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Title: Focus issue articles on emerging and re-emerging plant diseases

Author
item SUBBARAO, KRISHNA - University Of California
item SUNDIN, GEORGE - Michigan State University
item Klosterman, Steven

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2015
Publication Date: 7/21/2015
Citation: Subbarao, K.V., Sundin, G.W., Klosterman, S.J. 2015. Focus issue articles on emerging and re-emerging plant diseases. Phytopathology. 105:852-854.

Interpretive Summary: Plant diseases that have only been observed recently, or if reported before, have become increasingly problematic, are considered emerging and re-emerging diseases, respectively. This article summarizes the major findings from seventeen review articles on emerging and re-emerging plant diseases. These articles span a range of diseases caused by plant pathogenic organisms, including those that belong to the fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, and viruses. The article summarizes those instances where there has been some success in monitoring the pathogen responsible for the diseases, or developing means to control these diseases.

Technical Abstract: This review sums up the key findings of seventeen articles on emerging and re-emerging plant diseases that are designated for the July focus issue in Phytopathology. The emerging and re-emerging diseases discussed include those caused by three viral, six fungal, five oomycete, and four bacterial pathogens. Some of these pathogens, such as the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, the cause of wheat stem rust, have historically caused major diseases worldwide, and yet the apparent shifts in the pathogen population genetic structure has enabled such pathogens to adapt and overcome traditional breeding approaches. Others, such as Sudden Oak Death, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora ramorum, have only recently emerged as problematic within the past couple of decades, and have invaded new forest areas. All of the pathogens characterized in this review are currently being met, or have been met, with substantial efforts to monitor and control them. Some success stories on the monitoring and disease control efforts have also emerged.