ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPMENT OF A MOLECULAR MARKER SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF PHYTOPHTHORA SPP. AND DIAGNOSIS OF SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH SUDDEN OAK DEATH IN CALIFORNIA.

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2003
Publication Date: August 20, 2003
Citation: Martin, F.N., Tooley, P.W., Frederick, R.D. 2003. Development of a molecular marker system for detection of phytophthora spp. and diagnosis of species associated with sudden oak death in california.. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Phytopathology v. 93. p. S58.

Interpretive Summary: This abstract describes a molecular method for detecting Phytophthora species in general from diseased plant tissue as well as diagnosing pathogens associated with sudden oak death in California. This includes Phytophthora ramorum, the organism responsible for this disease, as well as another species that is morphologically similar to P. ilicis and is commonly recovered from diseased tissue from the field.

Technical Abstract: A molecular marker system using mitochondrial sequences has been developed for detection of Phytophthora spp. From diseased tissue and identification of P. ramorum (the causal agent of sudden oak death) and another species that is morphologically similar to P. ilicis that is commonly recovered from diseased trees in California. The first multiplex amplification includes a plant primer pair (to serve as a positive control) and a Phytophthora genus-specific primer pair. This amplification is diluted and followed by a second amplification with a nested species-specific primer pair. The primers developed for P. ramorum and the P. ilicis-like isolates exhibit a high degree of species specificity and do not amplify any of the 27 other Phytophthora species evaluated thus far. Some aspects of this marker system have been modified for use with the TaqMan real-time PCR system.