Dr. Marco Lombardi | Soil-Plant Relations | Plant Science Pioneer Award
Doctor at Aarhus University | Denmark
Dr. Marco Lombardi, Postdoctoral Researcher at Aarhus University, Denmark, is an emerging plant scientist recognized for his pioneering work in soil–plant relations, root phenotyping, and sustainable agriculture. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Science (2019–2023) through a joint program between the University of Nottingham (UK), CNR (Italy), and Campus Bio-Medico, University of Rome, where his thesis explored the molecular mechanisms controlling root growth angle in cereals. His academic path also includes an M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition, a II Level Master’s in Food Science and Technology for Human Nutrition, and a B.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition. Professionally, Dr. Lombardi has contributed as a research assistant in plant physiology, an international trainee through Erasmus+ in London, and a volunteer researcher in Tanzania, before advancing to his current postdoctoral role investigating root mixture analysis under diverse perennial cropping systems. His research interests focus on non-invasive root phenotyping, multispectral analysis, grassland mixtures, and belowground carbon sequestration, supported by advanced research skills in imaging, data analysis, and bioinformatics. With 90 citations from 87 documents, 5 publications, and an h-index of 3, his contributions are steadily gaining recognition. Recipient of multiple honors including the Irene Manton Poster Prize (2022), his work demonstrates innovation, leadership, and potential for shaping sustainable solutions in plant science.
Profile : Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID
Featured Publications
Fusi, R., Rosignoli, S., Lou, H., Sangiorgi, G., Bovina, R., Pattem, J. K., Borkar, A. N., … (2022). Root angle is controlled by EGT1 in cereal crops employing an antigravitropic mechanism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(31), e2201350119.
Lombardi, M., De Gara, L., & Loreto, F. (2021). Determinants of root system architecture for future‐ready, stress‐resilient crops. Physiologia Plantarum, 172(4), 2090–2097.
Kong, X., Xiong, Y., Song, X., Wadey, S., Yu, S., Rao, J., Lale, A., Lombardi, M., … (2024). Ethylene regulates auxin-mediated root gravitropic machinery and controls root angle in cereal crops. Plant Physiology, 195(3), 1969–1980.
Lombardi, M., Bellucci, M., Cimini, S., Locato, V., Loreto, F., & De Gara, L. (2024). Exploring natural variations in Arabidopsis thaliana: Plant adaptability to salt stress. Plants, 13(8), 1069.
Lombardi, M., Madsen, C. K., Peterson, A., Jørgensen, U., & Brinch-Pedersen, H. (2025). Root mixture analysis: Methods and vision. Trends in Plant Science. Advance online publication.