Research Project: Omics-Based Approach to Detection, Identification, and Systematics of Plant Pathogenic Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas

Location: Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Momordica charantia is a novel host of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma malaysianum'-related strains associated with bitter melon stem fasciation disease in China - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bottner-Parker, K.D., Qiao, K., Huang, W., Zhao, Y., Yang, Z., Cai, H., Wei, W. 2024. Momordica charantia is a novel host of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma malaysianum'-related strains associated with bitter melon stem fasciation disease in China. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-24-0971-PDN.

First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari’-related strain associated with yellowing and decline of Silver Bluestem in Texas, U.S.A. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rios, D., Ueckert, J., Ong, K., Barillas, J.R., Costanzo, S. 2024. First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari’-related strain associated with yellowing and decline of Silver Bluestem in Texas, U.S.A.. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0524-PDN.

Differential symptomology, susceptibility, and titer dynamics manifested by phytoplasma-infected periwinkle and tomato plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ivanauskas, A., Inaba, J., Zhao, Y., Bottner-Parker, K.D., Wei, W. 2024. Differential symptomology, susceptibility, and titer dynamics manifested by phytoplasma-infected periwinkle and tomato plants. Plants. 13:787. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060787.

AGRAMP: Machine learning models for predicting antimicrobial peptides against phytopathogenic bacteria - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shao, J.Y., Zhao, Y., Wei, W., Vaisman, I. 2024. AGRAMP: Machine learning models for predicting antimicrobial peptides against phytopathogenic bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15:1304044. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1304044.

Guilt by association: DNA-barcoding based identification of potential plant hosts of phytoplasmas from their insect carriers - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Inaba, J., Shao, J.Y., Trivellone, V., Zhao, Y., Dietrich, C.H., Bottner-Parker, K.D., Ivanauskas, A., Wei, W. 2023. Guilt by association: DNA-barcoding based identification of potential plant hosts of phytoplasmas from their insect carriers. Phytopathology. 113(3):413-422. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-22-0323-R.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a key battleground between phytoplasma aggression and host plant defense - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Inaba, J., Kim, B., Zhao, Y., Jansen, M.A., Wei, W. 2023. The endoplasmic reticulum is a key battleground between phytoplasma aggression and host plant defense. Cells. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12162110.

Exploring changes in Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) profiles of tomato plants infected with phytoplasma - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ivanauskas, A., Zhang, A., Zhao, Y., Wei, W. 2023. Exploring changes in Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) profiles of tomato plants infected with phytoplasma. Phytopathogenic Mollicutes. 13(1):5-6. https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-4677.2023.00003.8.

Lectin binding assay reveals phytoplasma infection-induced alteration of plant host protein glycosylation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kim, B., Inaba, J., Zhao, Y., Wei, W. 2023. Lectin binding assay reveals phytoplasma infection-induced alteration of plant host protein glycosylation. Phytopathogenic Mollicutes. 13(1):7-8. https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-4677.2023.00004.X.

Phytoplasma infection alters polar lipid composition and triggers chloroplast autophagy in host plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Inaba, J., Kim, B., Zhao, Y., Wei, W. 2023. Phytoplasma infection alters polar lipid composition and triggers chloroplast autophagy in host plants. Phytopathogenic Mollicutes. 13(1):3-4. https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-4677.2023.00002.6.

Editorial: Recent advances in crop diseases associated with plant vascular-colonizing bacteria - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wei, W., Ait Barka, E., Eichmeier, A. 2023. Editorial: Recent advances in crop diseases associated with plant vascular-colonizing bacteria. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14. Article e1171973. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1171973.

Tomato and Jute Mallow are two new hosts of papaya bunchy top phytoplasma, a 'Candidatus phytoplasma convolvuli'-related strain in Nigeria - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Inaba, J., Kazeem, S.E., Zhao, Y., Zwolinska, A., Ogunfunmilayo, A.O., Arogundade, O., Wei, W. 2023. Tomato and Jute Mallow are two new hosts of papaya bunchy top phytoplasma, a 'Candidatus phytoplasma convolvuli'-related strain in Nigeria. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-22-2192-PDN.

Multilocus sequence typing of phytoplasmas associated with Flavescence dorée disease in Tuscany vineyards identifies a highly homogeneous lineage in the subgroup 16SrV-C - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pierro, R., Bottner-Parker, K.D., Panattoni, A., Wei, W., Marcone, C., Rizzo, D., Materazzi, A., Quaglino, F., Zhao, Y. 2022. Multilocus sequence typing of phytoplasmas associated with Flavescence dorée disease in Tuscany vineyards identifies a highly homogeneous lineage in the subgroup 16SrV-C. Crop Protection. 163. Article 106114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2022.106114.

Draft Genome Sequence Resource of CBPPT1, a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trfolii'-related strain associated with potato purple top disease in the Columbia Basin, USA - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wei, W., Shao, J.Y., Bottner-Parker, K.D., Zhao, Y. 2022. Draft Genome Sequence Resource of CBPPT1, a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trfolii'-related strain associated with potato purple top disease in the Columbia Basin, USA. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-22-1788-A.

Phytoplasma taxonomy: nomenclature, classification and identification - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wei, W., Zhao, Y. 2022. Phytoplasma taxonomy: nomenclature, classification and identification. Biology. 11/1119. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081119.