Dr. Leonardo Lombardini
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
l-lombardini@tamu.edu

Leonardo Lombardini received his Laurea degree (equivalent to B.S. + M.S.) in Forestry from the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy, in 1993. In 1995, he moved to the United States to pursue a Doctoral Degree in Horticulture at Michigan State University, which he completed in 1999. From 1999 until 2002, he held a postdoctoral position at the Washington State University, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, where he investigated the responses of the application of particle film, deficit irrigation treatments, and plant bioregulators on whole-canopy assimilation rate, light interception, water relations, and fruit quality in apple and pear trees. In June 2002, he started his appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, as horticulturist/pecan physiologist. Dr. Lombardini’s areas of focus are plant physiology, especially in relation to gas exchange, and plant responses to environmental stress. At Texas A&M, Dr. Lombardini investigates the physiology of pecan with particular emphasis to the responses (photosynthesis, yield, water relations, etc.) to horticultural practices (irrigation, light management, mineral nutrition, application of particle film, etc.) to improve performance and productivity. In addition, he is interested in investigating the nutritional aspects of pecans and their properties in relationship to human health. He has authored/coauthored 22 refereed publications, generated over $800,000 in grants, and given over 80 presentations at professional and research meetings.