Yaima Arocha-Rosete, PhD

Dr. Yaima Arocha-Rosete is a plant pathologist and a leading expert on the molecular identification and characterization of plant pathogens, particularly phytoplasmas and their insect vectors. She has authored over 35 publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and two book chapters.

Dr. Arocha-Rosete completed her PhD in Agricultural Sciences at the Agricultural University of Havana and Rothamsted Research, UK, followed by postdoctoral work at Rothamsted Research and the Global Plant Clinic, CABI-Europe. Dr. Arocha-Rosete has organized and taught numerous courses on the field- and laboratory diagnosis of plant pathogens, particularly phytoplasmas, in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Dr Arocha-Rosete has supervised overseas graduate students, PhD and post docs at Rothamsted Research, UK. She was a Visiting Professor at the University of Catania, Sicily, Italy during 2007 and 2008, and is currently a Visiting Senior Scientist at the University of Windsor, Canada.

Selected publications

Select a topic above to list Dr. Arocha-Rosete’s publications.

Arocha Rosete Y, K. Guttman, S. Iskin, M. Evans, H. To, K. White, M. Saleh, W. McFadden-Smith, E. Pate, K. Grigg-McGuffin, R. Summerbell, J.A. Scott. 2026. Airborne molecular surveillance integrates pathogen detection and fungicide resistance monitoring for precision disease management. Pest Management Science (submitted).
Lamilla J, Franco-Lara L, Arocha Rosete Y et al. 2026. Epidemiology of phytoplasmas in urban trees of Bogota, Colombia. Tropical Plant Pathology (submitted).
Arocha-Rosete Y, Michelutti R, Scott JA. 2022. First Report of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni'-related strain associated with commercial poinsettias in Canada. Plant Disease 105: 3287. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-03-21-0504-PDN
Bertaccini A, Arocha-Rosete Y, et al. 2022. Revision of the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species description guidelines. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol 72: 005353. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005353
Arocha Rosete Y, To H, Evans M, White K, Saleh M, Trueman C, Van Dyk, D Summerbell RC, Scott JA. 2021. Assessing the use of DNA detection platforms combined with passive wind-powered spore traps for early surveillance of potato and tomato late blight in Canada. Plant Disease 105: 3610–3622. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-12-20-2695-RE
Guglielmi Montano H, Arocha Rosete Y. 2019. First report of the identification of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni'-related strain of phytoplasma in Melothria pendula. New Disease Reports 39, 5. doi: 10.5197/j.2044-0588.2019.039.005
Contaldo et al., Arocha Rosete Y. 2019. Molecular and biological characterization of phytoplasmas from coconut palms affected by the lethal yellowing disease in Africa. Microbiological Research 223–225 51–57. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2019.03.011
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2019. Surveys reveal a complex association of phytoplasmas and viruses with the blueberry stunt disease on Canadian blueberry farms. Annals of Applied Biology 174: 142-152. doi: 10.1111/aab.12481
Kwadjo et al., Arocha Rosete Y. 2018. Identification of Nedotepa curta Dmitriev as a potential vector of the Côte d’Ivoire lethal yellowing phytoplasma in coconut palms sole or in mixed infection with a ‘Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain. Crop Protection 110: 48-56. doi: 10.1016/j.cropro.2017.12.015
Yankey EN, Bila J, Arocha Rosete Y, Oropeza C, Pilet F. 2018. Phytoplasma diseases of Palms. In: Phytoplasmas: Plant pathogenic bacteria - I Characterisation and epidemiology of phytoplasma - Associated diseases. Rao Govind Pratap (ed.), Bertaccini Assunta (ed.), Fiore Nicola (ed.), Liefting Lia W. (ed.). Cham: Springer, pp. 267-285. ISBN 978-981-13-0119-3,. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-0119-3_9
Triapitsyn S, Kwadjo E, and Arocha Rosete Y. 2017. Anagrus nedotepae sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Nedotepa curta (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a pest of coconut palm in West Africa. Zootaxa 4276 (1): 134–138. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4276.1.9
Arocha-Rosete Y, Diallo HA, Konan-Konan JL, Yankey N, Toualy MN, Kouadjo CG, Saleh M, Pilet F, Bertaccini A, Scott JA. 2017. Detection and differentiation of the coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma in coconut-growing villages of Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. Annals of Applied Biology 170: 333–347. doi: 10.1111/aab.12333
Diallo et al, Arocha Rosete Y. 2017. Detection of phytoplasmas and begomoviruses affecting cassava in Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. Phytopathogenic Mollicutes 7: 69-74. doi: 10.5958/2249-4677.2017.00009.3
Kra KD, et al., Arocha Rosete Y. 2017. Field schools and plant clinics: effective agricultural extension approaches to fight the coconut lethal yellowing disease and improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development 5(3): 545-555.
Morales-Lizcano NP, Hasan A, To HS, Lekadou TT, Copeland J, Wang P, Diallo HA, Konan Konan JL, Yoshioka K, Moeder W, Scott JA, Arocha Rosete YA. 2017. Microbial diversity in leaves, trunk and rhizosphere of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) associated with the coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma in Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. African Journal of Biotechnology 16: 1534–1550. doi: 10.5897/AJB2017.16006
Kra et al., Arocha-Rosete Y. 2017. New phytoplasma subgroup identified from Arecaceae palm species in Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 39:3, 297-306. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2017.1354331
