Publications by authors named "Alejandra Huerta"

Article Synopsis
  • * During two growing seasons, researchers isolated 103 yellow mucoid colonies from 51 different pepper cultivars, confirming the presence of X. perforans in 12 isolates through qPCR and genetic analysis.
  • * Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) confirmed that selected isolates shared 99-100% similarity with the X. perforans strain, which poses a risk of causing up to 40% yield loss if not managed properly.
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  • In July 2022, lesions indicative of bacterial leaf spot (BLS) were observed on various sesame plant varieties in North Carolina, with certain varieties showing up to 75% disease prevalence.
  • Leaf samples from affected plants were collected and cultured on specialized media, resulting in the isolation of colonies that were then genotyped to identify their genetic makeup.
  • Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the isolates were Pseudomonas syringae pv. sesami, linking the observed symptoms to this specific bacterial pathovar.
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The Goss's wilt and leaf blight is a disease of maize () caused by , which was widespread in the last several years throughout the Midwest in the United States, south in Texas, and north to Canada. The bacterium is included within the high-risk list of quarantine pathogens by many plant protection organizations and countries including Mexico. Severe blight symptoms on maize plants were found in different provinces from Coahuila and Tlaxcala, Mexico, in 2012 and 2021, respectively.

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Xanthomonas arboricola pv. is an important plant pathogen and the causal agent of bacterial spot of stone fruits ( spp). Here, we report a complete genome of X.

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  • Bacterial leaf pustule (BLP), caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines (Xag), affects soybeans globally, especially in warm and humid areas, but the genetic mechanisms behind resistance are poorly understood.
  • Researchers utilized linkage mapping and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with BLP resistance in soybeans, finding significant variations in resistance attributed to three major QTLs and numerous QTNs across various chromosomes.
  • Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that a specific candidate gene showed increased expression in a resistant soybean cultivar (W82) when exposed to Xag,
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Computational tool-assisted primer design for real-time reverse transcription (RT) PCR (qPCR) analysis largely ignores the sequence similarities between sequences of homologous genes in a plant genome. It can lead to false confidence in the quality of the designed primers, which sometimes results in skipping the optimization steps for qPCR. However, the optimization of qPCR parameters plays an essential role in the efficiency, specificity, and sensitivity of each gene's primers.

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Copper (Cu) is the most extensively used bactericide worldwide in many agricultural production systems. However, intensive application of Cu bactericide have increased the selection pressure toward Cu-tolerant pathogens, including , the causal agent of tomato bacterial spot. However, alternatives for Cu bactericides are limited and have many drawbacks including plant damage and inconsistent effectiveness under field conditions.

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Effective and durable disease resistance for bacterial blight (BB) of rice is a continuous challenge due to the evolution and adaptation of the pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), on cultivated rice varieties. Fundamental to this pathogens' virulence is transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors that activate transcription of host genes and contribute differently to pathogen virulence, fitness or both.

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The rice pathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar (pv.) oryzae and pv. oryzicola produce numerous transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors that increase bacterial virulence by activating expression of host susceptibility genes.

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Detecting and correctly identifying Ralstonia solanacearum in infected plants is important because the race 3 biovar 2 (R3bv2) subgroup is a high-concern quarantine pathogen, while the related sequevar 7 group is endemic to the southeastern United States. Preventing accidental import of R3bv2 in geranium cuttings demands sensitive detection methods that are suitable for large-volume use both onshore and offshore. However, detection is complicated by frequent asymptomatic latent infections, uneven pathogen distribution within infected plants, pathogen viable-but-not-culturable state, and biosecurity laws that restrict transport of R3bv2 strains for diagnosis.

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Bacterial wilt, caused by members of the heterogenous Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, is an economically important vascular disease affecting many crops. Human activity has widely disseminated R. solanacearum strains, increasing their global agricultural impact.

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