hritu sarkar, phd candidate, on Tackling Plant Viruses to Preserve Global Food Security

july 27th, by lavinia ricca

Growing up in a small village in Rajasthan, India, Hritu Sarkar saw firsthand how closely people's lives were tied to agriculture. A poor harvest could affect an entire family's livelihood, sparking an early appreciation for the importance of healthy crops. Today, as a PhD researcher at the Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) in Germany, she is tackling one of agriculture's newest threats: Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), an emerging pathogen that has rapidly spread across the globe and threatens tomato production.

Hritu's journey into plant virology was gradual. After developing an interest in plant science and molecular biology, she spent a year conducting fungal research at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research before moving to Germany. When she discovered a PhD project focused on ToBRFV, she was immediately drawn to it. "I was fascinated because it was a relatively new virus with many unanswered questions," she explains. "It had scientific importance, but also very practical relevance."

Although plant viruses don't directly infect humans, Hritu believes they deserve far greater public attention. Crop diseases reduce harvests, increase food prices, and threaten food security worldwide. "Plants don't infect us directly," she says, "but they affect something we all depend on, and that is our daily food." As the global population continues to grow, protecting crops is becoming increasingly important.

Her research focuses on understanding exactly how ToBRFV infects tomato plants so that scientists can develop naturally resistant varieties. By combining molecular biology, plant pathology, and gene editing technologies such as CRISPR, Hritu hopes to create crops that require fewer pesticides while improving long-term agricultural sustainability. "I'm a very big fan of CRISPR," she says. "It allows us to make very precise changes in plant genomes."

Like many researchers, Hritu has learned that science is often defined by setbacks. Failed experiments have been an inevitable part of her research, and some projects have required weeks of troubleshooting before meaningful results emerge. One piece of advice from a mentor has stayed with her throughout her PhD: persistence is important, but so is knowing when to step back and approach a problem differently.

Moving from India to Germany also transformed her personally. She notes that adapting to life away from home taught her independence and the value of collaborating with people from different backgrounds.

Beyond the laboratory, Hritu is passionate about making plant science more accessible. She believes most people only think about agriculture when food becomes more expensive or less available, yet understanding how research protects crops is essential for appreciating its role in everyday life.

During the conversation, Hritu also reflects on the subtle challenges women can face in STEM. Early in her career, she witnessed gender-based comments directed at another scientist, which left her questioning whether her own ideas would be judged differently. Over time, however, she learned to believe that scientific progress depends on diverse voices. "If you're in the room, you belong there," she says. "Ask questions, share your ideas, and take space in scientific discussions. Your perspective matters more than you think."