U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Databases
                        Alfalfa Transcription Factor Database
                                    iPhyClassifier - Phytoplasma Sequence ClassificationSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory People





- Find a person
- Find a location
- ARS Organizational Chart
- People
- Contact Information
- Publications
- Research Project List
- ARS News Articles

Yan  Zhao    Research Molecular Biologist Dr. Yan Zhao Research Molecular BiologistUSDA-ARS-NEA-BARC-MPPLEmail: yan.zhao@ars.usda.govPhone: 301-504-6202 The subject of our research is a diverse group of small bacteria called phytoplasmas.  These bacteria are genetically related to mycoplasmas that infect human and animals; but phytoplasmas infect only plants and a special group of insects.  Phytoplasmas are responsible for numerous plant diseases that impact agriculture and our environment. Our research has been focused on two major areas.  The first focal point of our research is detection and identification of diverse phytoplasmas.  Using genome information and DNA fingerprinting technology, we identified genetic markers that can distinguish different phytoplasmas.  Based on such markers, we developed diagnostic tools for rapid and sensitive detection and differentiation of phytoplasmas of domestic and international importance.  We also constructed an online tool, *i*PhyClassifier,to help scientists all over the world in their identification of known, as well as discovery of new, phytoplasmas.  Our research is important to extension personnel for disease diagnosis and management, and is critical to regulatory agencies for preventing exotic pathogens from being introduced into the U.S. The second focal point of our research is identification of molecular targets for disease control.  We found that a phytoplasmal infection can subvert the master plan of the development of a host plant by changing the properties of plant stem cells.  We constructed a model to explain how a pathogen can redefine the destiny of plant stem cells.  We are hopeful that our findings will shed light on eventual discovery of molecular targets for combating phytoplasmal diseases.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov