Emerging oomycete threats to plants and animals
Résumé
Oomycetes, or water moulds, are fungal-like organisms phylogenetically
related to algae. They cause devastating diseases in both plants and animals.
Here, we describe seven oomycete species that are emerging or re-emerging
threats to agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and natural ecosystems.
They include the plant pathogens Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora palmivora,
Phytophthora ramorum, Plasmopara obducens, and the animal pathogens
Aphanomyces invadans, Saprolegnia parasitica and Halioticida noduliformans. For
each species, we describe its pathology, importance and impact, discuss
why it is an emerging threat and briefly review current research activities.
This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats
to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.