Karin Posthuma is one of our ’40 Faces of Plant Pathology’
BSPP members can be found in 51 different countries, with 30% of members based in countries outside of the UK. As part of the BSPPs 40th anniversary, we asked our membership to describe some things about themselves, what plant pathology challenges they would most like to see solved, and what could improve the world of plant pathology in terms of inclusivity. Click here to return to 40 Faces Home Page.
Karin Posthuma
Institution and country of residence
Enza Zaden Research & Development B.V., the Netherlands
Position title
Manager Phytopathology
Area of expertise/study
My area of interest is the development and understanding of resistance to a broad variety of plant pests and pathogens in vegetable crops. I am especially interested in complex systems, unravelling tritrophic interactions, quantitative resistance patterns and interacting effector proteins with plant proteins; for the purpose to develop this into a product that benefits growers and consumers.
About your early experiences in education
I set out to study plant breeding and crop resistance because I was interested in the ever lasting battle between potato breeders and Phytophthora infestans. I went to study at Wageningen University and did courses on both plant breeding and crop protection. I was especially taken by plant virology, and did both my MSc major and PhD on viruses vectored by insects: MSc on TSWV-thrips-chrysanthemum and PhD on Strawberry Crinkle Virus in Strawberry.
If you could solve one problem in plant pathology, what would it be?
A better understanding of structural and induced chemical defence to plant pathogens
If you could solve one issue relating to inclusivity and diversity within the field of plant pathology what would it be?
Re-allocation of resources to the countries that have a larger need to address diseases in staple crops, to make sure people have a chance to be educated and carry out research for the benefit of growers and consumers.
If you weren’t a plant pathologist, what would you be?
Archaeologist
