Phytoplasmas

Dr. Wei is a research plant pathologist in the Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, BARC-NEA, ARS, USDA. She completed her Ph.D. in 2004 at the Plant Pathology Laboratory, the University of Tokyo, and has been a member of MPPL since 2005. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Wei specializes in the detection, identification, classification, and genomic evolution of plant pathogenic phytoplasma and spiroplasma, which are cell wall-less bacteria responsible for numerous diseases in agriculturally and environmentally significant plant species worldwide. Dr. Wei's research also extends to understanding phytoplasma host interactions, especially the molecular and physiological mechanisms of phytoplasma-induced diversion of plant meristem fate. She has authored or co-authored over 115 publications in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to her research, Dr. Wei actively engages in scientific service. She has served on international and national scientific committees and grant review panels. Dr. Wei also has served in an editorial role for international journals and has contributed her expertise as a reviewer for more than 40 international journals.

• 1: Sensor-based Monitoring Systems for Phytoplasma Disease Detection 2: Integrating Precision Agriculture Principles and Techniques into Phytoplasma Research for Enhanced Disease Management 3: Exploring Phytoplasma Genomes through Advanced Sequencing and Enrichment Techniques 4: Advances and Challenges in Phytoplasma Taxonomy 5: Phytoplasma Phylogeny and Detection; the 16S rRNA and Alternate Genes 6: Phytoplasma Transmission via Seeds: A Hypothesis Awaiting Definitive Evidence 7: Overview of RNA Interference Methods to Hamper Phytoplasma Transmission by Phloem Feeding Vectors 8: Functional analysis of membrane and secretory proteins mediating phytoplasma–host interactions 9: Molecular Aspects of Phytoplasma Infection-Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Transcription Factors Under Attack 10: Molecular Interactions of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ with its Hosts: Insights into Pathogenicity Mechanisms 11: Dissecting the Response of Plants to Phytoplasmas: Structural and Molecular Changes at the Site of Infection 12: Psyllid Vectors and their Control 13: Evolutionary Insights into Hemipteran Insect–Phytoplasma Associations: Phylogenetic Conservatism and Historical Ecology as Tools to Predict Future Associations. 14: Exploring Plant Epigenetic Responses to Paulownia Witches' Broom Phytoplasma Infection 15: Unravelling Plant Responses to Jujube Witches'-Broom Phytoplasma Infection through Omics Analysis 16: Movement of Phytoplasmas and Disease Development in Plants 17: Understanding Mixed Infections of Phytoplasmas with Diverse Plant Pathogens