Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal
Globally, forests are constantly threatened by a plethora of disturbances of natural and anthropogenic origin, such as climate change, forest fires, urbanization, and pollution. Besides the most common stressors, during the last few years, Portuguese forests have been impacted by severe decline phen...
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| author | Carlo Bregant Eduardo Batista Sandra Hilário Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu Artur Alves |
| author_facet | Carlo Bregant Eduardo Batista Sandra Hilário Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu Artur Alves |
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| description | Globally, forests are constantly threatened by a plethora of disturbances of natural and anthropogenic origin, such as climate change, forest fires, urbanization, and pollution. Besides the most common stressors, during the last few years, Portuguese forests have been impacted by severe decline phenomena caused by invasive pathogens, many of which belong to the genus <i>Phytophthora</i>. The genus <i>Phytophthora</i> includes a large number of species that are invading forest ecosystems worldwide, chiefly as a consequence of global trade and human activities. This paper reports the results of a survey of <i>Phytophthora</i> diversity in natural and semi-natural forest ecosystems in Portugal along an elevation gradient. Isolations performed from 138 symptomatic plant tissues and rhizosphere samples collected from 26 plant species yielded a total of 19 <i>Phytophthora</i> species belonging to 6 phylogenetic clades, including <i>P. cinnamomi</i> (36 isolates), <i>P. multivora</i> (20), <i>P. plurivora</i> (9), <i>P. cactorum</i> (8), <i>P. lacustris</i> (8), <i>P. pseudocryptogea</i> (8), <i>P. amnicola</i> (6), <i>P. hedraiandra</i> (6), <i>P. pseudosyringae</i> (5), <i>P. thermophila</i> (5), <i>P. bilorbang</i> (4), <i>P. inundata</i> (4), <i>P. asparagi</i> (3), <i>P. citricola</i> (3), <i>P. gonapodyides</i> (3), <i>P. rosacearum</i> (3), <i>P. chlamydospora</i> (2), <i>P. pachypleura</i> (2), and <i>P. syringae</i> (1). Overall, the data obtained highlight the widespread occurrence of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> in natural ecosystems from sea level to mountain habitats. The results of the pathogenicity tests carried out on 2-year-old chestnut plants confirmed the key role of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> in the recrudescence of chestnut ink disease and the additional risk posed by <i>P. pachypleura</i>, <i>P. plurivora</i>, and <i>P. multivora</i> to Portuguese chestnut forests. Finally, three species, <i>P. citricola</i>, <i>P. hedraiandra</i>, and <i>P. pachypleura</i>, are reported for the first time in the natural ecosystems of Portugal. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-bef496c1e5584ceabe8803985e9be2552025-01-24T13:44:56ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-01-0114110310.3390/pathogens14010103Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in PortugalCarlo Bregant0Eduardo Batista1Sandra Hilário2Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu3Artur Alves4Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyCentre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCentre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyCentre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalGlobally, forests are constantly threatened by a plethora of disturbances of natural and anthropogenic origin, such as climate change, forest fires, urbanization, and pollution. Besides the most common stressors, during the last few years, Portuguese forests have been impacted by severe decline phenomena caused by invasive pathogens, many of which belong to the genus <i>Phytophthora</i>. The genus <i>Phytophthora</i> includes a large number of species that are invading forest ecosystems worldwide, chiefly as a consequence of global trade and human activities. This paper reports the results of a survey of <i>Phytophthora</i> diversity in natural and semi-natural forest ecosystems in Portugal along an elevation gradient. Isolations performed from 138 symptomatic plant tissues and rhizosphere samples collected from 26 plant species yielded a total of 19 <i>Phytophthora</i> species belonging to 6 phylogenetic clades, including <i>P. cinnamomi</i> (36 isolates), <i>P. multivora</i> (20), <i>P. plurivora</i> (9), <i>P. cactorum</i> (8), <i>P. lacustris</i> (8), <i>P. pseudocryptogea</i> (8), <i>P. amnicola</i> (6), <i>P. hedraiandra</i> (6), <i>P. pseudosyringae</i> (5), <i>P. thermophila</i> (5), <i>P. bilorbang</i> (4), <i>P. inundata</i> (4), <i>P. asparagi</i> (3), <i>P. citricola</i> (3), <i>P. gonapodyides</i> (3), <i>P. rosacearum</i> (3), <i>P. chlamydospora</i> (2), <i>P. pachypleura</i> (2), and <i>P. syringae</i> (1). Overall, the data obtained highlight the widespread occurrence of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> in natural ecosystems from sea level to mountain habitats. The results of the pathogenicity tests carried out on 2-year-old chestnut plants confirmed the key role of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> in the recrudescence of chestnut ink disease and the additional risk posed by <i>P. pachypleura</i>, <i>P. plurivora</i>, and <i>P. multivora</i> to Portuguese chestnut forests. Finally, three species, <i>P. citricola</i>, <i>P. hedraiandra</i>, and <i>P. pachypleura</i>, are reported for the first time in the natural ecosystems of Portugal.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/103emerging diseasesinvasive pathogensdiversityhost jumpoomycetes |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Bregant Eduardo Batista Sandra Hilário Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu Artur Alves Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal Pathogens emerging diseases invasive pathogens diversity host jump oomycetes |
| title | Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal |
| title_full | Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal |
| title_short | Diversity and Distribution of <i>Phytophthora</i> Species Along an Elevation Gradient in Natural and Semi-Natural Forest Ecosystems in Portugal |
| title_sort | diversity and distribution of i phytophthora i species along an elevation gradient in natural and semi natural forest ecosystems in portugal |
| topic | emerging diseases invasive pathogens diversity host jump oomycetes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/103 |
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