An Overview of Phytophthora Species on Woody Plants in Sweden and Other Nordic Countries

Abstract

The genus Phytophthora, with 326 species in 12 phylogenetic clades currently known, includes many economically important pathogens of woody plants. Different Phytophthora species often possess a hemibiotrophic or necrotrophic lifestyle, have either a broad or narrow host range, can cause a variety of disease symptoms (root rot, damping-off, bleeding stem cankers, or blight of foliage), and occur in different growing environments (nurseries, urban and agricultural areas, or forests). Here, we summarize the available knowledge on the occurrence, host range, symptoms of damage, and aggressiveness of different Phytophthora species associated with woody plants in Nordic countries with a special emphasis on Sweden. We evaluate the potential risks of Phytophthora species to different woody plants in this geographical area and emphasize the increasing threats associated with continued introduction of invasive Phytophthora species.

Keywords

forest; pathogens; oomycetes; tree diseases; woody plants

Published in

Microorganisms
2023, volume: 11, number: 5, article number: 1309
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Authors

• Matsiakh, Iryna

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Ukrainian National Forestry University

• Menkis, Audrius

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Forest Damage Center

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051309

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122466