Understanding Why Rose Rosetting Disease Appears in Distinct Regions of a Shrub Rose Plant

Jeanmarie Verchot is a distinguished plant virologist and Professor at Texas A&M University, recognized as a leading authority on the Rose Rosette Virus (RRV). Her work is critical for the rose industry, focusing on the molecular mechanics of how this devastating disease infects plants and how to stop it. Her current role is Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology and previously served as a Texas A&M fellow of the Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology. Her PhD is from Texas A&M University followed by post doctoral fellowship at the Sainsbury laboratory in the UK. She currently leads a virology team dedicated to capturing, cloning,and observing rose rosette virus under greenhouse and field conditions. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed studies including one on the genetic diversity of RRV isolates and how virus influences plant growth to cause symptoms like “witches broom”. Dr Verchto represents the scientific front line in protecting roses in the garden. Her research seeks to answer practical questions such as: how can we block the virus from replicating and entering the rose vascular system, what is the host range of RRV beyond roses, and how can we use genetic markers to help breeders create disease-resistant cultivars?