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Noteworthy

The genus Phytophthora contains some of the most destructive plant pathogens affecting agricultural and forest crops. Recently a novel species of Phytophthora was discovered almost simultaneously in Germany on rhododendron and azalea and in California on coast live oak and tanoak. P. ramorum is a devastating exotic pathogen of many forest and nursery crops. It causes several diseases including sudden oak death, Ramorum shoot dieback and Ramorum blight. P. ramorum has a very wide host range and affects many nursery crop species including viburnum, lilac, maple, and oak, among others. It poses a significant threat to the US nursery industry and forests. Currently we know very little about the biology of P. ramorum.

Our laboratory conducts research on the epidemiology, ecology, population biology and molecular genetics of exotic and reemerging Phytophthora species with a current emphasis on the sudden oak death pathogen P. ramorum. All research is focused on the ultimate goal of improving disease management and we thus routinely interact with the nursery industry.

In the News The nursery trade magazine Digger recently featured articles on our work on Phytophthora and importance of this work to the nursery industry: Apr. 2009. Dec. 2008 See also USDA ARS news releases: Sept. 30, 2009, USDA daily radio newsline: Paths to sudden oak death pathogen discovered, Actuality: On sudden oak death background, and Actuality: On discoveries about sudden oak death pathogen. Sept. 18, 2009: New ARS study shows pathways of movement of the Sudden Oak Death pathogen. March 27, 2009: New clues discovered about divergent origin of sudden oak death pathogen.

 

 

 

Last Updated: October 30, 2009