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Plantopia

Plantopia

Written by: The American Phytopathological Society (APS)
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Healthy plants are the foundation for life on our planet. They produce the oxygen we breathe and over 80% of the food we eat. The Plantopia podcast series explains how protecting plant health can ensure a sustainable future. Inspired by the United Nations declaration of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health, the American Phytopathological Society created Plantopia so you can explore the world of plant health in company with plant pathologists—people on a mission to protect plants and our food supply.


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Episodes
  • The Accidental Plant Pathologist That Stayed

    The Accidental Plant Pathologist That Stayed
    Dec 22 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Lowe-Power, Associate Professor Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on Ralstonia, her NSF CAREER Award, and her cohort based undergraduate research experience (CURE) focused on integrating the next generation of novel investigations of toxin ecology and evolution (IGNITE) in Ralstonia. She also discusses the importance of good mentorship and navigating academia with a unique phenotype. Show Notes Dr. Lowe-Power’s UC Davis profile: https://plantpathology.ucdavis.edu/people/tiffany-lowe-power Dr. Lowe-Power’s lab website: http://lowepowerlab.ucdavis.edu/ Dr. Lowe-Power’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aMxz2moAAAAJ&hl=en This episode is produced by Association Briefings (https://associationbriefings.com). Special Guest: Tiffany Lowe-Power.
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    52 mins
  • Standing Sentry for Sweetpotato and Squash

    Standing Sentry for Sweetpotato and Squash
    Nov 24 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Lina Quesada, William Neil Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Vegetable Pathology at North Carolina State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on downy mildews and sweet potato diseases. She also discusses her love of extension and how she connects her basic science research with growers’ needs. *Show Notes * Dr. Quesada’s NC State University profile: https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/lmquesad/ Dr. Quesada’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=im2J9VIAAAAJ 2023 APS Syngenta Award write-up: https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Syngenta/Pages/2023-Syngenta_Quesada.aspx This episode is produced by Association Briefings (https://associationbriefings.com). Special Guest: Lina Quesada.
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    54 mins
  • Vampire Plants, Witchweeds, and Other Sinister Parasitic Plants

    Vampire Plants, Witchweeds, and Other Sinister Parasitic Plants
    Oct 29 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Jim Westwood, Professor of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss parasitic plants and his lab’s work on their novel structures and mechanisms for information exchange with their hosts. He also discusses his time in the Peace Corps in Mauritania and as a Fulbright Scholar in France along with management strategies used against parasitic plants both in the U.S. and abroad. Show Notes Dr. Westwood’s Virginia Tech profile: https://spes.vt.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/westwood-james.html Dr. Westwood’s lab website: https://spes.vt.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/westwood-james/westwood-lab.html Dr. Westwood’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_Q1dozYAAAAJ&hl=en Virginia Tech write-up on Dr. Westwood’s NSF Plant Genome Grant using parasitic plants to edit host plant genomes: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/12/parasitic-weeds-tool-for-altering-plant-genomics-collaboration-nsf.html This episode is produced by Association Briefings (https://associationbriefings.com). Special Guest: Jim Westwood.
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    41 mins
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