<i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California
Evidence of unintended introductions of <i>Phytophthora</i> species into native habitats has become increasingly prevalent in California. If not managed adequately, <i>Phytophthora</i> species can become devastating agricultural and forest plant pathogens. Additionally, Calif...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Sebastian N. Fajardo Tyler B. Bourret Susan J. Frankel David M. Rizzo |
| author_facet | Sebastian N. Fajardo Tyler B. Bourret Susan J. Frankel David M. Rizzo |
| author_sort | Sebastian N. Fajardo |
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| description | Evidence of unintended introductions of <i>Phytophthora</i> species into native habitats has become increasingly prevalent in California. If not managed adequately, <i>Phytophthora</i> species can become devastating agricultural and forest plant pathogens. Additionally, California’s natural areas, characterized by a Mediterranean climate and dominated by chaparral (evergreen, drought-tolerant shrubs) and oak woodlands, lack sufficient baseline knowledge on <i>Phytophthora</i> biology and ecology, hindering effective management efforts. From 2018 to 2021, soil samples were collected from Angeles National Forest lands (Los Angeles County) with the objective of better understanding the diversity and distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> species in Southern California. Forty sites were surveyed, and soil samples were taken from plant rhizospheres, riverbeds, and off-road vehicle tracks in chaparral and oak woodland areas. From these surveys, fourteen species of <i>Phytophthora</i> were detected, including <i>P. cactorum</i> (subclade 1a), <i>P. multivora</i> (subclade 2c), <i>P</i>. sp. <i>cadmea</i> (subclade 7a), <i>P</i>. taxon ‘oakpath’ (subclade 8e, first reported in this study), and several clade-6 species, including <i>P. crassamura</i>. <i>Phytophthora</i> species detected in rhizosphere soil were found underneath both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and were most frequently associated with <i>Salvia mellifera</i>, <i>Quercus agrifolia</i>, and <i>Salix</i> sp. <i>Phytophthora</i> species were present in both chaparral and oak woodland areas and primarily in riparian areas, including detections in off-road tracks, trails, and riverbeds. Although these Mediterranean ecosystems are among the driest and most fire-prone areas in the United States, they harbor a large diversity of <i>Phytophthora</i> species, indicating a potential risk for disease for native Californian vegetation. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a0b22dd9b4fd45f2b58847af35fbbbcb2025-01-24T13:37:18ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011113310.3390/jof11010033<i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern CaliforniaSebastian N. Fajardo0Tyler B. Bourret1Susan J. Frankel2David M. Rizzo3Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAUnited States Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA 94710, USADepartment of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAEvidence of unintended introductions of <i>Phytophthora</i> species into native habitats has become increasingly prevalent in California. If not managed adequately, <i>Phytophthora</i> species can become devastating agricultural and forest plant pathogens. Additionally, California’s natural areas, characterized by a Mediterranean climate and dominated by chaparral (evergreen, drought-tolerant shrubs) and oak woodlands, lack sufficient baseline knowledge on <i>Phytophthora</i> biology and ecology, hindering effective management efforts. From 2018 to 2021, soil samples were collected from Angeles National Forest lands (Los Angeles County) with the objective of better understanding the diversity and distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> species in Southern California. Forty sites were surveyed, and soil samples were taken from plant rhizospheres, riverbeds, and off-road vehicle tracks in chaparral and oak woodland areas. From these surveys, fourteen species of <i>Phytophthora</i> were detected, including <i>P. cactorum</i> (subclade 1a), <i>P. multivora</i> (subclade 2c), <i>P</i>. sp. <i>cadmea</i> (subclade 7a), <i>P</i>. taxon ‘oakpath’ (subclade 8e, first reported in this study), and several clade-6 species, including <i>P. crassamura</i>. <i>Phytophthora</i> species detected in rhizosphere soil were found underneath both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and were most frequently associated with <i>Salvia mellifera</i>, <i>Quercus agrifolia</i>, and <i>Salix</i> sp. <i>Phytophthora</i> species were present in both chaparral and oak woodland areas and primarily in riparian areas, including detections in off-road tracks, trails, and riverbeds. Although these Mediterranean ecosystems are among the driest and most fire-prone areas in the United States, they harbor a large diversity of <i>Phytophthora</i> species, indicating a potential risk for disease for native Californian vegetation.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/33Mediterranean vegetationoomyceteplant pathogen |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian N. Fajardo Tyler B. Bourret Susan J. Frankel David M. Rizzo <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California Journal of Fungi Mediterranean vegetation oomycete plant pathogen |
| title | <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California |
| title_full | <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California |
| title_fullStr | <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California |
| title_short | <i>Phytophthora</i> Species and Their Associations with Chaparral and Oak Woodland Vegetation in Southern California |
| title_sort | i phytophthora i species and their associations with chaparral and oak woodland vegetation in southern california |
| topic | Mediterranean vegetation oomycete plant pathogen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/33 |
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