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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #317954
Title: Five reasons to consider Phytophthora infestans a reemerging pathogen

Author
item FRY, W - Cornell University
item BIRCH, P - The James Hutton Institute
item JUDELSON, H - University Of California
item Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik
item DANIES, G - Cornell University
item EVERTS, K - University Of Maryland
item GEVENS, A - University Of Wisconsin
item GUGINO, B - Pennsylvania State University
item JOHNSON, D - Washington State University
item JOHNSON, S - University Of Maine
item MCGRATH, M - Cornell University
item MYERS, K - Cornell University
item RISTAINO, J - North Carolina State University
item ROBERTS, P - University Of Florida
item SECOR, G - North Dakota State University
item SMART, C - Cornell University

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2015
Publication Date: 7/23/2015
Citation: Fry, W.E., Birch, P.R., Judelson, H.S., Grunwald, N.J., Danies, G., Everts, K.L., Gevens, A.J., Gugino, B.K., Johnson, D.A., Johnson, S.B., Mcgrath, M.T., Myers, K.L., Ristaino, J.B., Roberts, P.D., Secor, G., Smart, C.D. 2015. Five reasons to consider Phytophthora infestans a reemerging pathogen. Phytopathology. 105:966-981.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Late blight disease of potato and tomato (and several other Solanaceous plants) has emerged and re-emerged so many times, that it might be logical to conclude that nothing new could be said about this disease. And yet, much continues to be said (and written). In the year 2007, a search for Phytophthora infestans via Google Scholar returned 13,400 journal articles, whereas in October 2014 the same search identified 30,900 articles, with more than 9000 published since 2010. A search on “late blight of tomato” returned 36,800 articles. A search on “late blight of potato” returned 61,100 articles with 16,700 since 2010. Obviously, the world continues to devote much attention to this pathogen and disease. Readers who are unfamiliar with this disease and its impact are referred to Box 1, and to several reviews and books. We think there are several attributes that maintain the visibility of this pathogen (and its disease), thus causing it to be always “re-emerging”. Because this review cannot be totally comprehensive, we’ve identified five attributes that we believe are responsible for the fact that this pathogen and its disease remain “emerging”, and thus of intense interest to growers, home owners, historians and scientists. 1. The historical tragedy associated with this disease (Irish potato famine) causes many people to be fascinated with the pathogen. Current technology now enables investigators to answer some questions of historical significance. 2. The devastation caused by the pathogen continues to appear in surprising new locations and/or with surprising new intensity. 3. Populations of P. infestans worldwide are in flux, with changes that have major implications to disease management. 4. The genomics revolution has enabled investigators to make wonderful progress in terms understanding the molecular biology (especially the pathogenicity) of P. infestans. 5. There are many fascinating unanswered questions.