Prof Ercolano has a broad background in plant genetics, with specific training and expertise in genomic and plant resistance genes data analysis. In particular, she identifed and transfered pathogen resistance genes and investigated genetic resources using new methods, also based on multidisciplinary approaches. In addition, she performed the manual annotation of several gene classes and developed a dedicated bioinformatics platform (PRGdb; http://prgdb.org) for plant resistance gene analysis (R-genes) that serves more than 500 users. Recently, she started to investigate the potential of producing fuel from residual biomass.