Teaching
PROC 6650 – Phytovirology - An overview of plant virology with emphasis on biology of host-virus-vector interactions; topics included virus infection, replication, intracellular movement, symptoms, transmission; control; functions of plant viruses and current literature and techniques (hands-on) important to virology (plant ac. nucleic extraction protocols; transmission by Cuscuta; serology; database searching; breeding for resistance to plant viruses and resistance assays, genetic segregation of resistance to viruses; electron microscopy preparations and virus inclusions; RNA extraction; Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction; gel electrophoresis).
Recent/Current Projects
– Cross Protection and Genetic Approaches to Control of Viruses in Tropical Pumpkin. (with Dra Linda Wessel-Beaver, UPRM)
– Molecular diagnosis and indexation of citrus diseases in Puerto Rico – basis for a suitable citriculture program
– Brevipalpus mites and the spread of citrus leprosis virus in the Americas
– Diversity of Tenuipalpidae mites in Puerto Rico and Caribbean Basin
– Brevipalpus-borne viruses in Amazon Basin
Research Interest
-Molecular biology of plant viruses;
-Vector-borne plant viruses
-Tropical and subtropical plant viruses and virus-like diseases
-Molecular markers to characterize plant breeding programs.
A biological model for the study of plant-pathogen-vector-symbiont interactions in the tropics:
Plant viruses and virus-like disease agents have been studied because of their direct impact on plant hosts and also because studies will create a better understanding of physiological processes in plants. Over the last twelve years, a series of basic studies was initiated with tropical mites of the Brevipalpus genus, Tenuipalpidae family. Initially, three virus-like disease agents were reported associated with Brevipalpus mites. There are now more than 60 host plant species in 24 families. A special volume of Experimental Applied Acarology was dedicated to this subject. The host plants of greatest direct economic interest are citrus, coffee, passion fruit, and ornamental plants such as hibiscus and orchids. The characterization of these viruses according to the cytopathology, epidemiology, genetic diversity, and the vector complex particularities has been used to train students in different areas, and the sum of these studies we started to call a “tropical mite-pathosystem”.
Education
2000 Ph.D. , Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo, USP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
1995 M.Sc., Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo, USP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
1992 BS. Agronomy, Universidad Federal de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
Employment
2006
Associate Professor, Plant Virology, University of Puerto Rico, USA
2005-2005
Researcher, Amazon Biotechnology Center (CBA), granted with the highest fellowship of Brazilian Council for Science (CNPq) Fix 1 AM, Brazilian National Science Council fellowship
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratories – Tropical molecular biodiversity
2003-2004
Research Associate, University of Florida, USA.
Brevipalpus-borne viruses and vector phylogeny. Completed the survey for presence/absence of citrus leprosis in Florida and developed molecular techniques to evaluate possible differences in populations of Brevipalpus mite species recognized as vectors of this disease.
2001-2002
Visiting Professor, University of Florida, USA
Grant: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service, USA.
1995-1997
Research Associate, Instituto Agronomico de Campinas, Centro de citricultura ‘Sylvio Moreira’, Cordeirópolis, SP, Brazil.
Citrus pests and molecular markers for plant breeding program
- Muller, G. W; Targon, M.L.N.; Carvalho, S.A.; Sousa, A.A.; Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2005. Virus and viroids diseases on citrus. In: Mattos Jr, D. (ed.) CITROS. Cordeirópolis, Centro de Citricultura, SP, Brazil. (Portuguese)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V.; Oliveira, C.A. 2005. Phytophagous mites on citrus. In: Mattos Jr, D. (ed.) CITROS. Cordeirópolis, Centro de Citricultura, SP, Brazil. (Portuguese)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Ochoa, R.;Kane, E. 2006. First Report of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and its Damage to Coconut Palms in Puerto Rico and Culebra Island. International Journal of Acarology (Submitted)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2006. “Is ‘Sabará’ sweet orange immune or resistant to citrus leprosis?”: Addressing Bitancourt’s 1938 question. Laranja (accepted)
- Villanueva, R.T., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Welbourn, C., Denmark, H., Childers, C.C. 2006. Amblyseius filcai, a new phytoseiid species found on Viburnum in Florida: life cycle and feeding tests. Florida Entomologist (submitted)
- Miranda, L.C., Navia, D., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2006. Brevipalpus Donnadieu mites (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) Associated with Ornamental Plants in Distrito Federal, Brazil. Neotropical Entomologist (submitted)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Gruner, S. 2006. Mitochondrial COI fragment from Lucilia coeruleiviridis (= Phaenicia) (Macquart), a forensically important necrophagous fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) (In preparation) DQ419515.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Zuniga, J.A., Childers, C.C., 2006. Occurrence and distribution of citrus leprosis virus in Honduras. Plant Pathology (In press)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Locali, E.C., Freitas-Astua, J., Kitajima, E.W. 2005. Transmissibility of citrus leprosis virus by Brevipalpus phoenicis to Solanum violaefolium. Plant Disease 89:911
- Vargas, C.M.R., Rivadameira, C., Freitas-Astua, J. Astua-Monge, G., Rodrigues, J. C.V., Mesa Cobo, N. C., Kitajima, E.W. 2005. First Report of the Citrus leprosis virus, Cytoplasmic type (CiLV-C) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Plant Disease 89:686.
