Phytophthora Root Rot of Forest Trees

Hardy, G.E.St.J. (2004) Phytophthora Root Rot of Forest Trees. In: Evans, J., Burley, J. and Youngquist, J., (eds.) Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences. Academic Press, London, pp. 758-766.

Abstract

As a genus Phytophthora can be considered as the most devastating group of plant pathogens on earth. Members of the genus cause huge economic losses in agricultural crops annually and are extremely destructive in a range of forest ecosystems worldwide. Their direct affect on plant losses is really quite well documented. The genus name is aptly derived from the Greek that means phyto (plant) and phthora (destroyer). There is still much debate over the taxonomy of Phytophthora and there are over 64 species, but this constantly changes with new species being described and others amalgamated as molecular diagnostics tools are used to characterize the genus. Some species such as P. cinnamomi have a wide host range whilst others have one to only a few hosts, consequently as a genus it is extremely plastic in terms of the range of plant species it impacts on. This article will provide a general but not a comprehensive overview of the major Phytophthora diseases of forest trees and cover impacts, threats, and methods of control.

Publication Type:	Book Chapter
Murdoch Affiliation:	Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management
Publisher:	Academic Press
Copyright:	(c) Academic Press
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/2523

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