Veronica Ancona-Contreras

Dr. Veronica Ancona-Contreras serves as Assistant Professor of Citrus Pathology within the Department of Agronomy and Resource Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center, part of the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She joined the faculty in September 2014 following three years as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Illinois.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Texas A&M University (2011)
• M.S. in Plant and Soil Science, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2005)
• B.S. in Agronomy with Honors, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico (2000)

Dr. Ancona-Contreras' research program targets critical threats to citrus production through three synergistic pathways: intensive study of Phytophthora foot rot epidemiology and biocontrol development; molecular characterization of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus effectors in Texas HLB strains; and investigation of pathogen interaction dynamics between Phytophthora and HLB. Her work bridges molecular plant-microbe interactions with practical field applications for disease management.

She actively teaches Advances in Plant Pathology and Introduction to Plant Pathology courses while maintaining research operations at the Weslaco-based Citrus Center. Current projects include evaluating native Trichoderma applications for sustainable Phytophthora control and screening antimicrobial compounds against HLB, reflecting her commitment to developing integrated solutions for emerging citrus diseases in Texas agricultural systems.