Assistant Research Scientist Sugar Beet Viruses racosta@ag.tamu.edu 806-677-5622

B. S., Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México
M.S., Centro de Fitopatología, Colegio de Postgraduados, México
Ph.D., Plant Pathology, The University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ


Assistant Research Scientist (May/2005 - present) TAMU-Agricultural Research and Extension Center , Amarillo , TX

Biotech Enterprise Consultant (2001 - 2005)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (1999 - 2001) Plant Biology Division, The S. R. Noble Foundation, Inc. Ardmore , OK

Graduate Research Assistant (1991 - 1999) Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ

Plant Virology Instructor (1988 - 1991) Centro de Fitopatología, Colegio de Postgraduados, México

Research Associate (1986 - 1987) Agriculture Experimental Station “Sur de Tamaulipas,” INIFAP, México

Research Instructor (1981 - 1983) Horticulture Research Center “ Jalapa ”, Comisión Nacional de Fruticultura, México.

- Identifying polymorphic amino-acid substitutions in the genome of BNYVV that allow the detection of specific strains.
-Discovering a high mutation rate in the synthesis of sub-viral RNA particles.
-Defining the interplay of plant genes and their action mechanisms to restrict virus infections.
-Discovering novel viruses infecting horticultural crops in Mexico.
-Introducing the use of floating row covers as a measure to control plant virus diseases in Mexico.
-Implementing technologies to produce Citrus plants free of viruses.

Rush, C. M., Steddom, k., Jones, D., Timmons, B., and Acosta-Leal, R. 2005. Breakdown oF Rz1 in individual plants of rhizomania tolerant cultivars. In: Proceeding of the Sixth Symposium of the International Working Group on Plant Viruses with Fungal Vectors. C. M. Rush, ed. American Society Sugar Beet Technologists, Denver, CO.(Accepted).

Rush, C. M., Lui, H.-Y., Lewellen, R. T., and Acosta-Leal, R. 2006. The Continuing Saga of Rhizomania of Sugar Beets in the United States. Plant Dis. 90: 4-15

Acosta-Leal, R., and Quintero-M., S. 1989. Caracterización de una virosis del chile transmisible por mosquita blanca en la planicie Huasteca. (Characterization of a chili virus disease transmitted by whitefly in the Huasteca plateau). Rev. Mex. Fitopatología 7:147-149.

Acosta-Leal, R., and Rodríguez-M., R. 1989. Transmisión dependiente del virus mancha anular del tabaco mediante Myzus persicae Sulzer, en cucurbitáceas. (Dependent transmission of tobacco ringspot virus by Myzus persicae in cucurbits). Agrociencia 77: 67-73.

Acosta-Leal, R., and Rodríguez-M., R. 1988. Detección, aislamiento e identificación de virus en cucurbitáceas mediante plantas diferenciales. (Detection, isolation, and identification of cucurbit viruses by differential plants). Rev. Mex. Fitopatología 6: 160-165.

Acosta-Leal, R. 1989. Ecologia de Virus Transmisibles por Mosquita Blanca en Frijol en el Trópico Mexicano (Ecology of Whitefly Transmitted Virus Infecting Bean Crops in Mexican Tropics).In: Ecología de Insectos Vectores de Virus en Plantas Cultivadas. R. Acosta-Leal, and F. Delgadillo-Sánchez (eds.). Colegio de Postgraduados, México. 111 pp.

Acosta-Leal, R. 1989. Mecanismos de Transmisión de Virus por Insectos.(Mechanisms of Virus Transmission by Insects). In: Ecología de Insectos Vectores de Virus en Plantas Cultivadas. R. Acosta-Leal, and F. Delgadillo-Sánchez (eds.). Colegio de Postgraduados, México. 111 pp.