Phytophthora cinnamomi

Summary



Phytophthora cinnamomi
is one of the most devastating plant pathogens in the world. It infects close to 5000 species of plants, including many of importance in agriculture, forestry and horticulture. The inadvertent introduction of
P. cinnamomi
into natural ecosystems, including a number of recognized Global Biodiversity Hotspots, has had disastrous consequences for the environment and the biodiversity of flora and fauna.


The genus
Phytophthora
belongs to the Class Oomycetes, a group of fungus‐like organisms that initiate plant disease through the production of motile zoospores. Disease control is difficult in agricultural and forestry situations and even more challenging in natural ecosystems as a result of the scale of the problem and the limited range of effective chemical inhibitors. The development of sustainable control measures for the future management of
P. cinnamomi
requires a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of pathogen development and pathogenicity. The application of next‐generation sequencing technologies to generate genomic and transcriptomic data promises to underpin a new era in
P. cinnamomi
research and discovery. The aim of this review is to integrate bioinformatic analyses of
P. cinnamomi
sequence data with current knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of
P. cinnamomi
growth, development and plant infection. The goal is to provide a framework for future research by highlighting potential pathogenicity genes, shedding light on their possible functions and identifying suitable targets for future control measures.



Taxonomy

Phytophthora cinnamomi
Rands; Kingdom Chromista; Phylum Oomycota or Pseudofungi; Class Oomycetes; Order Peronosporales; Family Peronosporaceae; genus
Phytophthora
.



Host range
Infects about 5000 species of plants, including 4000 Australian native species. Host plants important for agriculture and forestry include avocado, chestnut, macadamia, oak, peach and pineapple.


Disease symptoms
A root pathogen which causes rotting of fine and fibrous roots, but which can also cause stem cankers. Root damage may inhibit water movement from roots to shoots, leading to dieback of young shoots.


Useful websites

http://fungidb.org/fungidb/
;
http://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phyci1/Phyci1.home.html
;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/GCA_001314365.1
;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/GCA_001314505.1