Headshot of UNH professor Xiaochen Yuan

Xiaochen Yuan

Assistant Professor
Office: Kendall Hall, Room 219, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Curriculum Vitae
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Dr. Xiaochen Yuan is an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems at the University of New Hampshire. His research focuses on plant–microbe interactions, microbial pathogenesis, and sustainable disease management in fruit and specialty crops.

Dr. Yuan’s program investigates how bacterial and fungal pathogens infect plants, manipulate host development and defense, and adapt to agricultural environments. A major focus of his work is fire blight of apple and pear, caused by Erwinia amylovora, including pathogen virulence mechanisms, host responses, antibiotic resistance, and non-antibiotic disease management strategies.

His broader research addresses emerging and economically important diseases in tree fruit, grapevine, and small fruit systems. By integrating molecular biology, genomics, field research, and Extension collaboration, Dr. Yuan aims to develop practical, science-based solutions that improve crop health and support sustainable specialty crop production.

Courses Taught

  • AGFS 651: Plant Pathology

Education

  • PhD, Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Research Interests

  • Plant Diseases/Pathology
  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology

Selected Publications

  • Dietsch, B., Hoffman, J. M., Harbach, C. J., Yuan, X., & Slack, S. M. (2026). First report of strawberry disease caused by the emerging
    Neopestalotiopsis
    sp. in Iowa. Plant Disease. doi:10.1094/pdis-01-26-0195-pdn

  • Alstott, E. T., Armstrong, S. P., Walters, K. J., Slack, S. M., & Yuan, X. (2026). Assessing susceptibility of flowers, shoots, and fruits of European and Asian pears to the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Journal of Plant Pathology. doi:10.1007/s42161-026-02178-z

  • Huang, J., Huyen, T. N. B. V., Liu, X., Mitra, S., Yu, M., Zeng, Q., . . . Yang, C. -H. (2026). RejuAgro A as an antimicrobial for fire blight control of pome fruits and beyond. Nature Communications, 17(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70229-1

  • Slack, S. M., Meyer, O. K., & Yuan, X. (2026). Evaluation of Biorational Products for Managing Early Season Apple Scab and Cedar-Apple Rust in Iowa, 2024. Plant Health Progress, 27(1), 160. doi:10.1094/php-07-25-0185-pdmr

  • Dietsch, B., Hill, T. R., Yuan, X., & Slack, S. M. (2026). A Survey of Canker-Associated Pathogens in Declining Cold-Hardy Interspecific Hybrid Grapevines in Iowa. Plant Health Progress, 27(1), 101-110. doi:10.1094/php-07-25-0194-s

  • Kharadi, R. R., Schachterle, J. K., Yuan, X., Castiblanco, L. F., Peng, J., Slack, S. M., . . . Sundin, G. W. (2021). Genetic Dissection of the Erwinia amylovora Disease Cycle.. Annu Rev Phytopathol, 59, 191-212. doi:10.1146/annurev-phyto-020620-095540

  • Thakur, B., Zhou, G., Chang, J., Pu, H., Jin, B., Sui, X., . . . Chen, J. (2018). Rapid detection of single E. coli bacteria using a graphene-based field-effect transistor device.. Biosens Bioelectron, 110, 16-22. doi:10.1016/j.bios.2018.03.014

  • Fan, S., Tian, F., Li, J., Hutchins, W., Chen, H., Yang, F., . . . He, C. (2017). Identification of phenolic compounds that suppress the virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae on rice via the type III secretion system.. Mol Plant Pathol, 18(4), 555-568. doi:10.1111/mpp.12415

  • Sundin, G. W., Castiblanco, L. F., Yuan, X., Zeng, Q., & Yang, C. -H. (2016). Bacterial disease management: challenges, experience, innovation and future prospects: Challenges in Bacterial Molecular Plant Pathology.. Mol Plant Pathol, 17(9), 1506-1518. doi:10.1111/mpp.12436

  • Yuan, X., Khokhani, D., Wu, X., Yang, F., Biener, G., Koestler, B. J., . . . Yang, C. -H. (2015). Cross-talk between a regulatory small RNA, cyclic-di-GMP signalling and flagellar regulator FlhDC for virulence and bacterial behaviours.. Environ Microbiol, 17(11), 4745-4763. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.13029

View All
  • Most Cited Publications