Dr Vivien Tsai
Wei-An graduated with BS in Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, and MS in Institute of Plant Biology from National Taiwan University in Taiwan. She commenced her PhD in 2019. The project focuses on managing capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) by developing strategies that can be more resilient to climate variability. The main aims of this project are to identify the key sRNA factors involved in the capsicum-CaCV pathosystem and to develop strategies by synthesizing nanotechnology and RNA-based techniques for managing CaCV in a climate change scenario of elevated temperatures.
Project title: Exploring the involvement of small RNA response in capsicum defence against capsicum chlorosis virus at elevated temperature
Publications: 1. Tsai W.A., Chiu P.J., Weng S.H. 2018. First Report of Plectosporium Blight on Pumpkins Caused by Plectosporium tabacinum in Taiwan. Plant Disease, 102, 440.
2. Lin J.S., Kuo C.C., Yang I. C., Tsai W.A., Shen Y.H., Lin C.C., Liang Y.C., Li Y.C., Kuo Y.W., King Y.C, Lai H.M., and Jeng S.T. 2018. MicroRNA160 modulates plant development and heat shock protein gene expression to mediate heat tolerance in Arabidopsis. Front Plant Sci., 9, 68.
3. Tsai, W.A., Lin, P.R. and Huang, C. J. (2019). First report of Dickeya fangzhongdai causing soft rot disease of Welsh onion in Taiwan. Journal of Plant Pathology 101 (3) 797-798.
4. Tsai, W.A., Weng, S.H., Chen, M.C., Lin, J.S. and Tsai, W.S. (2019). Priming of plant resistance to heat stress and tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus with plant-derived materials. Front Plant Sci. 10 906.
Researcher biography
Dr. Wei-An (Vivien) Tsai graduated with a Bachelor of Science in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, as well as a Master of Science from the Institute of Plant Biology at National Taiwan University in Taiwan. In 2023, she successfully completed her doctoral studies at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland. Her research during PhD studies aimed to uncover the involvement of small RNA in plant-capsicum chlorosis virus pathosystem under climate change scenarios of elevated temperatures. Additionally, she explored the potential of using RNA-based techniques for managing CaCV. Before joining QAAFI, Wei-An worked at the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture in Taiwan. During this period, her research interests centred around plant-induced resistance to viruses and the selection and fermentation of antagonistic bacteria. Post-PhD, Wei-An joined the Mitter group as a postdoctoral researcher for the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund project. Her current focus lies in topical applications of dsRNA for targeting both whitefly and the tomato yellow leaf curl virus.