- Lead scientist
- Geoff Denton
- Start date
- 2004
- End date
- 2010
- Keywords
Phytophthora, Pythium, survey, UK Gardens, RHS Advisory Service, root diseases
- Benefits to gardeners
The study will provide information about the diversity of Phytophthora species in UK gardens as well as susceptible host plants. Increasing the knowledge about this pathogen will aid our advice for gardeners managing outbreaks in their own gardens.
- The problem
Phytophthora species are major pathogens of plants, with some species shown to infect more than 1,000 host plants. Recent identification of new Phytophthora species has shown the rapid spread of some species associated with the movement of plants.
Considering private gardens in Britain cover about 270,000 hectares (667,000 acres), little research has dealt with the problem of Phytophthora in this habitat. Through the RHS advisory service around one-third of the pathological enquiries answered deal with root problems.
We want to catalogue the Phytophthora species and host plants seen through the RHS advisory service. Information gathered can be used in many ways, such as helping to replant infected garden areas with less susceptible plants.
This will be the first survey to assess the impact, diversity and host range of Phytophthora species in UK gardens.
- Approach
The pathology department deals with around 6,000 enquiries a year from gardens throughout the UK. The samples being surveyed come through the RHS advisory service and in addition from the RHS gardens. All samples with typical symptoms for a Phytophthora infection are tested in more detail.
If a positive result is confirmed then further laboratory work is carried out to identify the Phytophthora species. It is from these identified species that we are compiling our information. The Phytophthora species and host plants are some of the information recorded.
From our preliminary results we have identified 25 Phytophthora species in UK gardens. During 2006 and 2007 alone we recorded 87 different host genera. Our top host plants that we record are Taxus, Rhododendron, Rubus and Viburnum.
With our top Phytophthora species being Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora cryptogea and Phytophthora cinnamomi.
- Further information
Advice on Phytophthora bleeding canker
Read more on Holly leaf blight
Advice on potato and tomato blight
Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae
Research paper written by Béatrice Henricot on Phytophthora ramorum
Read the research paper
To read the comparison of techniques for Phytophthora detection
To read the studies on the pathogenicity Phytophthora and Pythium on yew (Taxus baccata)
To read about Pythium: A garden pathogen