Contact information

Dr. Alina Puig

Alina.puig@usda.gov

Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research
1301 Ditto Avenue, Fort Detrick, MD 21702
Phone: (301)-619-7338
Fax: (301) 619-2880

Alina Puig is a Research Plant Pathologist at USDA-ARS working on emerging oomycete and viral pathogens. During her time with USDA-ARS, Dr. Puig developed a diagnostic test for Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) which has been used around the world, leading to the detection of the pathogen in new locations. Dr. Puig’s lab focuses on epidemiology and population diversity to understand the emergence and spread of high priority pathogens. 

 

Research Emphasis

Current research focuses on (1) Phytophthora infestans causing late blight of potato and tomato, (2) Peronosclerospora spp. causing downy mildew diseases of sorghum, corn, and sugarcane, and (3) emerging viruses on food crops. Research objectives include analysis of pathogen genetic diversity, epidemiology, and diagnostic test development.

Projects

• Projects

  Developing Genomic and Biological Resources to Characterize, Diagnose and Detect Emerging and Invasive Vectored Bacterial and Viral Plant Pathogens for Safeguarding U.S. Agriculture In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:441898

  Diagnostics and Biological Approaches for Management of Emerging Oomycete Plant Pathogens In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:442484

  Evaluation and Validation of Internal Controls for Molecular Diagnostic Assays Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:446730

  Tools for the Identification and Detection of Graminicolous Downy Mildews, including the Select Agent Peronosclerospora philippinensis Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:444536

  Diversity of Foreign Phytophthora Infestans Genotypes Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:445091

  Improved Management of Cacao Mild Mosaic Virus (CaMMV) by Identifying Alternative Hosts Serving as Inoculum Reservoirs Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:442425

 

Publications

• Use the drop down box below to view publications at USDA-ARS:

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Fungal Pathogens of Cacao in Puerto Rico -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S. 2023. Fungal Pathogens of Cacao in Puerto Rico. Plants. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223855.
    
  • Phyllosphere microbial diversity, specific taxa, and environmental conditions mediate within-cultivar resistance to Phytophthora palmivora in cacao -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Schmidt, J.E., Puig, A.S., Pfeufer, E., Duval, A.E. 2023. Phyllosphere microbial diversity, specific taxa, and environmental conditions mediate within-cultivar resistance to Phytophthora palmivora in cacao. mSphere. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00013-23.
    
  • Characterization of variation in virulence-related genes of Phytophthora palmivora associated with cacao -(Abstract Only)
    Herrera, C., Gitto, A., Puig, A.S., Brawner, J., Goss, E.M., Bailey, B.A., Suarez, J.Y. 2023. Characterization of variation in virulence-related genes of Phytophthora palmivora associated with cacao. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-113-11-S3.1 .
    
  • Comparative RNA-seq analysis of resistant and susceptible Theobroma cacao fruits in response to infection with frosty pod pathogen (Moniliophthora roreri) -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Cohen, S.P., Koch Bach, R.A., Arciniegas Leal, A., Gutierrez, O.A., Bailey, B.A. 2023. Comparative RNA-seq analysis of resistant and susceptible Theobroma cacao fruits in response to infection with frosty pod pathogen (Moniliophthora roreri). PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-22-0101-R.
    
  • Epidemiology of cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV)-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Branch dieback on Theobroma cacao infected with Cacao mild mosaic virus -(Abstract Only)
    Puig, A.S. 2022. Branch dieback on Theobroma cacao infected with Cacao mild mosaic virus. Phytopathology. 112:S3.1. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-112-11-S3.1.
    
  • Effect of cacao black pod rot screening method on disease resistance determination -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Irish, B.M., Ayala Silva, T., Wurzel, S.B., Gutierrez, O.A. 2022. Effect of cacao black pod rot screening method on disease resistance determination. Chemistry Proceedings. 10(1):71. https://doi.org/10.3390/IOCAG2022-12215.
    
  • Mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) associated with Cacao mild mosaic virus and evidence of virus acquisition -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Wurzel, S.B., Suarez, S., Marelli, J., Niogret, J. 2021. Mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) associated with Cacao mild mosaic virus and evidence of virus acquisition. Insects. 12(11):994. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12110994.
    
  • Interactive and dynamic effects of rootstock and rhizobiome on scion nutrition in cacao seedlings -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Schmidt, J., Duval, A., Puig, A.S., Tempeleu, A., Crow, T. 2021. Interactive and dynamic effects of rootstock and rhizobiome on scion nutrition in cacao seedlings. Frontiers in Agronomy. 3:754646. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2021.754646.
    
  • Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) and Cacao yellow vein banding virus (CYVBV): genus Badnavirus-(Book / Chapter)
    Puig, A.S., Umaharan, P. 2021. Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) and cacao yellow vein banding virus (CYVBV): genus Badnavirus. In End, M.J., Daymond, A.J., Hadley, P., editors. Technical guidelines for the safe movement of cacao germplasm. Revised from the FAO/IPGRI Technical Guidelines No. 20 (Fourth Update). Rome, Italy: Global Cacao Genetic Resources Network (CacaoNet), Bioversity International. p, 27-33.
    
  • Detection of cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) using nested PCR and evidence of uneven distribution in plant tissue -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig AS. 2021. Detection of Cacao Mild Mosaic Virus (CaMMV) Using Nested PCR and Evidence of Uneven Distribution in Leaf Tissue. Agronomy, 11(9):1842. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091842
    
  • Neofusicoccum batangarum causing dieback of mango in Florida -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig AS, Winterstein MC. 2021. Neofusicoccum batangarum Causing Dieback of Mango (Mangifera indica) in Florida. Agriculture, 11(9): 853. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090853
    
  • Molecular identification of mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) affecting Theobroma cacao for improved pest management -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S.; Wurzel, S.; Suarez, S.; Niogret, J.; Marelli, J.-P. Molecular identification of mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) affecting Theobroma cacao for improved pest management. In Proceedings of the 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology, Online, 1–15 July 2021; MDPI: Basel, Switzerland, 2021, doi:10.3390/IECE-1039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/IECE-10399
    
  • Seed Transmission of a Cacao Virus From the Americas and the Implication on Crop Cultivation and Movement of Germplasm-(Abstract Only)
    Puig A.S. 2021. Seed transmission of a cacao virus from the Americas and the implication on crop cultivation and movement of germplasm. Plant Health Conference, Online, Aug 2-6, 2021
    
  • Cacao Rootstock Effects Outweigh Scion Effects on Nutrient Acquisition and the Rhizobiome-(Abstract Only)
    Schmidt, J., DuVal, A., Puig, A., Tempeleu, A., Chaparro, J., Motamayor, J.C. 2021. Cacao rootstock effects outweigh scion effects on nutrient acquisition and the rhizobiome. 11th Symposium of the International Society of Root Research , Online. May 24-28, 2021
    
  • Development of Nested PCR for detection of Cacao mild mosaic virus in Theobroma cacao-(Abstract Only)
    Puig, A.S. 2021. Development of Nested PCR for detection of Cacao mild mosaic virus in Theobroma cacao. Florida Phytopathological Society Meeting. Florida Phytopathological Society Meeting, Online, May 13-14, 2021.
    
  • Phytophthora palmivora causing disease on theobroma cacao in hawaii -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Quintanilla, W.E., Matsumoto Brower, T.K., Keith, L.M., Gutierrez, O.A., Marelli, J. 2021. Phytophthora palmivora causing disease on theobroma cacao in hawaii. Phytopathology. 11(5). Article 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11050396.
    
  • SNP markers associated with resistance to Frosty Pod and Black Pod diseases in a F1 population of Theobroma cacao L. -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Gutierrez, O.A., Puig, A.S., Phillips-Mora, W., Bailey, B.A., Ali, S.S., Mockaitis, K., Schnell, R.J., Livingstone, D., Mustiga, G., Royaert, S., Motamayor, J.C. 2021. SNP markers associated with resistance to Frosty Pod and Black Pod diseases in a F1 population of Theobroma cacao L. . Tree Genetics and Genomes. 17, 28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-021-01507-w.
    
  • Phytophthora theobromicola sp. nov. a new species causing black pod disease on cacao in brazil -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Decloquement, J., Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Galvao Elias, S., Santos Britto, D., Puig, A.S., Reis, A., Batista Pinho, D., Marelli, J., Fernandes Da Silva, R., Martins Newman Luz, E., Honorato-Junior, J. 2021. Phytophthora theobromicola sp. nov. a new species causing black pod disease on cacao in brazil. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12: 486. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.537399.
    
  • Complete genome sequences for three new discovered Cacao mild mosaic virus isolates from Theobroma cacao L. in Brazil and Puerto Rico and evidence for recombination -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Keith, C., Puig, A.S., Ferro, M.M., Nagata, T., Gutierrez, O.A., Marelli, J., Brown, J.K. 2021. Complete genome sequences for three new discovered Cacao mild mosaic virus isolates from Theobroma cacao L. in Brazil and Puerto Rico and evidence for recombination. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05063-5.
    
  • Virulence tests of Neofusicoccum parvum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Phytophthora palmivora on Theobroma cacao -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A. S., Keith, L. M., Matsumoto, T. K., Gutierrez, O. A., & Marelli, J. P. (2021). Virulence tests of Neofusicoccum parvum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Phytophthora palmivora on Theobroma cacao. European Journal of Plant Pathology. 159:851–862. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021-02210-1.
    
