The oomycetes form a distinct phylogenetic lineage of fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms that are relatively closely related to photosynthetic algae such as brown algae and diatoms. Plant pathogenic species, notably those of the genus Phytophthora, are the best-studied oomycetes. The genomes of four Phytophthora and one downy mildew species were recently sequenced resulting in novel insights...

Review article] Botanists have likened the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Australian plant communities to that of the last ice age, which affected a large number of plant families, genera and species within these families. Phytophthora cinnamomi affects the floristics and structure of many unique plant communities. We discuss the impact of this pathogen and our current knowledge of its bio...

A unique chlorinated macrocyclic lactone, termed oocydin A, was isolated from a strain of Serratia marcescens growing as an epiphyte on Rhyncholacis pedicillata, an aquatic plant native to the Carrao river of the Venezuelan-Guyanan region of South America. The lactone has a molecular mass of 470 Da, and contains one atom of chlorine, a carboxyl group and a tetrahydrofuran ring internal to a lar...

The Phytophthora genus comprises of some of the most destructive plant pathogens and attack a wide range of hosts including economically valuable tree species, both angiosperm and gymnosperm. Many known species of Phytophthora are invasive and have been introduced through nursery and agricultural trade. As part of a larger project aimed at utilizing genomic data for forest disease diagnostics, ...

The objectives were to promote farmer adoption of reduced and modified tillage (RT) systems and to investigate the efficacy of deep zone tillage systems to reduce the disease severity in crops affected by Phytophthora capcisi. It was our intent to evaluate the ability of reduced tillage (RT) systems to ameliorate large fluctuations in water supply, which may result from climate change and, in p...

Sudden oak death has been an emerging disease problem in coastal California and has caused significant losses in forest ecosystems in some regions of the state. The causal agent of this disease has been described as Phytophthora ramorum with two other less aggressive species, P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae, recovered from some symptomatic plants. The phylogenetic relationship of these specie...

The genus Phytophthora comprises over 70 described species, however many new species have been reported recently as a result of the discovery of previously undetected species or by the hybridization of known species. Phytophthora ramorum, one of the new Phytophthora species, is considered a high phytosanitary risk because it is currently responsible for largescale oak mortality in coastal Calif...

A new Phytophthora species, isolated from rhizosphere soil of declining or dead trees of Eucalyptus gomphocephala, E. marginata, Agonis flexuosa, and another 13 plant species, and from fine roots of E. marginata and collar lesions of Banksia attenuata in Western Australia, is described as Phytophthora multivora sp. nov. It is homothallic and produces semipapillate sporangia, smooth-walled oogon...