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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375681
Research Project: Integrated Disease Management of Exotic and Emerging Plant Diseases of Horticultural Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Molecular phylogenetics and population structure of phytophthora pluvialis

Author
item TABIMA, J - Oregon State University
item GONEN, L - Oregon State University
item GOMEZ, M - Scion
item PANDA, P - Scion
item Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik
item HANSEN, E - Oregon State University
item MCDOUGAL, R - Scion
item LEBOLDUS, J - Oregon State University
item WILLIAMS, N - Scion

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2020
Publication Date: 12/11/2020
Citation: Tabima, J.F., Gonen, L., Gomez, M., Panda, P., Grunwald, N.J., Hansen, E., Mcdougal, R., Leboldus, J., Williams, N. 2020. Molecular phylogenetics and population structure of phytophthora pluvialis. Phytopathology. 111:108-115. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-20-0232-FI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-20-0232-FI

Interpretive Summary: The introduction of forest plant pathogens into new natural environments can be devastating and result in the decimation of national forests, unique ecosystems and important economic losses. Tracing the migration of plant pathogens between different locations allows for the identification of origins and reconstruction of migratory routes. Here, we present the molecular phylogenetics and estimation of the center of origin for Phytophthora pluvialis, a new plant pathogen responsible for red needle cast, a disease of radiata pine. We studied genetic diversity in 157 samples from New Zealand and the US. Our results reveal repeated movement of the pathogen between radiata pine, Douglas-fir, and other pine species in New Zealand, indicating absence of host specificity of P. pluvialis in New Zealand and the potential for host expansion of this important forest pathogen.

Technical Abstract: The introduction of forest plant pathogens into new natural environments can be devastating and result in the decimation of national forests, unique ecosystems and important economic losses. Tracing the population dynamics of migration of plant pathogens between different locations allow for the identification of sources of inoculum and reconstruction of migratory routes. Here, we present the molecular phylogenetics and estimation of center of origin for Phytophthora pluvialis, an oomycete species responsible for red needle cast, a disease of radiata pine. Our genotyping-by-sequencing population genomic analysis of 157 samples from different regions in the United States (US) into New Zealand (NZ) supports the evidence of a single migration of P. pluvialis from the US into NZ. In addition, we hypothesize that the center of origin of P. pluvialis can be traced to the Coastal Range of the PNW, from which, local and global events expansion have occurred. Finally, our results present repeated movement of the pathogen between radiata pine, Douglas-fir, and other pine species in New Zealand, indicating absence of host specificity of P. pluvialis in New Zealand and the potential for host expansion of this important forest pathogen.