Parke, J. L., and S. Lucas. 2008. Sudden oak death and ramorum blight. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2008-0227-01

DISEASES:  Sudden oak death, ramorum leaf blight, ramorum shoot blight

PATHOGEN:  Phytophthora ramorum

HOSTS: More than 100 species of forest trees, native shrubs, herbaceous plants, and woody ornamental plants

Authors
Jennifer L. Parke and Sunny Lucas
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Phytophthora ramorum is a recently emerged pathogen with a host range of more than 100 plant species. This fungus-like organism causes sudden oak death on certain members of the oak family, and has killed over 1 million trees in coastal forests in California. The pathogen also causes ramorum leaf blight or shoot blight on native plant species and horticultural nursery crops, and has plagued some nurseries in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and in Europe.

  

Sudden oak death of tanoak (left) and ramorum blight of camellia (right) caused by Phytophthora ramorum. (Courtesy of J. Parke and N. Grunwald)