Plants that are Susceptible to Phytophthora
Plant Destroyer
This disease is the number-one disease of nursery crops worldwide. More than 120 Phytophthora species have been described to date, and virtually all are plant pathogens. Diseases caused by Phytophthora species include root roots, stem cankers, and blights of fruit and leaves. It affects almost all types of plants as it spread mainly via poor drainage system and spreads with the flow of water.
Phytophthora species resemble fungi but are not. While they are most closely related to aquatic organisms and they can also exist on land. However, Phytophthora organisms are often referred to as water molds because they do need water to complete their life cycle.
Certain species of Phytophthora cause important diseases in vegetable crops, fruit and nut trees, and forest trees as well as in nursery crops.
Following is the list of plants that are susceptible to Phytophthora:
Genus | Common Name |
Abies* | true fir |
Alnus | alder |
Araucaria | Monkeypuzzle |
Arctostaphylos | kinnikinnick |
Brassica | cabbage |
Buxus* | boxwood |
Camellia | Camellia |
Chamaecyparis* | Port-Orford-cedar |
Calluna | heather |
Cornus* | dogwood |
Cotoneaster | cotoneaster |
Daphne* | daphne |
Erica | heath |
Fragaria* | strawberry |
Gaultheria | salal |
Ilex* | holly |
Juniperus* | juniper |
Kalmia | mountain laurel |
Lycopersicon* | tomato |
Malus* | apple, crabapple |
Medicago | alfalfa |
Microbiota* | Russian cypress |
Notholithocarpus | Tanoak |
Picea | Spruce |
Pieris* | andromeda |
Pinus* | pine, mugo pine |
Prunus | cherry |
Pyrus | Flowering pear |
Pseudotsuga | Douglas-fir |
Rhododendron* | azalea, rhododendron |
Rosa | rose |
Rubus* | raspberry |
Solanum* | potato |
Syringae | Lilac |
Thuja | Arborvitae |
Tsuga* | hemlock |
Vaccinium* | blueberry, cranberry, lingonberry |
Viburnum | viburnum |
*Commonly infected by Phytophthora
List Credits: pnwhandbooks.org
Throughout the world, Phytophthora disease is the most destructive disease and cause economic losses of billions of dollars every year however, the disease is reversible and if certain precautions are taken, can be prevented.
SurVerda Labs aims to educate the farmers and nursery owners about this disease and what precautions should be taken to avoid and/or treat this disease. Come back and visit our blog as we are going to have a series of articles on Phytophthora.