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Plant Science and Agronomy
Italy
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
93
Citations
32358
World Ranking
229
National Ranking
3

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Italy Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Italy Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Italy Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Italy Leader Award

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Photosynthesis

His main research concerns Photosynthesis, Botany, Chloroplast, Stomatal conductance and Terpenoid. His work on Chlorophyll fluorescence as part of general Photosynthesis study is frequently connected to Isoprene synthase, therefore bridging the gap between diverse disciplines of science and establishing a new relationship between them. In general Botany, his work in Monoterpene is often linked to Conductance linking many areas of study.

His research investigates the link between Chloroplast and topics such as Photochemistry that cross with problems in Transpiration, Pinene and Alpha. His Stomatal conductance study combines topics in areas such as Chlorophyll, Spinach, Lipid peroxidation, White poplar and Spinacia. His Terpenoid research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Oxidative stress, Reactive oxygen species, Carotenoid, Biomass and Yield.

His most cited work include:

  • Diffusive and Metabolic Limitations to Photosynthesis under Drought and Salinity in C3 Plants (925 citations)
  • Isoprene Produced by Leaves Protects the Photosynthetic Apparatus against Ozone Damage, Quenches Ozone Products, and Reduces Lipid Peroxidation of Cellular Membranes (743 citations)
  • Theoretical Considerations when Estimating the Mesophyll Conductance to CO2 Flux by Analysis of the Response of Photosynthesis to CO2 (626 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

Photosynthesis, Botany, Stomatal conductance, Terpenoid and Horticulture are his primary areas of study. His study in Photosynthesis is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from both Environmental chemistry, Chloroplast, Carbon dioxide and Agronomy. His research integrates issues of Ozone, Atmospheric chemistry and Volatile organic compound in his study of Environmental chemistry.

He carries out multidisciplinary research, doing studies in Botany and Isoprene synthase. Francesco Loreto has included themes like Terpene, Carotenoid and Antioxidant in his Terpenoid study. As a member of one scientific family, Francesco Loreto mostly works in the field of Horticulture, focusing on Salinity and, on occasion, Arundo donax.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Photosynthesis (60.76%)
  • Botany (55.21%)
  • Stomatal conductance (19.79%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2014-2021)?

  • Photosynthesis (60.76%)
  • Botany (55.21%)
  • Terpenoid (19.44%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

Francesco Loreto mainly focuses on Photosynthesis, Botany, Terpenoid, Stomatal conductance and Agronomy. Francesco Loreto is studying Water-use efficiency, which is a component of Photosynthesis. His Botany research incorporates themes from Abiotic component and Phenotypic plasticity.

His work deals with themes such as Environmental chemistry, Monoterpene and Antioxidant, which intersect with Terpenoid. The various areas that he examines in his Stomatal conductance study include Carbon cycle, Stomatal density and Physiology. His research in Agronomy tackles topics such as Ecotype which are related to areas like Adaptation and Biomass.

Between 2014 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • Isoprene Responses and Functions in Plants Challenged by Environmental Pressures Associated to Climate Change. (96 citations)
  • Isoprenoids and phenylpropanoids are part of the antioxidant defense orchestrated daily by drought-stressed Platanus × acerifolia plants during Mediterranean summers (74 citations)
  • Reconciling functions and evolution of isoprene emission in higher plants (58 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Photosynthesis

Francesco Loreto mainly investigates Photosynthesis, Botany, Terpenoid, Arundo donax and Stomatal conductance. Particularly relevant to Water-use efficiency is his body of work in Photosynthesis. The study incorporates disciplines such as Biomass and Abiotic component in addition to Botany.

His Terpenoid study combines topics from a wide range of disciplines, such as Monoterpene, Carotenoid and Antioxidant. His studies deal with areas such as RNA-Seq and Poaceae, Agronomy as well as Arundo donax. The concepts of his Stomatal conductance study are interwoven with issues in Stress protection and Darkness.

Best Publications

  • Diffusive and metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under drought and salinity in C(3) plants.

    J. Flexas;J. Bota;F. Loreto;G. Cornic

  • Isoprene Produced by Leaves Protects the Photosynthetic Apparatus against Ozone Damage, Quenches Ozone Products, and Reduces Lipid Peroxidation of Cellular Membranes

    Francesco Loreto;Violeta Velikova

  • Abiotic stresses and induced BVOCs.

