Despite its association with important agricultural crops, Phytophthora clade 8b is a poorly studied group of species. The clade currently consists of three officially described species (Phytophthora porri, P. brassicae and P. primulae) that are host-specific pathogens of leek, cabbages and Primula spp., respectively. However, over the past few decades, several other clade 8b-like Phytophthoras...

Phytophthora stem and root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is one of the most destructive diseases of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and the incidence of this disease has been increasing in several soybean-producing areas around the world. This presents serious limitations for soybean production, with yield losses from 4 to 100%. The most effective method to reduce damage would be to grow...

Oomycetes in the genus Phytophthora are among the most damaging plant pathogens worldwide. Two important species are Phytophthora cinnamomi, which causes root rot in thousands of native and agricultural plants, and Phytophthora agathidicida, which causes kauri dieback disease in New Zealand. As is the case for other Phytophthora species, management options for these two pathogens are limited. H...

Phytophthora infestans is a devastating phytopathogenic oomycete that causes late blight on tomato and potato. Recent genome sequencing efforts of P. infestans and other Phytophthora species are generating vast amounts of sequence data providing opportunities to unlock the complex nature of pathogenesis. However, accurate annotation of Phytophthora genomes will be a significant challenge. Most ...

A comprehensive phylogeny representing 142 described and 43 provisionally named Phytophthora species is reported here for this rapidly expanding genus. This phylogeny features signature sequences of 114 ex-types and numerous authentic isolates that were designated as representative isolates by the originators of the respective species. Multiple new subclades were assigned in clades 2, 6, 7, and...

In July 2000, the fi nger of blame for a mysterious mass killer of Californian oak trees came to rest on a previously undescribed plant pathogen. From the initial identifi cation of Phytophthora ramorum, it took less than four years to produce a draft sequence of its genome, one of the fastest-ever discovery-to-sequence stories for a complex pathogen. This achievement was a United States initia...

There are more than 60 species in the genus Phytophthora (94), and most are destructive plant pathogens. Extensive efforts are directed at the control of Phytophthora diseases each year, yet they still cause serious crop losses. For example, more than $200 million in lost production annually is attributed to Phytophthora diseases in Australia alone (47). Late blight, caused by P. infestans, pro...

There are more than 60 species in the genus Phytophthora (94), and most are destructive plant pathogens. Extensive efforts are directed at the control of Phytophthora diseases each year, yet they still cause serious crop losses. For example, more than $200 million in lost production annually is attributed to Phytophthora diseases in Australia alone (47). Late blight, caused by P. infestans, pro...