Abstract
Sporulation by Phytophthora cinnamomi is significantly suppressed in forest sites dominated by Acacia pulchella compared to forest sites dominated by species of Proteaceae. In this investigation an inoculation trial was conducted to determine the effect of 14 other Western Australian native legumes on population levels of P. cinnamomi in the soil compared to Banksia grandis. Direct plating of soil onto Phytophthora selective agar was used to quantify inoculum levels. A. alata, A. extensa A. latericola, A. pulchella, A. stenoptera, Kennedia coccinea and K. prostrata showed low mortality and decreased inoculum of P. cinnamomi in soil compared to B. grandis. A. drummondii, A. urophylla and Viminaria juncea also showed low mortality bu, had no effect on inoculum of P. cinnamomi. Bossiaea aquijolium, Daviesia decurrens, Hovea chorizemifolia, Labichea punctata, Mirbelia dilatata and B. grandis showed high mortality due to P. cinnamomi infection. Of these species population levels were only quantified from B. grandis pots for comparison.