A comparison of oomycete diversity in reed stands ( Phragmites australis ) of Lake Constance, Germany, and maize fields close by provided evidence for the occurrence of natural hybridization between Pythium phragmitis , a newly described reed pathogen, and an as-yet unknown Pythium species closely related to P. phragmitis and P. arrhenomanes . Internal transcribed spacer and β -tubulin sequence...

AIMS Four well-described strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens were assessed for their effect on pea growth and their antagonistic activity against large Pythium ultimum inocula. METHODS AND RESULTS The effect of Pseudomonas strains on the indigenous soil microflora, soil enzyme activities and plant growth in the presence and absence of Pythium was assessed. Pythium inoculation reduced the shoot...

We examined whether extensive dry season dieback and mortality in a South African fynbos community were due to drought or pathogen attack. Plant dieback and mortality have been reported elsewhere in similar plant communities suggesting potential for a widespread climatic or biotic threat to this community.We collected tissue samples from Brunia noduliflora, the dominant plant in the community, ...

The kingdom Stramenopile includes diatoms, brown algae, and oomycetes. Plant pathogenic oomycetes, including Phytophthora, Pythium and downy mildew species, cause devastating diseases on a wide range of host species and have a significant impact on agriculture. Here, we report comparative analyses on the genomes of thirteen straminipilous species, including eleven plant pathogenic oomycetes, to...

We examined whether extensive dry season dieback and mortality in a South African fynbos community were due to drought or pathogen attack. Plant dieback and mortality have been reported elsewhere in similar plant communities suggesting potential for a widespread climatic or biotic threat to this community.We collected tissue samples from Brunia noduliflora, the dominant plant in the community, ...