Verónica Román-Reyna, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology
409 Buckhout Lab (Lab)
University Park, PA 16802
- Email roman-reyna@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-6290
- Pronouns She/Her
Areas of Expertise
- Plant-Microbe interactions
- Plant microbiome as a diagnostics tool
- Metabolomics
- Molecular epidemiology
- Bacterial and fungal genetics
Websites
Education
- B.Sc - Biology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- M.Sc - Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- Ph.D. - Plant Pathology, Australian National University
- PostDoc - International Rice Research Institute
- Research Scientist - The Ohio State University
Research
Dr. Roman-Reyna is an Assistant Professor in the Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Department. She wants to integrate several -omics tools ("Veromics") in her research program to understand, at different scales, the pathogen changes associated with the host and environment adaptation.
Her research training is truly global. She worked in four countries in collaborative, culturally diverse research teams. She did her BSc and MSc in Colombia, her Ph.D. in Australia, and her post-docs in The Philippines and the United States. She has always focused her research on staple crops such as cassava, potato, oil palm, rice, wheat, and barley.
Her program includes these research lines:
- Microbial Dynamics in Agricultural Systems
- Surveillance of Emerging and Ongoing Plant Pathogen
- Genomic epidemiology of Plant pathogens
Some of her current projects focused on:
- Potato soft rot and blackleg in Pennsylvania.
- Plant pathogens resistant to antimicrobials.
- Bacterial spot of stone fruits.
- Goss's bacterial wilt and leaf blight on corn
- Metagenomics for disease diagnostics
- Molecular Epidemiology of Bacterial rice diseases.
Graduate Students
- Sadie M. Seaman (MS student)
- Luis Fernando Flores (PhD Student)
- Richard Gonzalez (PhD Student)
Courses
- AGECO/METEO 122 - Atmospheric Environment: Growing in the Wind (Fall semester)
- PPEM 440 - Introduction to Microbiome Analysis (Spring semester)
- PPATH 600 - Thesis Research (all semesters)
Graduate Programs
Dual-Title Degree Programs
Publications
Q&A: Using a new approach to shine a light on hidden plant microbes, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, 2024
Allelic variations in the chpG effector gene within Clavibacter michiganensis populations determine pathogen host range
PLoS Pathogens, Verma, Raj Kumar, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Raanan, Hagai, Coaker, Gitta, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Teper, Doron, 2024
The timing of bacterial mesophyll infection shapes the leaf chemical landscape
Microbiology spectrum, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Heiden, Nathaniel, Butchacas, Jules, Toth, Hannah, Cooperstone, Jessica L., Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2024
Live tracking of a plant pathogen outbreak reveals rapid and successive, multidecade plasmid reduction
mSystems, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Sharma, Anuj, Toth, Hannah, Konkel, Zachary, Omiotek, Nicolle, Murthy, Shashanka, Faith, Seth, Slot, Jason, Hand, Francesca Peduto, Goss, Erica M., Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2024
Seeing in the dark: a metagenomic approach can illuminate the drivers of plant disease
Frontiers in Plant Science, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Crandall, Sharifa G., 2024
High genomic plasticity and unique features of Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis revealed through comparative analysis of complete genome sequences
BMC Genomics, Goettelmann, Florian, Koebnik, Ralf, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Studer, Bruno, Kölliker, Roland, 2023
Comparative Genomics of Xanthomonas translucens pv. Undulosa Strains Isolated fromWeedy Grasses and Cultivated Wild Rice
Phytopathology, Ledman, Kristi E., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Curland, Rebecca D., Heiden, Nathaniel, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Dill-Macky, Ruth, 2023
