As an ecophysiologist, my research is focused on the adaptive responses of perennial herbaceous plants to severe summer droughts as occurring in Mediterranean and semi-arid areas. I have particularly analysed the adaptive strategies to cope with severe water deficit, such as summer dormancy.

I am now developing collaborative research projects with geneticists and ecologists to understand plant traits and strategies associated with drought survival with application to plant breeding in forage species for better adaptation to increasing aridity under climate change.