In October 2019, Professor Raffaello Castoria from Department of Agricultural, Environment and Food Science, University of Molise, Italy, visited Jiangsu University for academic exchange activity for one month. Prof. Castoria has taken researches in biological control of postharvest diseases and biodegradation of agricultural toxin, and is one of the pioneers in the field of biological control of postharvest diseases in fruits and vegetables. Prof. Castoria has served as a science and technology consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Prof. Castoria was hired as an adjunct professor in our school in October 2011. Prof. Castoria has won the project of introducing high-end foreign experts three times relying on the early cooperation of the research team of Prof. Hongyin Zhang.

During one month, Prof. Castoria held two academic lectures: "Issues and new aspects of biocontrol of postharvest diseases by basidiomycetous yeasts" and "Mechanisms of biocontrol of postharvest diseases: new preliminary data from physiological, transcriptomics and "Molecular genetics studies". Firstly, Prof. Castoria introduced the harm caused by postharvest diseases of fruits, the negative effects of using chemical fungicides, then introduced the concept of biological control and reasons for using biological control agents, and further explored the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved. He also presented the problems of commercial application of biological control agents. The lectures received extensive attention and praise from teachers and students. In the course teaching, Prof. Castoria taught the Ph.D. students course: Special theme on food science and technology Special theme on food science and technology. The main content was the research progress on the biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, and combined with his own research in this field which enriching the content of the classroom and making students further understand and master the development of biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, the molecular mechanisms of pathogen infecting fruits, and the control and degradation of mycotoxins by biological control agents. In addition, Prof. Castoria also participated in the research of Prof. Hongyin Zhang, provided essential advices to the members in this team (masters, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers), and made further discussion on the research of antagonistic yeasts control of postharvest diseases and degradation of mycotoxins.

The academical exchange activity has played an active role in promoting the development of related disciplines in this subject. This activity can enhance the academic level of our department in the field of biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, enhance the level of our school in the education of international student and improve the internationalization of the school.

(School of Food and Biological Engineering)