Comparative Genomics of Barley-Infecting Xanthomonas translucens Shows Overall Genetic Similarity but Globally Distributed Virulence Factor Diversity
Phytopathology, Heiden, Nathaniel, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Curland, Rebecca D., Dill-Macky, Ruth, Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2023
Development of Genome-Driven, Lifestyle-Informed Markers for Identification of the Cereal-Infecting Pathogens Xanthomonas translucens Pathovars undulosa and translucens
Phytopathology, Román-Reyna, Verónica, Curland, Rebecca D., Velez-Negron, Yesenia, Ledman, Kristi E., Gutierrez-Castillo, Diego E., Beutler, Jonathan, Butchacas, Jules, Brar, Gurcharn Singh, Roberts, Robyn, Dill-Macky, Ruth, Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2023
First Report of Pseudomonas syringae Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot on Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata in Ohio
Plant Disease, Yanez, Daniela, Emanuel, Isabelle, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, J., Hand, Francesca, 2023
First Report of Bacterial Leaf Streak of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens in British Columbia, Canada
Plant Disease, Beutler, Jonathan, Li, T., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Fleitas, M., Bamrah, R., Jacobs, Jonathan, Kutcher, H., Tambong, J., Brar, G., 2023
Complete Genome Sequencing of Three Clade-1 Xanthomonads Reveals Genetic Determinants for a Lateral Flagellin and the Biosynthesis of Coronatine-Like Molecules in Xanthomonas
Phytopathology, Peduzzi, Chloé, Sagia, Angeliki, Burokienė, Daiva, Nagy, Ildikó, Fischer-Le Saux, Marion, Portier, Perrine, Dereeper, Alexis, Cunnac, Sébastien, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, Jonathan, Bragard, Claude, Koebnik, Ralf, 2023
First Report of Bacterial Leaf Streak of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens in British Columbia, Canada
Plant Disease, Beutler, J., Li, T., Román-Reyna, V., Fleitas, M. C., Bamrah, R., Jacobs, J., Kutcher, H. R., Tambong, J. T., Brar, G. S., 2023
First Report of Pseudomonas syringae Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot on Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) in Ohio
Plant Disease, Yanez, D. Gutierrez, Emanuel, I. B., Roman-Reyna, V., Jacobs, J. M., Hand, F. Peduto, 2023
Concept Note: Toward Metagenomic Sequencing for Rapid, Sensitive, and Accurate Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Potato Seed Production
PhytoFrontiers, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Rioux, Renee, Babler, Brooke, Klass, Taylor, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2023
Comparative Genomics of Barley-Infecting Xanthomonas translucens Shows Overall Genetic Similarity but Globally Distributed Virulence Factor Diversity
Phytopathology, Heiden, Nathaniel, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Curland, Rebecca, Dill-Macky, Ruth, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2023
Allelic variations in the chpG effector gene within Clavibacter michiganensis populations determine pathogen host range
PLOS Pathogens, Verma, Raj, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Coaker, Gitta, Jacobs, Jonathan, Teper, Doron, 2023
High genomic plasticity and unique features of Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis revealed through comparative analysis of complete genome sequences
BMC Genomics, Goettelmann, Florian, Koebnik, Ralf, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Studer, Bruno, Kölliker, Roland, 2023
Complete Genome Sequencing of Three Clade-1 Xanthomonads Reveals Genetic Determinants for a Lateral Flagellin and the Biosynthesis of Coronatine-Like Molecules in Xanthomonas
Phytopathology, Peduzzi, Chloé, Sagia, Angeliki, Burokiene, Daiva, Nagy, Ildikó Katalin, Saux, Marion Fischer Le, Portier, Perrine, Dereeper, Alexis, Cunnac, Sébastien, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Bragard, Claude, Koebnik, Ralf, 2023
Bacterial Leaf Streak Diseases of Plants: Symptom Convergence in Monocot Plants by Distant Pathogenic Xanthomonas Species
