Linda L. Kinkel was born in Chaska, Minnesota, and obtained her BA degree in biology from Saint Olaf College in 1981. She then went on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she obtained MS degrees in plant pathology in 1985 and in biometry in 1987 and a PhD degree in 1988. After a short post-doctoral position at the University of California–Berkeley, she started her current position at the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota in 1989, where she currently serves as a professor.
Kinkel has contributed significantly to our understanding of the ecology and evolutionary biology of plant-associated microbes in native and agricultural habitats. Her early work focused on the epidemiology of foliar plant pathogens and the ecology of leaf surface microorganisms. She conducted groundbreaking research on the roles of immigration and emigration of microorganisms to plants in the establishment of phyllosphere communities. She was also able to address the mechanisms and significance of competitive interactions that occurred in this habitat. This important work established knowledge on resource aggregation in the phyllosphere, spatial patterns of microbial colonization of leaves, and quantitative relationships between pathogen abundance and foliar disease incidence, which made important contributions to our understanding of diseases caused by pathogens as diverse as Pseudomonas syringae, Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens, and the wheat stem rust fugus.
Kinkel's most influential work has involved the study of soilborne organisms, particularly Streptomyces species. She developed conceptual models and practical approaches for managing the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of antagonistic soil bacteria to enhance disease suppression and plant productivity in cropping systems. Her work, which has focused intensively on the Streptomyces communities in both agricultural and prairie soils, brings an evolutionary perspective to microbial community management and emphasizes the role of species interactions among indigenous nonpathogenic microbes in developing and maintaining disease-suppressive activities in soil. Kinkel's seminal work has addressed issues such as how plant species complexity, microbial abundance and diversity, and agronomic processes such as soil nutrient inputs affect the co-evolutionary trajectories of soil microorganisms and thus influence the relative importance of competition and antibiosis among soil microorganisms. Her work has shown that co-evolutionary dynamics may be vital for realizing long-term, stable pathogen or disease suppression by stimulating an “antibiotic arms race," wherein co-evolution among interacting microbial community members can lead to continuing increases in frequencies or persistence of microbes producing antibiotics or other antagonistic compounds. It is through such a new and nuanced perspective of the processes occurring in soils that it is now possible to more reliably manipulate soils and pursue agronomic practices that yield soils that are predictably and consistently inhibitory to important plant pathogens.
Kinkel's research is a prime example of how a better understanding of the complex biological and physical environment in which plants grow—the phytobiome—offers the promise of improving plant health and productivity through exploitation of this knowledge in new, enlightened agricultural systems. This research has direct impacts for growers in improving plant productivity. Kinkel expanded her conceptually rich work to more translational studies that demonstrate the importance of an ecological approach in the successful control of diseases. She is currently part of a large multistate project funded by the USDA–NIFA on “Optimizing disease management and yield in potato via microbiome-based prediction," in which she is working directly with growers.
Kinkel has received considerable recognition for her research, resulting in an outstanding national and international reputation. This is attested by her impressive record as an invited speaker, in which 101 of 165 presentations have been invited. Kinkel is extremely effective at communicating her research and has a natural ability to simplify complex interactions and concepts for all audience levels. She speaks with such genuine enthusiasm for her research that listeners cannot help but be excited by her message, which is why she has been singled out by the scientific and general public. Her work has been highlighted in the journals Modern Farmer, Bioscience, Scientific American, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as on the radio program Food Freedom and by Minnesota Public Radio. During her career, she has authored 115 peer-reviewed journal articles, reviews, and book chapters. She has compiled an enviable record of grantsmanship, totaling more than $25 million in funded projects and participating jointly in projects with institutions worldwide. She is currently leading a National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network, “Harnessing microbiomes for enhanced agricultural production," to develop an interdisciplinary research network to advance microbiome science in agriculture. Kinkel has been instrumental not only in rethinking the science but also in advocating for phytobiomes. She developed the Agricultural Microbiomes Research Coordination Network and leads the new USDA-NIFA Agricultural Microbiomes program as panel manager. In addition, she was invited to participate in review and strategic-planning committees for the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, in which she solely represents the plant pathology and agricultural disciplines.
Kinkel is an avid supporter of The American Phytopathological Society (APS) and has a long history of exceptional service. She has served on an impressive number of APS committees, including the Melhus Symposium Review Committee, the Placement Committee, the Women in Plant Pathology Committee, the Epidemiology Committee, the Phyllosphere Microbiology Committee, and the Biological Control Committee and on ad hoc committees on divisional structure, minorities, and member services. She has advocated for APS to advance the Phytobiome Initiative and is currently serving as associate editor-in-chief of the new APS Phytobiomes Journal. She is a member of the APS Public Policy Board, in which she has been very active, making presentations to funding agencies and organizations on the importance of phytobiomes research. She has served as a senior editor of Phytopathology and an associate editor of Phytopathology and Plant Disease. In addition to serving many other national and international societies, Kinkel has helped organize several APS meetings, such as a joint APS and USDA-FFAR phytobiomes convening event and Phytobiomes 2015 in Washington, DC, and she has led special-topics sessions on a variety of subjects at many APS Annual Meetings.
In summary, Kinkel is an enthusiastic and talented scientist and most deserving of recognition as an APS Fellow for her significant achievements in the science of plant pathology and her substantial service to APS.
