August
2012
, Volume
96
, Number
8
Pages
1,080
-
1,103
Authors
Frank N. Martin, USDA, ARS, Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit, Salinas, CA;
Z. Gloria Abad, USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST), Beltsville Laboratory, MD;
Yilmaz Balci, Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD; and
Kelly Ivors, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Mountain Hort. Crops Research & Extension Center, Mills River, NC
Affiliations
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Abstract
Abstract
With the increased attention given to the genus Phytophthora in the
last decade in response to the ecological and economic impact of several
invasive species (such as P. ramorum, P. kernoviae, and P. alni),
there has been a significant increase in the number of described species. In
part, this is due to the extensive surveys in historically underexplored
ecosystems (e.g., forest and stream ecosystems) undertaken to determine the
spread of invasive species and the involvement of Phytophthora species in
forest decline worldwide (e.g., oak decline). The past decade has seen an
approximate doubling in the number of described species within the genus
Phytophthora, and the number will likely continue to increase as more
surveys are completed and greater attention is devoted to clarifying
phylogenetic relationships and delineating boundaries in species complexes. The
development of molecular resources, the availability of credible sequence
databases to simplify identification of new species, and the sequencing of
several genomes have provided a solid framework to gain a better understanding
of the biology, diversity, and taxonomic relationships within the genus. This
information is much needed considering the impact invasive or exotic
Phytophthora species have had on natural ecosystems and the regulatory
issues associated with their management. While this work is improving our
ability to identify species based on phylogenetic grouping, it has also revealed
that the genus has a much greater diversity than previously appreciated.
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ArticleCopyright
This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 2012.