Plant Pathology (2009) 58, 100-110

E. Moralejo, A.M. Pérez-Sierra, L.A. Álvarez, L. Belbahri, F. Lefort and E. Descals (2009)
Multiple alien Phytophthora taxa discovered on diseased ornamental plants in Spain
Plant Pathology 58 (1), 100-110
Abstract: The plant trade is unwittingly accelerating the worldwide spread of well-known and new or undescribed Phytophthora species and creating novel niches for emerging pathogens. The results of a survey carried out from 2001 to 2006 in garden centres and nurseries of the Balearic Islands and eastern Spain combined with the analysis of samples received from ornamental nurseries from northern Spain reflected the extent of this global issue at the local scale. A total of 125 Phytophthora isolates were obtained from 37 different host species and 17 putative species identified on morphological features and direct sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and four mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Five species, P. ramorum, P. hedraiandra, P. 'niederhauserii', P. 'kelmania' and P. 'taxon Pgchlamydo' were formally unknown to science prior to 2001. In addition, 37 new host/pathogen combinations were first records for Spain, highlighting the risk of non-coevolved organisms from different biogeographic origins coming into contact under managed environments. The problem generated by new or rare taxa of Phytophthora found in nurseries for which no prior information on natural habitat and ecology is available for pest risk analysis is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Eduardo Moralejo, Luis Armando Alvarez

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytophthora ramorum		Spain (continental)
	Phytophthora hedraiandra
	Phytophthora taxon Pgchlamydo		Spain (continental)
	Phytophthora niederhauserii		Spain (continental)