  • Diseases affecting Theobroma cacao in Puerto Rico’s emerging cacao industry-(Abstract Only)
    Puig, A., Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Keith, C. V., Kitchen, N., Gutierrez, O., Goenaga, R., & Brown, J. K. "Diseases affecting Theobroma cacao in Puerto Rico’s emerging cacao industry." Meeting Abstract. Plant Health 2020 Online. August 10-14, 2020
    
  • Complete genome sequences of Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) reveal three distinct isolates infecting Theobroma cacao L. in Puerto Rico and Brazil-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • First report of Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) associated with symptomatic commercial cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) trees in Puerto Rico -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Keith, C., Kitchen, N., Gutierrez, O.A., Goenaga, R.J. 2020. First report of Cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) associated with symptomatic commercial cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) trees in Puerto Rico. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-20-0745-PDN.
    
  • Independent whole-genome duplications define the architecture of the genomes of the devastating West African cacao black pod pathogen Phytophthora megakarya and its close relative Phytophthora palmivora -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Morales-Cruz, A., Ali, S.S., Minio, A., Figueroa-Balderas, R., Garcia, J.F., Kasuga, T., Puig, A.S., Marelli, J., Bailey, B.A., Cantu, D. 2020. Independent whole-genome duplications define the architecture of the genomes of the devastating West African cacao black pod pathogen Phytophthora megakarya and its close relative Phytophthora palmivora. G3, Genes/Genomes/Genetics. 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.120.401014.
    
  • Rapid molecular identification of Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Albo, J.E., Marelli, J., Puig, A.S. 2019. Rapid molecular identification of Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20, 5944. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20235944.
    
  • Genome and transcriptome analysis of the latent pathogen lasiodiplodia Theobromae, an emerging threat to cacao industry-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ali, S., Shao, J.Y., Adi, A., Balidion, J., Strem, M., Puig, A.S., Meinhardt, L.W., Bailey, B.A. 2019. Genome and transcriptome analysis of the latent pathogen lasiodiplodia Theobromae, an emerging threat to cacao industry. Genes, Genomes, and Genomics. 63:37–52.
    
  • Phytophthora canker affecting CCN51 clones on high productivity cacao farms in Ecuador-(Abstract Only)
    Puig, A.S., Marelli, J., Suarez-Capello, C., Gutierrez, O.A. 2019. Phytophthora canker affecting CCN51 clones on high productivity cacao farms in Ecuador. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Plant Health, Cleveland, August 3-7, 2019.
    
  • Chocolate under threat from old and new cacao diseases -(Review Article)
    Philippe Marelli, J., Guest, D.I., Bailey, B.A., Evans, H., Brown, J.K., Juanid, M., Barreto, R.W., Lisboa, D.O., Puig, A.S. 2019. Chocolate under threat from old and new cacao diseases. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-18-0477-RVW.
    
  • First report of Neofusicoccum parvum causing pod rot on cacao in Hawaii -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Jean-Philippe, M., Matsumoto Brower, T.K., Keith, L.M., Gutierrez, O.A. 2019. First report of Neofusicoccum parvum causing pod rot on cacao in Hawaii. Plant Disease. 103(6). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-18-1719-PDN.
    
  • Differential response of Phytophthora megakarya and Phytophthora palmivora to temperature stress-(Abstract Only)
    Puig, A.S., Ali, S., Strem, M.D., Sicher Jr, R.C., Gutierrez, O.A., Bailey, B.A. 2017. Differential response of Phytophthora megakarya and Phytophthora palmivora to temperature stress. Meeting Abstract. San Diego, CA. January 13-17, 2018.
    
  • The differential influence of temperature on Phytophthora megakarya and Phytophthora palmivora pod lesion expansion, mycelia growth, gene expression, and metabolite profiles-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Puig, A.S., Ali, S., Strem, M.D., Sicher Jr, R.C., Gutierrez, O.A., Bailey, B.A. 2018. The differential influence of temperature on Phytophthora megakarya and Phytophthora palmivora pod lesion expansion, mycelia growth, gene expression, and metabolite profiles. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. 102:95-112.
    
  • Laurel wilt in natural and agricultural ecosystems: Understanding the drivers and scales of complex pathosystems-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ploetz, R.C., Kendra, P.E., Chaundry, R.A., Rollins, J., Campbell, A.S., Hughes, M., Dreaden, T. 2017. Laurel wilt in natural and agricultural ecosystems: Understanding the drivers and scales of complex pathosystems. Forests. 8(2):48.
    

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Education

Ph.D. Plant Pathology, University of Florida
M.S. Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee
B.S. Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee

 

Research Experience

• Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Unit, Frederick, MD, 2021-present
• Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, Miami, FL, 2016-2021
• Postdoctoral Associate, The University of Florida, FL 2015-2016

 

ARS News Articles

• ARS News Articles

  Saving the Future of Chocolate: New Research Aims to Stop Loss of Cacao Plant