title: Phytophthora boodjera sp. nov., a damping-off pathogen in production nurseries and from urban and natural landscapes, with an update on the status of P. alticola.
abstract: A new homothallic Phytophthora species, isolated in Western Australia (WA), is described as Phytophthora boodjera sp. nov. It produces persistent, papillate sporangia, oogonia with thick-walled oospores, and paragynous antheridia. Although morphologically similar to P. arenaria, phylogenetic analyses of the ITS, cox1, HSP90, β-tubulin and enolase gene regions revealed P. boodjera as a new species. In addition, P. boodjera has a higher optimal temperature for growth and a faster growth rate. Phytophthora boodjera has only recently been found in Western Australia and has mostly been isolated from dead and dying Eucalyptus seedlings in nurseries and from urban tree plantings, and occasionally from disturbed natural ecosystems. It is found in association with declining and dying Agonis flexuosa, Banksia media, B. grandis, Corymbia calophylla, Eucalyptus spp,. and Xanthorrhoea preissii. The status of P. alticola was also reviewed. The loss of all isolates associated with the original description except one; discrepancies in both sequence data and morphology of the remaining isolate with that presented the original description, and inconclusive holotype material places the status of this species in doubt.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia;
authors.forename: Agnes V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Simamora
authors.affiliation: Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.
authors.forename: Mike J C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stukely
authors.affiliation: Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia;
authors.forename: Giles E StJ
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia;
authors.forename: Treena I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Burgess
keywords: Eucalyptus; Oomycota; Phytophthora arenaria; multi-gene phylogeny