Joana Cardoso da Costa (JC) completed a PhD Programme in Biomedicine and Experimental Biology at the University of Coimbra in 2008. She is a researcher at Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet (CFE - http://cfe.uc.pt/), guest lecturer at the University of Coimbra (DCV - https://www.uc.pt/fctuc/dcv) and Director and Technical Manager of the Plant Health Laboratory of the Pedro Nunes Institute ("Official Laboratory" recognized by DGAV) (https://www.ipn.pt/laboratorio/FITOLAB).

JC works in the areas of Natural Sciences with emphasis on Biological Sciences and Agricultural Sciences with emphasis on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The main research interests are:

• Plant Health - diagnosis, epidemiology, pathogen evolution and bio-based solutions
• Microbiota - structural characterization, putative functions and modulation in different matrixes (plants, soil, etc)

JC is currently involved in 8 research projects. CEO fo the Cultivar network (Centro 2020, Portugal2020, FEADER- 2.3 M€), PI of i9kiwi Operational Group (FEADER 4.7k€ - https://i9kiwi.pt/) and UC PI for WP5 of H2020 Ecostack (H2020 RIA 10M€ - https://www.ecostack-h2020.eu/). JC is the WG1 leader of the COST EuroXanth action (https://euroxanth.eu/) and the Coordinator of the Strategic Research Committee in the Ibero-American network CYTED IBERXYFAS.

JC was an expert and rapporteur for the Strategic Agenda for Agri-Food, Forestry and Biodiversity R&I of the Foundation for Science and Technology (2019), she is an Evaluator of the Commission for the Evaluation of the Final Scientific Reports of the IC&DT 2019-2022 projects CA Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and was an evaluation expert for the European Commission to monitor the implementation of the IxF-POPLE - MARIE CURIE ACTIONS calls for proposals.

Current Projects:

2019 - 2023. CULTIVAR - Network of competencies for sustainable development and innovation in the agro-food sector. Integrated Program CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020 2.3M€. CEO. CFE/UC https://icultivar.pt/

2019 - 2023. CYTED IBERXYBAS - Red Iberoamericana para la vigilancia de Xylella fastidiosaCoordinator of the Strategic Research Committee. FitoLab - IPN, Coimbra.

2018 – 2023. EcoStack - Stacking of ecosystem services: mechanisms and interactions for optimal crop protection, pollination enhancement, and productivity. H2020 RIA 10M€. Researcher. CFE/UC. http://www.ecostack-h2020.eu/

2017 – 2021. I9Kiwi- Development of strategies for the sustainability of the kiwi industry through the creation of a value-added product. Operational Group PDR2020, FEADER, PT2020 4.7k€. Principal Investigator. FitoLab - IPN, Coimbra www.i9kiwi.pt

2017 – 2021. COST Action CA16107 - EuroXanth: Integrating science on Xanthomonadaceae for integrated plant disease management in Europe. Management committee and WG1 leader. FitoLab – IPN  www.euroxanth.eu

Last papers:

Ares A, Pereira J, Garcia E, Costa J, Tiago I. The leaf bacterial microbiota of female and male kiwifruit plants in distinct seasons: assessing the impact of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. Phytobiome Journal. 2021. First Look. https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-09-20-0070-R Q1 – Plant Sciences, 43/472 – TOP 10% (IF: 3.244; 1.382 SJR)

Chen N, Ruh M, Darrasse A, Foucher J, Briand M, Costa J, Studholme DJ, Jacques M-A. Common bacterial blight of bean: a model of seed transmission and pathological convergence. Molecular Plant Pathology. 2021; 00: 1– 17. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13067 Q1 – Plant Sciences, 24/472 – TOP 5% (IF:4.326; 1.945 SJR)

Catara V, Cubero J, Pothier JF, Bosis E, Bragard C, Đermić E, Holeva MC, Jacques M-A, Petter F, Pruvost O, Robène I, Studholme DJ, Tavares F, Vicente JG, Koebnik R, Costa J. Trends in Molecular Diagnosis and Diversity Studies for Phytosanitary Regulated Xanthomonas. Microorganisms. 2021; 9(4):862. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040862 

Ares A, Costa J, Joaquim C, Pintado D, Santos D, Messmer MM, Mendes-Moreira PM. Effect of Low-Input Organic and Conventional Farming Systems on Maize Rhizosphere in Two Portuguese Open-Pollinated Varieties (OPV), “Pigarro” (Improved Landrace) and “SinPre” (a Composite Cross Population). Frontiers in Microbiology. 2021; 12:636009. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.636009  Q1 – Microbiology, 30/152 (IF: 4.236; 1.701 SJR)

Aitana A, Tacão M, Figueira D, Garcia E, Costa J. Draft Genome Resources Sequences of Six Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Strains Isolated from Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa Leaves in Portugal. Phytopathology® 2021: 111:1, 237-239. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-20-0184-A. Q1 – Plant Sciences, 51/472 – TOP 11% (IF: 4.236; 1.264 SJR)

Figueira D, Garcia E, Ares A, Tiago I, Veríssimo A, Costa J. Genetic Diversity of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae: Seasonal and Spatial Population Dynamics. Microorganisms. 2020; 8(6):931. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8060931