Phytopathology, Heiden, Nathaniel, Broders, Kirk A., Hutin, Mathilde, Castro, Mary Ortiz, Roman-Reyna, Verónica, Toth, Hannah, Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2023
Comparative Genomics Identifies Conserved and Variable TAL Effectors in African Strains of the Cotton Pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum
Phytopathology, Pérez-Quintero, Alvaro L., Rodriguezr, Luis M., Cuesta-Morrondo, Sara, Hakalová, Eliška, Betancurt-Anzola, Daniela, Valera, Laura Carolina Camelo, Cardenas, Luis Alberto Chica, Matiz-Céron, Luisa, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Muñoz, Alejandro Reyes, Giraldo, Adriana Jimena Bernal, Koebnik, Ralf, 2023
Complete Genome Sequence Resource for Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa MAI5034, a Wheat Pathogen from Uruguay
Phytopathology, Clavijo, Felipe, Barrera, Claudia, Benčič, Aleksander, Croce, Valentina, Jacobs, Jonathan, Bernal, Adriana, Koebnik, Ralf, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, 2022
Complete Genome Sequence Resource for Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa MAI5034, a Wheat Pathogen from Uruguay
Phytopathology, Clavijo, Felipe, Barrera, Claudia, Benčič, Aleksander, Croce, Valentina, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Bernal, Adriana J., Koebnik, Ralf, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, 2022
Migration Drives the Replacement of Xanthomonas perforans Races in the Absence of Widely Deployed Resistance
Frontiers in Microbiology, Bernal, Eduardo, Rotondo, Francesca, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Klass, Taylor, Timilsina, Sujan, Minsavage, Gerald V., Iruegas-Bocardo, Fernanda, Goss, Erica M., Jones, Jeffrey B., Jacobs, Jonathan M., Miller, Sally A., Francis, David M., 2022
Complete Genome Assemblies of All Xanthomonas translucens Pathotype Strains Reveal Three Genetically Distinct Clades
Frontiers in Microbiology, Goettelmann, Florian, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Cunnac, Sébastien, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Bragard, Claude, Studer, Bruno, Koebnik, Ralf, Kölliker, Roland, 2022
Development of genome-driven, lifestyle-informed markers for identification of the cereal-infecting pathogens Xanthomonas translucens pathovars undulosa and translucens
Phytopathology, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Curland, Rebecca, Velez-Negron, Yesenia, Ledman, Kristi, Gutierrez, Diego, Beutler, Jonathan, Butchacas, Jules, Brar, Gurcharn, Roberts, Robyn, Dill-Macky, Ruth, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2022
Draft Genome Sequences of Four Streptomycin-Sensitive Erwinia amylovora Strains Isolated from Commercial Apple Orchards in Ohio
Microbiology Resource Announcements, Jimenez Madrid, Alejandra, Klass, T., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, J., Lewis Ivey, M., 2021
Draft Genome Sequences of Four Streptomycin-Sensitive Erwinia amylovora Strains Isolated from Commercial Apple Orchards in Ohio
Genome Announcements, Jimenez Madrid, A. M., Klass, T., Roman-Reyna, V., Jacobs, J., Lewis Ivey, M. L., 2021
Metagenomic Sequencing for Identification of Xylella fastidiosa from Leaf Samples
mSystems, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Dupas, Enora, Cesbron, Sophie, Marchi, Guido, Campigli, Sara, Hansen, Mary, Bush, Elizabeth, Prarat, Melanie, Shiplett, Katherine, Ivey, Melanie, Pierzynski, Joy, Miller, Sally, Peduto Hand, Francesca, Jacques, Marie-Agnes, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2021
Metagenomic Sequencing for Identification of Xylella fastidiosa from Leaf Samples
mSystems, Román-Reyna, Verónica, Dupas, Enora, Cesbron, Sophie, Marchi, Guido, Campigli, Sara, Hansen, Mary Ann, Bush, Elizabeth, Prarat, Melanie, Shiplett, Katherine, Lewis Ivey, Melanie L., Pierzynski, Joy, Miller, Sally A., Hand, Francesca Peduto, Jacques, Marie Agnes, Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2021
First Report of Xanthomonas hortorum Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot of Lavender (Lavandula × intermedia) in Ohio
