Crown and Root Rot of Cultivated Wild Rice in California Caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica sensu lato. Pamela S. Gunnell, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis 95616. Robert K. Webster, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis 95616. Plant Dis. 72:909-910. Accepted for publication 17 February 1988. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-0909.

A species of Phytophthora, identified as P. erythroseptica sensu lato, was found to be the causal agent of a crown and root rot disease of cultivated wild rice (Zizania palustris) in California. In the field, plants ranging in age from the early tillering stage to the grain-filling stage were killed by the pathogen. This is the first report of a species of Phytophthora pathogenic on wild rice and the first report of a species of Phytophthora causing a serious disease of a mature grass host.