENTO S. 2024. Natural Diversity in Total Phenol, Flavonoids, Antioxidant Properties, and Essential Oil Composition of Iranian Populations of Myrtus communis L.. Plants 2024, 13, 3458. doi.org/10.3390/plants13243458.

  RESEARCH SITE OF CATANIA

   sergio.argento@cnr.it

  (+39) 095 7338111

ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1985-8288

Researcher-id Scopus ID: 8439123400