Arocha-Rosete Y, Diallo HA, Konan-Konan JL, Assiri PK, Kra Daniel KK, Toualy MN, Kwadjo Koffi EK, Daramcoum MP, Beugré NI, Outtara WM, Kouadjo CG, Allou K, Fursy-Rodelec ND, Doudjo-Ouattara ON, Yankey N, Dery S, Maharaj A, Saleh M, Summerbell RC, Contaldo N, Paltrinieri S, Bertaccini A, Scott JA. 2016. Detection and identification of the coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma in weeds growing in coconut farms in Côte d'Ivoire. Canadian Journal of Phytopathology 38: 164–173. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2016.1191044
Arratia-Castro et al, Arocha-Rosete Y and Leyva-López NE. 2016. Detection and quantification of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asterisʼ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticusʼ at early and late stages of Huanglongbing disease development. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 38: 411-21. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2016.1243586
Arocha-Rosete, Y., Morales-Lizcano, N.P., Hasan, A., Yoshioka, K., Moeder, W., Michelutti, R., Satta, E., Bertaccini, A. and Scott, J. 201., First report of the identification of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni‘-related strain in Trillium species in Canada. New Disease Reports, 34: 19-19. doi: 10.5197/j.2044-0588.2016.034.019
Scott JA, Ewaze JO, Summerbell RC, Arocha-Rosete Y, Maharaj A, Guardiola Y, Saleh M, Wong B, Bogale M, O'Hara MJ, Untereiner WA. 2016. Multilocus DNA sequencing of the whiskey fungus reveals a continental-scale speciation pattern. Persoonia 37: 13-20. doi: 10.3767/003158516X689576
Adolphe MG, Mourifie I, Konan Konan JL, Ibo JG, Koulou N, Atta Diallo H, Allou K, White KJ, Scott JA, Arocha Rosete Y. 2016. Socio-economic impact of the coconut lethal yellowing disease on Ivorian smallholder coconut farm families. African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development 4: 463–479.
Arocha-Rosete Y, Konan Konan JL, Diallo AH, Allou K, Scott JA. 2014. Identification and molecular characterization of the phytoplasma associated with a lethal yellowing-type disease of coconut in Côte d'Ivoire. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. 36: 141‒150. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2014.899275
Konan Konan JL, Allou K, Diallo AH, Yao DS, Koua B, Kouassi N, Benabid R, Michelutti R, Scott JA, Arocha-Rosete Y. 2013. First report on the molecular identification of the phytoplasma associated with a lethal yellowing-type disease of coconut palms in Côte d’Ivoire. New Disease Reports 28: 3. doi: 10.5197/j.2044-0588.2013.028.003
Summerbell RC, C. Gueidan C, Schroers H-J, de Hoog GS, Starinck M, van Iperen A, Rehner S, Arocha Rosete Y, Guarro J, Scott JA. 2011. Acremonium phylogenetic overview and revision of Gliomastix, Trichothecium and Sarocladium. Studies in Mycology 68: 139–162. doi: 10.3114/sim.2011.68.06
Arocha-Rosete Y, Zunnoon-Khan S, Krukovets I, Crosby W, Scott JA, Bertaccini A, Michelutti R. 2011. Identification and molecular characterization of the phytoplasma associated with peach rosette-like disease at the Canadian Clonal Genebank based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 33: 127–134. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2011.558854
Arocha-Rosete Y, Kent P, Agrawal V, Hunt D, Hamilton A, Bertaccini A, Scott JA, Crosby W, Michelutti R. 2011. Identification of Graminella nigrifrons as a potential vector for phytoplasmas affecting Prunus and Pyrus species in Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Patholology 33: 465–474. doi: 10.1080/07060661.2011.633561
Acosta K, Piñol B, Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2009. Transmission of the phytoplasma associated with Bunchy Top Symptom (BTS) of Papaya by Empoasca papayae Oman. Journal of Phytopathology 157. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2009.01590.x
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2009. Detection of phytoplasma and potyvirus pathogens in papaya (Carica papaya L.) affected with ‘Bunchy Top Symptom’ (BTS) in eastern Cuba. Crop Protection 28(8): 640-646. doi: 10.1016/j.cropro.2009.03.020
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2009. Identification of potential vectors and alternative plant hosts for the phytoplasma associated with Napier Grass Stunt disease in Ethiopia. Journal of Phytopathology 157: 126-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2008.01432.x
Arocha Rosete Y, Jones P. 2010. Phytoplasma diseases of Gramineae. In: Phytoplasmas: genomes, plant hosts and vectors. Chapter 11. Weintraub P. (ed), Jones P. (ed). Pp, 170-188. ISBN-13: 9781845936306, Wallingford, UK: CAB International (http://www.cabi.org). doi: 10.1079/9781845935306.0170
Hodgetts J, Chuquillangui C, Muller G, Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2009. Surveys reveal the occurrence of phytoplasmas in plants at different geographical locations in Peru. Annals of Applied Biology 154(3): 1-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2009.00316.x
Arocha Rosete Y, Vigheri N, Nkoy-Florent B, Bakwanamaha K, Bolomphetye B, Kasongo M, Betts P, Monger WA, Harju V, Mumford RA, Jones P. 2008. First report of the identification of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus in papaya in Democratic Republic of Congo. Plant Pathology 57, 387,. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2007.01658
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2007. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma lycopersici’, a phytoplasma associated with ‘Hoja de perejil’ disease in Bolivia. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 57: 1704-1710. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.64851-0
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2005. Transmission of a sugarcane yellow leaf phytoplasma by the delphacid planthopper Saccharosydne saccharivora, a new vector of sugarcane yellow leaf syndrome. Plant Pathology 54: 634-642. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2005.01242.x
Arocha Rosete Y, et al. 2005. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma graminis’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma caricae’ two new taxa associated with diseases of sugarcane, weeds and papaya in Cuba. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 55(6): 2451-2463. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.63797-0

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