A survey of Phytophthora, Pythium, and Phytopythium species in soil from upland prairie restoration sites in western Oregon
| Authors: | Jennifer Parke, Erika Mittermaier, Neelam Redekar, Joyce Eberhart, Teresa Matteson |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| Source: | Proceedings of the seventh sudden oak death science and management symposium: healthy plants in a world with Phytophthora. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-268 |
Abstract
Native upland prairie and oak savanna habitats were once widespread in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon, but have been diminished by conversion to other land uses. These threatened habitats are considered essential for rare and endangered species such as the Fender’s blue butterfly. Restoring native upland prairie habitats is a major goal of wildland restoration in Oregon.
The inadvertent spread of Phytophthora species from nurseries into native ecosystems can have long-term environmental and economic impacts, as has been seen with Phytophthora ramorum, P. lateralis, P. cinnamomi, P. tentaculata, and other species. The risk may be particularly great when nursery-grown plants infested with Phytophthora spp. are planted in restoration sites, introducing pathogens directly into native habitats (Garbelotto and others 2018). The objectives of this study were to survey the distribution of Phytophthora, Pythium, and Phytopythium spp. in upland prairie restoration sites in western Oregon and to determine if they are detected at greater frequency in planted vs. non-planted sites.