    Francesco Loreto;Jörg-Peter Schnitzler

  • Theoretical Considerations when Estimating the Mesophyll Conductance to CO2 Flux by Analysis of the Response of Photosynthesis to CO2

    Peter C. Harley;Francesco Loreto;Giorgio Di Marco;Thomas D. Sharkey

  • A unified mechanism of action for volatile isoprenoids in plant abiotic stress

    Claudia E Vickers;Jonathan Gershenzon;Manuel T Lerdau;Francesco Loreto

  • Atmospheric composition change: Ecosystems–Atmosphere interactions

    D. Fowler;Kim Pilegaard;M.A. Sutton;Per Ambus

  • Practical approaches to plant volatile analysis

    Dorothea Tholl;Wilhelm Boland;Armin Hansel;Francesco Loreto

  • Physiological and physicochemical controls on foliar volatile organic compound emissions

    Ülo Niinemets;Francesco Loreto;Markus Reichstein

  • Role of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) emitted by urban trees on ozone concentration in cities: a review

    C. Calfapietra;S. Fares;F. Manes;A. Morani

  • Physiological responses of forest trees to heat and drought.

    H. Rennenberg;F. Loreto;A. Polle;F. Brilli

  • Water stress, temperature, and light effects on the capacity for isoprene emission and photosynthesis of kudzu leaves.

    Thomas D. Sharkey;Francesco Loreto

  • Estimation of Mesophyll Conductance to CO2 Flux by Three Different Methods

    Francesco Loreto;Peter C. Harley;Giorgio Di Marco;Thomas D. Sharkey

  • The use of low [CO2] to estimate diffusional and non‐diffusional limitations of photosynthetic capacity of salt‐stressed olive saplings

    M. Centritto;F. Loreto;K. Chartzoulakis

  • On the induction of volatile organic compound emissions by plants as consequence of wounding or fluctuations of light and temperature

    Francesco Loreto;Csengele Barta;Federico Brilli;Isabel Nogues

  • Gas-Exchange Properties of Salt-Stressed Olive (Olea europea L.) Leaves.

    Guido Bongi;Francesco Loreto

  • Ozone quenching properties of isoprene and its antioxidant role in leaves.

    Francesco Loreto;Michela Mannozzi;Christophe Maris;Pamela Nascetti

  • Impact of ozone on monoterpene emissions and evidence for an isoprene-like antioxidant action of monoterpenes emitted by Quercus ilex leaves.

    Francesco Loreto;Paola Pinelli;Fausto Manes;Hannes Kollist

  • Restrictions to Carbon Dioxide Conductance and Photosynthesis in Spinach Leaves Recovering from Salt Stress

    Sebastiano Delfine;Arturo Alvino;Maria Concetta Villani;Francesco Loreto

  • Determining Photosynthetic Parameters from Leaf CO2 Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence (Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Specificity Factor, Dark Respiration in the Light, Excitation Distribution between Photosystems, Alternative Electron Transport Rate, and Mesophyll Diffusion Resistance

    A. Laisk;F. Loreto

  • A GAS-EXCHANGE STUDY OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND ISOPRENE EMISSION IN QUERCUS RUBRA L.

    Francesco Loreto;Thomas D. Sharkey

  • Photosynthetic limitations in olive cultivars with different sensitivity to salt stress

    F. Loreto;M. Centritto;K. Chartzoulakis

  • Response of isoprene emission and carbon metabolism to drought in white poplar (Populus alba) saplings.

    Federico Brilli;Csengele Barta;Alessio Fortunati;Manuel Lerdau

  • Free amino acids and glycine betaine in leaf osmoregulation of spinach responding to increasing salt stress

    Catello Di Martino;Sebastiano Delfine;Roberto Pizzuto;Francesco Loreto

Frequent Co-Authors

Mauro Centritto
Mauro Centritto National Research Council (CNR)
Violeta Velikova
Violeta Velikova Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Cecilia Brunetti
Cecilia Brunetti National Research Council (CNR)
Silvano Fares
Silvano Fares National Research Council (CNR)
Thomas D. Sharkey
Thomas D. Sharkey Michigan State University
Tsonko Tsonev
Tsonko Tsonev Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Paolo Ciccioli
Paolo Ciccioli National Research Council (CNR)
Carlo Calfapietra
Carlo Calfapietra National Research Council (CNR)
Matthew Haworth
Matthew Haworth National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Massimiliano Tattini
Massimiliano Tattini National Research Council (CNR)

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