Identification and Chemical and Biological Management of Phytopythium vexans, the Causal Agent of Phytopythium Root and Crown Rot of Woody Ornamentals

Soilborne diseases caused by pathogens such as Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Pythium species are the most important diseases of woody ornamentals. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and red maple (Acer rubrum 'October Glory') plants grown in containers and fields in Tennessee showed root and crown rot symptoms with dark brown to black lesions in 2017 and 2018. The objective of this research was to isolate and identify pathogens affecting ginkgo and red maple plants in Tennessee nurseries and to develop fungicide/biofungicide management recommendations for nursery producers. Isolations were made from the infected roots. Several Phytophthora-like colonies with spherical zoo-spores, filamentous to globose oogoni, and whitish mycelium were isolated on V8-PARPH medium. To confirm identity, total genomic DNA was extracted, followed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions, large subunit of nuclear rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II of mitochondrial DNA. Based on morphological and molecular analysis, Phytopythium vexans was described as a causal agent of crown and root rot from the infected ginkgo and red maple plants. To complete Koch's postulates, a pathogenicity test was performed by drenching 100 ml of V8 agar medium slurry of Phytopythium vexans inoculum on 1-year-old potted ginkgo plant root systems as well as red maple October Glory. Necrotic lesion development was observed in the root system 45 days after inoculation and Phytopythium vexans was reisolated from the roots of both ginkgo and red maple. All control ginkgo and red maple plants remained disease free and no pathogen was reisolated. In addition, the efficacy of fungicides, biofungicides, fertilizer, and host plant defense inducers (traditionally recommended for management of oomycete diseases) for control of Phytopythium crown and root rot was evaluated on ginkgo and red maple October Glory seedlings in greenhouse and field trials. Fungicides such as Empress Intrinsic, Pageant Intrinsic, Segovis, and Subdue MAXX were effective in both greenhouse and field trials, and the biofungicide Stargus reduced disease severity caused by pathogen Phytopythium vexans on ginkgo and red maple plants in greenhouse trials. These results will help nursery producers make propermanagement decisions for newly reported Phytopythiumcrown and root rot disease of ginkgo and red maple plants.