First report of Phytophthora plurivora in Australia

As part of the International Plant Sentinel Network program monitoring high priority plant species from the United Kingdom, soil samples were collected from an asymptomatic Quercus robur (English Oak) at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah (NSW). The soil samples were baited for Phytophthora with detection based on a Phytophthora genus specific Taqman™ assay. Species were identified using Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial DNA subunit cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S, ITS2 and partial 28S regions (ITS). Isolates of Phytophthora that were recovered were identical to the Phytophthora plurivora ex-type strain based on phylogenetic inference. This is the first identification of Phytophthora plurivora in Australia.