What is it about?
The sudden oak death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum was first discovered in California killing oaks and in Germany in nurseries on ornamentals. This article tells the story of how this pathogen has moved around the world and emerged repeatedly using forensic and genetic approaches.
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Why is it important?
Currently infection by P. ramorum occurs only in Europe and North America and three clonal lineages are distinguished: EU1, NA1 and NA2. Ancient divergence of these lineages supports a scenario in which P. ramorum originated from reproductively isolated populations and underwent at least four global migration events. This recent work sheds new light on mechanisms of emergence of exotic pathogens and provides crucial insights into migration pathways.
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This page is a summary of: Emergence of the sudden oak death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, Trends in Microbiology, March 2012, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2011.12.006.
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Resources
Plant Plague: Sudden Oak Death
Devastating over 1 million oak trees across Northern California in the past 10 years, Sudden Oak Death is a killer with no cure. But biologists now are looking to the trees' genetics for a solution.
Wikipedia | Sudden Oak Death images and background
Images and background on sudden oak death.
Sudden oak death
Sudden Oak Death is a tree disease caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. The disease kills some oak species and has had devastating effects on forests in California and Oregon.
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