Phytophthora pathogens of ornamentals

Abstract

The genus Phytophthora is among the most dynamic and the most studied genera of plant pathogens, and includes over 100 known species with broad host range including agricultural, ornamental and woody plants. Although several species as P. cinnamomi, P. parasitica, P. citricola, P. cactorum and P. cryptogea are known to be very damaging in ornamental horticulture, special attention is focused on invasive species, particularly P. ramorum and P. kernovieae. During 2006-2013 and 2010- 2013 the survey on the presence of P. ramorum and P. kernoviae, respectively, was carried out in Serbia. The survey included large number of potential ornamental host plants and was performed utilizing numerous described detection methods including field and laboratory serological methods, culturing and identification based on morphological features, as well as molecular methods using PCR followed by sequencing. The presence of P. ramorum was established in two localities during 2008, on rhododendron plants from one garden and pieris plants from one garden center. On both localities strict phytosanitary eradication measures were applied. All later sampling did not reveal the presence of P. ramorum, which is considered to be successfully eradicated. During 2010-2013 the presence of P. kernoviae was not detected in Serbia.

Rod Phytophthora je jedan od najdinamičnijih rodova biljnih patogena koji se najviše proučava, a uključuje preko 100 danas poznatih vrsta koje su patogeni poljoprivrednih, ukrasnih i biljaka iz šumskih ekosistema. Mada je za nekoliko vrsta ovog roda poznato da nanose velike štete u proizvodnji ukrasnih biljka, kao što su P. cinnamomi, P. parasitica, P. citricola, P. cactorum i P. cryptogea, naročitu pažnju danas privlače vrste koje imaju status invazivnih biljnih patogena kao što su P. ramorum i P. kernoviae. U našoj zemlji su, u periodu 2006-2013, odnosno 2010- 2013. godine, sprovedena istraživanja prisustva P. ramorum, odnosno P. kernoviae, na velikom broju osetljivih domaćina ukrasnih biljaka, primenom brojnih opisanih metoda detekcije, poljskih i laboratorijskih seroloških metoda, metoda izolacije i proučavanja morfoloških osobina, kao i molekularnih metoda - primenom PCR i sekvenciranjem. Prisustvo P. ramorum ustanovljeno je na dva lokaliteta tokom 2008. godine, na biljkama rododendrona u urbanom zelenilu i biljkama pieris u velikoprodajnom objektu, gde su sprovedene fitosanitarne mere u cilju eradikacije. Sva kasnija istraživanja nisu uspela da dokažu prisustvo P. ramorum, tako da se smatra da je sprovedena uspešna eradikacija. Tokom istraživanja obavljenih u periodu 2010-2013. godine, prisustvo P. kernoviae nije ustanovljeno.