Prof. Roberto De Philippis, vice president of International Soceity for Applied Phycology and Professor of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at University of Florence, paid a visit to IHB during May 12 and 19.

During his visit, Prof. De Philippis delivered a lecture entitlted “Role and characteristics of natural and induced Biological Soil Crusts in desert soils”. In this lecture, the recent achievements obtained in the researches on the role of the exopolysaccharidic (EPS) matrix released by the microorganisms residing in natural and in induced Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) was reviewed. In particular, the lecture focused on the role of the EPSs in modifying the hydrological processes in BSCs, describing the relationships found between the presence and amount of exopolysaccharides and the hydraulic conductivity in a variety of natural BSCs sampled in North American deserts.  

In this lecture, the current status of studies, carried out in collaboration with IHB, on the role of the polysaccharidic matrix in affecting hydraulic conductivity, humidity capture from non-rainfall sources and moisture retention during desiccation processes, in induced BSCs obtained by inoculating cyanobacteria in different years in Hopq desert, Inner Mongolia, was also presented.  

On May 16, accompanied by Prof. LIU Yongding, pricnipal investigator of the Research Group of Environmental Biology of Algae at IHB, Prof. De Philippis had a field trip to the Hopq desert, Inner Mongolia.  

Prof. De Phillipis also negotiated with IHB leaders on the agreement of Sino-Italy Inter-government S&T cooperation project for the next phase.