Ph.D. Student, 2021-Present

Entomology Building

Email: savana.becerra@email.ucr.edu

Education

2021 B.S. - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science

Research Interests

Savana is interested in studying the plant-insect interactions of whiteflies and aphids that transmit plant viruses in melons. Specifically, looking into the use of plant defense elicitors which when applied will activate immune responses in the plant to limit virus spread and infection. Using this different approach as an integrated pest management tool, we plan to control the spread of these devastating melon viruses that have caused an economic impact in the industry.