- Childers, C.C., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2005. Notes on Acari Species on Ornamental Plants from Central America imported for propagation in Florida and Potential Risks of Exotic Pest Introductions. Florida Entomolologist 88:408-414.
- Magalhães, B.P., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Boucias, D.G., Childers, C.C. 2005. Pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum to the flat mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Florida Entomologist 88(2)195-198.
- Villanueva, R., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Childers, C.C. 2005. Cryptothelea gloverii (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), an arthropod predator and herbivore on Florida Citrus. Experimental and Applied Acarology 36:83-92.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Childers, C.C., Gallo-Meagher, M., Ochoa, R. and B.J. Adams. 2004. Mitochondrial DNA and RAPD polymorphisms in the haploid mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology 34:274-290, 2004.
- Dragone, D., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Neves, E.M., Nogueira, N.L. 2003. Economic viability of citrus leprosis control on citrus orange varieties. Laranja 24: 311-328. (Portuguese)
- Nogueira, N.L., Rodrigues, J.C.V. Rossi, M.L. 2003. Association of rhabdovirus-like particles and Brevipalpus mites with three ornamental plants exhibiting symptoms of local lesions. Summa Phytopathologica v. 29, n.3, p. 279-282.
- Childers, C.C., French, W.J.V., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2003. Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis, and B. lewisi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae): a review of their biology, feeding injury and economic importance. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, n. 1-3, p. 5-28.
- Kitajima, E.W., Chagas, C.M., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2003. Brevipalpus-transmitted plant virus and viruslike diseases: cytopathology and reports of some recent cases. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, n. 1-3, p. 135-160.
- Childers, C.C., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Derrick, K. S., Achor, D.S., French, W.J.V., Welbourn, W.C., Ochoa, R., Kitajima, E.W. 2003. Citrus leprosis and its status in Florida and Texas: past and present. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, p. 181-202.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Kitajima, E.W., Childers, C.C., Chagas, C.M. 2003. Citrus leprosis virus vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari:Tenuipalpidae) in citrus in Brazil. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, n. 1-3, p. 161-179.
- Chagas, C.M., Kitajima, E.W., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2003. Coffee ringspot virus vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in coffee. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, n. 1-3, p. 203-213.
- Childers, C.C., Rodrigues, J.C.V., Welbourn, W.C. Host plants of Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, and B. phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and their potential involvement in the spread of one or more viral diseases vectored by these mites. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30,n. 1-3, p. 29-105, 2003.
- Kitajima, E.W., Resende, J.A.M., Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2003. Passion fruit green spot virus vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on passion fruit in Brazil. Experimental and Applied Acarology, v. 30, n. 1-3, p. 225-231.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Nogueira, N.L., Machado, M.A. 2002. Elaboration and validation of diagrammatic scale to citrus leprosis. Summa Phytopathologica, v. 28, p. 192-196, 2002. (Portuguese)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Rodrigues, C.M., Moreira, L., Villalobos, W., Rivera, C., Childers, C.C. 2002. Occurrence of coffee ringspot virus, a Brevipalpus mite-borne disease en coffee in Costa Rica, Central America. Plant Disease, St. Paul, v. 86, n. 5, p. 564.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Childers, C.C. 2002. Oils in citrus pests and diseases management. Laranja, Cordeiropolis, v. 23, n. 1, p. 77-100.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., Ueta, F. Z., Muraro, R.P. 2002. Options and comparative costs of citrus leprosis programs. Laranja, Cordeirópolis, v. 23, p. 333-344, 2002. (Portuguese)
- Rodrigues, J.C.V. 2002. Citrus leprosis control program. Laranja, Cordeirópolis, v. 23, n. 2, p. 321-332 (Portuguese)
Argentina
Citrus pest – Provinces of Misiones, Entre Rios and Concordia
viruses and molecular biology – Buenos Ayres
Australia
Citrus pests – With a group of experts we identified citrus pest problems in commercial citrus region of Queensland (including citrus canker and black spot)
Belize
Citrus pest of quarantine importance (citrus leprosis and canker)
Brazil
Citrus pest and plant virus– States of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Sergipe, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Amazonas and Federal District.
Costa Rica
Citrus pests and quarantine procedure
Colombia
A biological model for the study of virus-vector-plant interrelationships on tropics and citrus, coffee and passion fruit invasive pests.
Cuba
US delegate on the International Seminar for Plant Health
Honduras
Citrus and ornamental pests survey
Mexico
Citrus diseases
Panama
Citrus pests survey and (with a group of experts) support to a pest control program.
Paraguay
Citrus pests survey
Puerto Rico
Plant virus diseases and vector molecular characterization
USA
Citrus and ornamental plant pests
