WSU Sudden Oak Death Program

Monitoring

Stream monitoring for early detection of invasive Phytophthora species in Western Washington

What is Phytophthora?

  • A “water mold” closely related to brown algae and diatoms
  • Pathogen spreads via the movement of infected plants, contaminated soil, aerial and water-borne spores
  • Causes economically important plant diseases such as potato blight and sudden oak death
  • Phytophthora diseases on plants are identified by symptoms, microscopic examination and molecular testing
  • Three recently identified exotic invasive species pose a potential threat to Washington’s horticulture and forest industries

Invasive Phytophthora species

Some Phytophthoras, like P. ramorum, are invasive species that will trigger a series of quarantines having a significant economic impact on the horticulture and forest products industry if they were to escape into the landscape. One way to stop the damage an invasive species such as Phytophthora may inflict on an ecosystem is to control or eliminate the species when its populations are still small. Students and other volunteers can help scientists by conducting early detection surveys. Unlike many well-known invasive species, Phytophthoras are microscopic and must be detected by indirect methods, such as baiting with leaves of susceptible plant hosts. Stream monitoring programs have been shown to be an effective approach to detect the spread of P. ramorum and focus eradication efforts to high risk areas, thus reducing the threat this pathogen poses to our landscape and forest ecosystems.

The Phytophthora stream monitoring program at WSU Puyallup will include:

  • Gathering baseline data on Phytophthora species present in western WA urban and wildland areas
  • Early detection of invasive Phytophthora species
  • Track the movement of P. ramorum from infested areas
  • Expand on the 10 streams currently being sampled by the WA Dept. of Natural Resources as part of national P. ramorum survey
  • Continue molecular identification of Phytophthora species and their genetic lineages

How to get involved

We are looking for volunteer groups, students, or other people who are interested in helping monitor streams in Western Washington for P. ramorum and other Phytophthora species. We need people who can access selected streams and place bait bags or collect water samples at regular intervals and can return these samples to the lab fairly quickly. If you are interested in participating, take this quick survey.

See what was discussed at a meeting about a proposed stream monitoring program for Western Washington on August 27, 2009.

You can see a similar program in Australia here:
Fishing for Phytophthora

For more information contact Marianne Elliott (melliott2@wsu.edu).

 

Contact: Gary Chastagner, 253-445-4528 | WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center, 2606 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371-4998 USA
Last updated November 18, 2009