Lindsey du Toit

Lindsey du Toit is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University (WSU) and holds the Alfred Christianson Distinguished Professorship in Vegetable Seed Science. She leads the Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group and contributes to graduate education through her Field Plant Pathology course.

• PhD in Plant Pathology, University of Illinois
• MS in Plant Pathology, University of Illinois
• BS in Plant Pathology, University of Natal-Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Her research focuses on epidemiology and management of diseases affecting vegetable seed crops, particularly small-seeded vegetables in the Pacific Northwest. Key areas include fungal pathogens like Fusarium oxysporum, bacterial diseases in onions, genomics of disease resistance, and integrated disease management strategies.

Recent publications address topics such as:

• Fusarium wilt resistance in wild spinach (2025)
• Stemphylium leaf spot characterization (2024)
• Fungicide resistance mechanisms (2024)
• Genome assembly of spinach pathogens (2023)

Scientific awards include:

• 2022 American Phytopathological Society Fellow
• 2019 ‘Friend of the Industry’
• 2013 Syngenta Award for plant pathology research
• 2012 WSU CAHNRS Team Excellence
• 2009 WSU Morrison Extension Award

She has served as President of the American Phytopathological Society (2019-2020) and held editorial roles for Plant Disease and Phytopathology. Her work emphasizes collaboration with growers and interdisciplinary research.