GENERAL INFORMATION

Anastasios Darras got his PhD from Cranfield University, UK at 2003. He is Associate Professor at the Department of Agriculture in the field of Floriculture and Post-harvest Technology of Flowers and Foliage. He has authored multiple scientific books and book chapters in collective volumes and he has published over 100 scientific papers in high-impact scientific journals and conferences. He is member of the editorial board of the journals Agronomy, Horticulturae and Frontiers in Horticulture. He is the coordinator of research and educational programs funded by the Greek Government and the private sector.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

1. Chairmain of the Department of Agriculture
2. Director of the Laboratory of Floricutlure & landscape Architecture
3. Director of the MSc by Research "Technology and Innovation in International Floriculture"

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Darras, A.I., Kostriva, A., Dimiza, K., Apostolou, M., Malamas, I., Kargakou, V., Kartsonas, E. 2024. Improvement of Drought Resistance of Osteospermum ecklonis Plants as a Physiological and Biochemical Response to Low Doses of UV-C Irradiation. Horticulturae, 10(2):189.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ferrante, A., Darras, A., Ahmed, T., Jalil, S., ... & El Sabagh, A. 2024. Melatonin seed priming improves growth and physio-biochemical aspects of Zinnia elegans under salt stress. Scientia Horticulturae, 323, 112495.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Darras, A., Nafees, M., Ashraf, M., Al-Ashkar, I., ... & Hancock, J. T. 2023. Preharvest Application of Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Oxide Improves Floral Traits and Postharvest Performance of Cut Gladiolus Inflorescences. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 1-13.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Darras, A., Nafees, M., Ferrante, A., & Siddique, K. H. 2023. Preharvest melatonin foliar treatments enhance postharvest longevity of cut tuberose via altering physio-biochemical traits. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1151722.
• Skouras, P. J., Karanastasi, E., Lycoskoufis, I., Demopoulos, V., Darras, A. I., Tsafouros, A., ... & Stathas, G. J. 2023. Toxicity and Lethal Effect of Greenhouse Insecticides on Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as Biological Control Agent of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Toxics, 11(7), 584.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ferrante, A., Nafees, M., Darras, A., Nazir, M. M., ... & Soliman, T. M. 2023. Exogenous foliar application of melatonin mitigates salt induced oxidative stress and promotes growth in Gerbera jamosonii. South African Journal of Botany, 161, 678-684.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ferrante, A., Nafees, M., Darras, A., Nazir, M. M., ... & Elsaid, F. G. 2023. Melatonin and salicylic acid synergistically improve arsenic induced oxidative stress tolerance in ornamental sword lily. Scientia Horticulturae, 322, 112389.
• Darras, A. I., Grigoropoulou, K., Dimiza, K., & Zulfiqar, F. 2022. Effects of Brief UV-C Irradiation Treatments on Rooting Performance of Pelargonium× hortorum (LH Bailey) Stem Cuttings. Horticulturae, 8(10), 897.
• Zulfiqar, F., Nafees, M., Darras, A., Shaukat, N., Chen, J., Ferrante, A., ... & Siddique, K. H. 2022. Pre-harvest potassium foliar application improves yield, vase life and overall postharvest quality of cut gladiolus inflorescences. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 192, 112027.
• Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Nazir, M. M., Ferrante, A., Ashraf, M., Nafees, M., Darras, A.I. ... & Siddique, K. H. 2022. Biochar: An emerging recipe for designing sustainable horticulture under climate change scenarios. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 1018646.
• Zulfiqar, F., Nafees, M., Chen, J., Darras, A., Ferrante, A., Hancock, J. T., ... & Siddique, K. H. 2022. Chemical priming enhances plant tolerance to salt stress. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 946922.
• Skouras, P. J., Demopoulos, V., Mprokaki, M., Anagnostelis, K., Darras, A. I., Stournaras, V., ... & Stathas, G. J. 2022. Relative toxicity of two insecticides to Coccinella septempunctata and Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Implications for Integrated Management of the aphids, Myzus persicae and Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Phytoparasitica, 50(1), 141-150.
• Kargakou, V. and Darras, A.I. 2022. Postharvest performance and handling of Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota L.), a potential cut flower. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 97(2), 244-254.
• Skouras, P. J., Darras, A. I., Mprokaki, M., Demopoulos, V., Margaritopoulos, J. T., Delis, C., & Stathas, G. J. 2021. Toxicity, Sublethal and low dose effects of imidacloprid and deltamethrin on the aphidophagous predator Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Insects, 12(8): 696.
• Darras, A.I., Skouras, P.J., Assimomitis, P., Labropoulou, C. and Stathas, G.J. 2021. Application of UV-C irradiation to Rosa x hybrida plants as a tool to minimise Macrosiphum rosae populations. Agronomy, 11(4): 702.
• Stathas, G.J., Kartsonas, E.D., Darras, A.I. and Skouras, P.I. 2021. Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) and their natural enemies recorded in the wider area of Messinian Province (Peloponnese, Greece), 2000 – 2020. Hellenic Journal of Plant Protection, 14(2): 47-64.
• Darras, A.I. 2021. Overview of the dynamic role of specialty cut flowers in the international cut flower market. Horticulturae, 7: 51-70.
• Skouras, P., Dimopoulos, V., Mprokaki, M., Anagnostelis, K., Darras, A.I., Stournaras, V., Delis, C. and Stathas, G. 2021. Monitoring of resistance to imidacloprid and deltamethrin insecticides in Myzus persicae and Aphis fabae populations in Greece and their natural enemies. Phytoparasitica, 50: 141-150.
• Darras, A.I. 2020. Implementaion of sustainable practices to ornamental plant cultivation worldwide: a critical review. Agronomy, 10: 1-20.
• Darras, A.I., Spiliopoulos, I., Kartsonas, E., Assimomitis, P. and Karras, S. 2020. Antioxidant profile, propagation and cultivation of Nepeta camphorata, the endemic species of Mt Taygetos (Greece). South African Journal of Botany, 131: 391-397.
• Darras, A.I., Tsikaloudakis, G., Lycoskoufis, I., Dimitriadis, C. and Karamousantas, D. 2020. Low doses of UV-C irradiation affects growth, fruit yield and photosynthetic activity of tomato plants. Scientia Horticulturae, 267: 109-114.
• Darras, A.I. 2020. The chilling injury effects of cut flowers: a brief review. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 95: 1-7.
• Tzavara, S., Darras, A.I. and Assimakopoulou, A. 2019. Tobacco dust waste as an alterna tive medium to grow geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) plants. Advances in Horticultural Science, 33(2): 295-298.
• Darras, A.I., Vlachodimitropoulou, A. and Dimitriadis, C. 2019. Regulation of corm sprouting, growth and flowering of pot Freesia hybrida plants by cold and UV-C irradiation forcing. Scientia Horticulturae, 252: 110-112.
• Darras, A.I. and Kargakou, V. 2019. Postharvest physiology and handling of cut Spartium junceum inflorescences. Scientia Horticulturae, 252: 130-137.