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Letter/Communication
Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of Phytophthora , "Plant Destroyer"
Phytopathology, Vol.115(6), pp.573-586
21/06/2025
PMID: 40072242
Abstract
Phytophthora is a long-established, well-known, and globally important genus of plant pathogens. Phylogenetic evidence has shown that the biologically distinct, obligate biotrophic downy mildews evolved from Phytophthora at least twice. Because, cladistically, this renders Phytophthora “paraphyletic,” it has been proposed that Phytophthora evolutionary clades be split into multiple genera (Crous et al. 2021; Runge et al. 2011; Thines 2023, 2024). In this letter, we review arguments for the retention of the generic name Phytophthora with a broad circumscription made by Brasier et al. (2022) and by many delegates at an open workshop organized by The American Phytopathological Society. We present our well-considered responses to the genus splitting proposals, both in general terms and in terms of the specific proposals for new genera, alongside new information regarding the biological properties and mode of origin of the Phytophthora clades. We consider that the proposals are mostly non-rigorous and not supported by the scientific evidence. Further, given (i) the apparent lack of any distinguishing biological characteristics (synapomorphies) between the Phytophthora clades; (ii) the fundamental monophyly of Phytophthora in the original Haeckelian sense (Haeckel 1877); (iii) the fact that paraphyly is not a justification for taxonomic splitting; and (iv) the considerable likely damage to effective scientific communication and disease management from an unnecessary breakup of the genus, we report that workshop delegates voted unanimously in favor of preserving the current generic concept and for seeking endorsement of this view by a working group of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi.
Details
- Title
- Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of Phytophthora , "Plant Destroyer"
- Authors/Creators
- Clive M Brasier - Forest ResearchNiklaus J Grünwald - Horticultural Crops Research LaboratoryTyler B Bourret - Beltsville Agricultural Research CenterFrancine Govers - Wageningen University & ResearchBruno Scanu - University of SassariDavid E L Cooke - James Hutton InstituteTanay Bose - University of PretoriaDavid L Hawksworth - Royal Botanic Gardens, KewZ Gloria Abad - U.S. Department of Agriculture-PPQ Science & Technology, McDonough, GA 30252, U.S.AM Victoria Albarracin - U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine. Permitting and Compliance Coordination, Riverdale, MD 20737, U.S.AWael Alsultan - MK Agronomy B.V., Roelofarendsveen, the NetherlandsAstrid E Altamirano-Junqueira - Universidade de São PauloArild R Arifin - Tree Fruit Research LaboratoryMatthew J Arnet - Plant & Food ResearchHerbert Dustin R Aumentado - Mae Fah Luang UniversityJózsef Bakonyi - Plant Protection InstituteWei H Belisle - California Department of Food and AgricultureAlessandra Benigno - University of FlorenceJohn C Bienapfl - Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceGuillaume J Bilodeau - Canadian Food Inspection AgencyJaime E Blair - Franklin & Marshall CollegeLeticia Botella - Mendel University in BrnoAndrea Brandano - University of SassariSanta Olga Cacciola - University of CataniaIgnazio Carbone - North Carolina State UniversityVanina L Castroagudin - Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceNarayanan Chaendaekattu - Rubber Research InstituteJonathan D Consford - New Mexico State UniversityTamara Corcobado - Austrian Research Centre for ForestsPaul A Covey - Cargill (United States)Hazel A Daniels - ScionAntonio Deidda - University of SassariAnne E Dorrance - The Ohio State UniversityErika N Dort - University of British ColumbiaAndré Drenth - The University of QueenslandFryni Drizou - Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-Dimitra, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, GreeceEdouard Evangelisti - Université Côte d'AzurSebastian N Fajardo - University of California, DavisYufeng Fang - GreenLight Biosciences (United States)Christopher M Ference - University of Hawaii at HiloSusan J Frankel - Pacific Southwest Research StationErica M Goss - Department of Plant Pathology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.ADavid I Guest - The University of SydneyGiles E S J Hardy - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityAnna R H Harris - Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, GU10 4LH, Surrey, U.KMehari Desta Hawku - University of RwandaKurt Heungens - Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke 9820, BelgiumChuanxue Hong - Virginia TechIan J Horner - Plant & Food ResearchMarília Horta Jung - Mendel University in BrnoOlumayowa J Iyanda - Afe Babalola UniversityBrittney-Aidan Jamieson - Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0082, South AfricaSteven N Jeffers - Clemson UniversityHoward S Judelson - University of California, RiversideMuhammad Junaid - Hasanuddin UniversityEleni Kalogeropoulou - Benaki Phytopathological InstituteSophien Kamoun - Sainsbury LaboratorySeogchan Kang - Pennsylvania State UniversityTakao Kasuga - Agricultural Research ServiceTomáš Kudláček - Universität GreifswaldJared LeBoldus - Oregon State UniversityChristopher A Lee - California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Trinidad, CA 95570, U.S.ADeWei Li - The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT 06095, U.S.AAlejandro K Llanos - Universidad Nacional Agraria La MolinaHoracio D Lopez-Nicora - The Ohio State UniversityHelena Machado - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e VeterináriaGaetano Magnano di San Lio - University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Department of Agriculture, 89124 Reggio Calabria, ItalyCristiana Maia - Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalKajal Mandal - Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyPatricia Manosalva - University of California, RiversideFrank N Martin - Agricultural Research ServiceMichael E H Matson - Mars Incorporated, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.ARebecca L McDougal - ScionJohn M McDowell - Virginia TechRichard W Michelmore - University of California, DavisIvan Milenković - University of BelgradeSalvatore Moricca - University of FlorenceReza Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa - Shiraz UniversityZoltán Á Nagy - Mendel University in BrnoEkaterina V Nikolaeva - Pennsylvania Department of AgriculturePaula Ortega-López - Real Jardín BotánicoTrudy Paap - University of PretoriaCamilo H Parada-Rojas - Oregon State UniversityFrancesca Peduto Hand - The Ohio State UniversityAna Pérez-Sierra - Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones AgrariasMartin Pettersson - Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchPramod Prasad - Indian Council of Agricultural ResearchAlina S Puig - Agricultural Research ServiceMilica Raco - Oregon State UniversityNasir A Rajput - University of FaisalabadJean B Ristaino - North Carolina State UniversitySuzanne Rooney-Latham - California Department of Food and AgricultureMichael F Seidl - Utrecht UniversitySimon F Shamoun - Canadian Forest ServiceAlejandro Solla - Universidad de ExtremaduraChristoffel F J Spies - Agricultural Research Council of South AfricaMartha A Sudermann - Oregon State UniversityTedmund J Swiecki - Sphere InstituteMiaoying Tian - University of GeorgiaSucheta Tripathy - Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
- Publication Details
- Phytopathology, Vol.115(6), pp.573-586
- Publisher
- APS Publications
- Identifiers
- 991005795472607891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Letter/Communication
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- Collaboration types
- Industry collaboration
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.97 Plant Pathology
- 3.97.1439 Phytophthora Management
- Web Of Science research areas
- Plant Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science