Plant Disease, Rotondo, Francesca, Testen, A., Horvat, M., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Klass, T., Jacobs, J., Miller, S., 2021
First report of Xanthomonas hortorum causing bacterial leaf spot of lavender (Lavandula 3 intermedia) in Ohio
Plant Disease, Rotondo, F., Testen, A. L., Horvat, M. M., Roman-Reyna, V., Klass, T. L., Jacobs, J. M., Miller, S. A., 2021
Comparative Genomic Understanding of Gram-Positive Plant Growth-Promoting Leifsonia
Phytobiomes Journal, Nordstedt, Nathan, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, Jonathan, Jones, Michelle, 2021
Genome resource: Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype II sequevar 1 (Race 3 Biovar 2) strain UW848 from the 2020 U.S. geranium introduction
Plant Disease, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Truchon, Alicia, Sharma, Parul, Hand, Francesca, Mazloom, Reza, Vinatzer, Boris, Jacobs, Jonathan, Allen, Caitilyn, 2021
Comparative Genomic Understanding of Gram-Positive Plant Growth-Promoting Leifsonia
Phytobiomes Journal, Nordstedt, Nathan P., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Jacobs, Jonathan M., Jones, Michelle L., 2021
Characterization of the Leaf Microbiome from Whole-Genome Sequencing Data of the 3000 Rice Genomes Project
Rice, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Pinili, Dale, Borja, Frances N., Quibod, Ian L., Groen, Simon C., Alexandrov, Nickolai, Mauleon, Ramil, Oliva, Ricardo, 2020
Repeated gain and loss of a single gene modulates the evolution of vascular plant pathogen lifestyles
Science advances, Gluck-Thaler, Emile, Cerutti, Aude, Perez-Quintero, Alvaro, Butchacas, Jules, Roman-Reyna, Verónica, Madhavan, Vishnu, Shantharaj, Deepak, Merfa, Marcus, Pesce, Céline, Jauneau, Alain, Vancheva, Taca, Lang, Jillian, Allen, Caitilyn, Verdier, Valerie, Gagnevin, Lionel, Szurek, Boris, Beckham, Gregg, De La Fuente, Leonardo, Patel, Hitendra, Sonti, Ramesh, Bragard, Claude, Leach, Jan, Noël, Laurent, Slot, Jason, Koebnik, Ralf, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2020
The Green Revolution shaped the population structure of the rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
ISME Journal, Quibod, Ian Lorenzo, Atieza-Grande, Genelou, Oreiro, Eula Gems, Palmos, Denice, Nguyen, Marian Hanna, Coronejo, Sapphire Thea, Aung, Ei Ei, Nugroho, Cipto, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Burgos, Maria Ruby, Capistrano, Pauline, Dossa, Sylvestre G., Onaga, Geoffrey, Saloma, Cynthia, Cruz, Casiana Vera, Oliva, Ricardo, 2020
Genome Resource of Barley Bacterial Blight and Leaf Streak Pathogen Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens strain UPB886
Plant Disease, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Luna, Emily, Pesce, Céline, Vancheva, Taca, Chang, Christine, Ziegle, Janet, Bragard, Claude, Koebnik, Ralf, Lang, Jillian, Leach, Jan, Jacobs, Jonathan, 2020
Genome resource of barley bacterial blight and leaf streak pathogen xanthomonas translucens pv. Translucens strain UPB886
Plant Disease, Roman-Reyna, Verónica, Luna, Emily K., Pesce, Céline, Vancheva, Taca, Chang, Christine, Ziegle, Janet, Bragard, Claude, Koebnik, Ralf, Lang, Jillian M., Leach, Jan E., Jacobs, Jonathan M., 2020
Genome-wide associations and transcriptional profiling reveal ROS regulation as one underlying mechanism of sheath blight resistance in rice
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Oreiro, Eula Gems, Grimares, Earlyn Kate, Atienza-Grande, Genelou, Quibod, Ian Lorenzo, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Oliva, Ricardo, 2020
First Report of Bacterial Blight of Peony Caused by Xanthomonas hortorum in Ohio
Plant Disease, Klass, T., Long, J., Summers, J., Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Koebnik, R., Jacobs, J., Peduto Hand, F., 2019
First report of bacterial blight of peony caused by xanthomonas hortorum in Ohio
Plant Disease, Klass, T. L., Long, J. J., Summers, J. A., Roman-Reyna, V., Koebnik, R., Jacobs, J. M., Hand, F. Peduto, 2019
Apoplastic sugar extraction and quantification from wheat leaves infected with biotrophic fungi, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Rathjen, John P., 2017
