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Fishing for Phytophthora from Western Australia’s waterways: A distribution and diversity survey
Conference presentation   Open access

Fishing for Phytophthora from Western Australia’s waterways: A distribution and diversity survey

D. Hüberli, G.E.St.J. Hardy, D. White, N. Williams and T.I. Burgess
7th Australasian Soilborne Diseases Symposium (Fremantle, Western Australia, 17/09/2012–20/09/2012)
2012
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Abstract

During one spring season, 12 Phytophthora spp., two Phytophthora hybrids, three Halophytophthora spp. and three Phytopythium spp., were isolated from 48 waterways across Western Australia (WA). The waterways were sampled using mesh bags containing leaf baits of up to six different plant species and were isolated by plating these onto Phytophthora-selective agar media. Phytophthora spp. were isolated from all except one waterway. Of the Phytophthora spp. isolated, eight are known while the remaining are undescribed taxa. Six of the Phytophthora spp. and the two hybrids are from clade 6. The two hybrids and P. inundata were the predominant species recovered. Recoveries from different plant leaf baits varied with the best two baits being Pittosporum tenunisa and Banksia attentuata; from these two combined all Phytophthora spp. were isolated. There was a marked difference in the Phytophthora diversity in the waterways from different regions. Most species recovered have known associations with dying native and/or horticultural important plant taxa. This is the first comprehensive study from Australia to examine the Phytophthora communities in waterways in WA, and advances our understanding of the role of these oomycetes in natural and man-made ecosystems.

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