Tonjock Rosemary Kinge 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.
Tonjock Rosemary Kinge
Institution and country of residence
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, Cameroon
Position title
Associate Professor
Area of expertise/study
My PhD was on the “Ecology of basal stem rot disease of oil palm and Identification of species of Ganoderma in South Western Cameroon. My postdoctoral was on mycobiome analysis of underutilized crops using next generational sequencing. Presently, my area of interest is on the identification and control of fungi diseases on important crops and trees. I am also interested in mycobiome analysis in hemiparasites and their hosts. I also work on mushroom cultivation and the use of medicinal mushrooms in controlling plant diseases. Some pathogens I work with are: Fusarium, Ganoderma, Colletotrichum, Aspergillus among others.
About your early experiences in education
My early experiences in education were great; from a bachelor’s degree in education, curriculum studies and teaching of Biology, to studying Botany for my Masters, and switching to Mycology and Plant Pathology during my PhD. All my early experiences in education were possible because of the scholarships I obtained.
If you could solve one problem in plant pathology, what would it be?
Controlling fungi diseases of crops to ensure food security
If you could solve one issue relating to inclusivity and diversity within the field of plant pathology what would it be?
Getting more female Cameroonian students into postgraduate programmes in Plant Pathology and making funding available to them.
If you weren’t a plant pathologist, what would you be?
A botanist.
