Phytophthora bilorbang prov. nom., a new species associated with declining Rubus anglocandicans (blackberry) in Western Australia

Aghighi, S., Hardy, G., Scott, J.K. and Burgess, T.ORCID: 0000-0002-7962-219X (2012) Phytophthora bilorbang prov. nom., a new species associated with declining Rubus anglocandicans (blackberry) in Western Australia. In: 6th International Union of Forest Research Organisations,IUFRO Working Party 7-02-09, 9 - 16 September, Córdoba, Spain.

Abstract

Rubus anglocandicans is the most widespread and invasive species in the Rubus fruticosus aggregate (European blackberry) found in Australia [1]. Blackberry has been targeted by biological control since the 1980s and most of this effort has focused on introducing exotic strains of the host‐specific leaf rust, Phragmidium violaceum. During surveys established to assess the releases of the rust fungus in 2005, dead and diseased blackberry plants were found at two locations along the Warren and Donnelly Rivers in the Manjimup region of Western Australia (P. Yeoh and L. Fontanini personal communication). The disease symptoms could not be attributed to the rust fungus and the phenomenon has been referred to as ‘blackberry decline’. The disease appears to be due to root pathogen(s) and during initial sampling several Phytophthora species were isolated. In order to investigate the cause(s) of disease and the potential role of Phytophthora species in the decline, field surveys were carried out over 2010 and 2011 in the decline and non‐decline sites along the Warren and Donnelly Rivers. During these surveys, P. taxon oaksoil was recovered from decline sites. Several isolates of this taxon have been isolated from Europe [2], and given a provisional name (oaksoil) until formal description. This taxon is described here as Phytophthora bilorbang prov. nom.; a new taxon within the ITS Clade 6, sub‐clade II of Phytophthora. This is the first report of this new Phytophthora species in association with declining R. anglocandicans.

Item Type:	Conference Item
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Notes:	Poster
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/11886

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