PHYTOPHTHORA

?Phytophthora
Phytophtohora porri on leek (Allium porrum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Heterokontophyta Class: Oomycetes Order: Pythiales Family: Pythiaceae Genus: Phytophthora
Species
Phytophthora arecae Phytophthora botryosa Phytoohthora cactorum Phytophthora cajani Phytophthora cambivora Phytophthora capsici Phytophthora cinnamomi Phytophthora citricola Phytophthora citrophthora Phytophthora clandestina Phytophthora colocasiae Phytophthora cryptogea Phytophthora drechslera Phytophthora erythrosepta Phytophthora fragariae Phytophthora gonapodyides Phytophthora heveae Phytophthora humicola Phytophthora idaei Phytophthora ilicis Phytophthora infestans Phytophthora inflata Phytophthora iranica Phytophthora katsurae Phytophthora lateralis Phytophthora medicagnis Phytophthora megakarya Phytophthora megasperma Phytophthora melonis Phytophthora mirabilis Phytophthora multivesiculata Phytophthora nicotianae Phytophthora palmivora Phytophthora phaseoli Phytophthora primulae Phytophthora pseudotsugae Phytophthora quercina Phytophthora ramorum Phytophthora sinensis Phytophthora sojae Phytophthora syringae Phytophthora tentaculata Phytophthora trifolii Phytophthora vignae

Phytophthora is a genus of water moulds, including many plant pathogens of considerable economic importance. It is a species of oomycete, an fungal-like organism that actually belongs to a different kingdom altogether: Chromista. Phytophthora is a good example of convergent evolution, as the pathogen attacks plants in a very similar way to fungal pathogens. Plant pathologists tend to refer to Phytophthora as a fungal disease because of this. They are mostly pathogens of dicotyledons.

There are numerous species, many of which are commonly known as dieback. Species include:

• Phytophthora cactorum (Collar rot)
• Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback) - this affects as many as 2000^[1] of the 9000 native plant species in Southwest Australia, most notably jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata).
• Phytophthora infestans (Potato blight)
• Phytophthora lateralis - a lethal disease of Lawson's Cypress
• Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death) - a lethal disease of Oaks and other plants.
• Phytophthora sojae (Soybean root rot) - a major cause of crop loss.

Plant diseases caused by this genus are difficult to control chemically, so the use of resistant varieties of crops are normally employed.

Phytophthora reproduce both sexually and asexually. The asexual zoospores are able to live as saprotrophs (decomposers), and so may persist in the soil long after the death or removal of the plant hosts.

The scientific name means "plant destroyer" in Greek.

References

1. ^ Murdoch University WA list of susceptible native plants

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