Pathogenicity of phytophthora lateralis lineages on different selections of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

Abstract

Phytophthora lateralis, the cause of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana root disease, was introduced in North America about 1920, and has since killed trees along roads and streams throughout the tree’s range. Recent results suggest an Asian origin for this oomycete and four genetic lineages were identified. This raised questions for the genetic exapted resistance demonstrated in 1989 within the wild population of C. lawsoniana but with only one P. lateralis lineage. The main goal of the present research was to test the durability of the demonstrated resistance and to compare the pathogenicity of isolates representing the four lineages. No breakdown of resistance was observed in five separate tests using different inoculation techniques, resistant and susceptible C. lawsoniana trees, and seedling families. Differences in mortality and lesion length were observed between the lineages. The higher aggressiveness of isolates of the TWJ and PNW lineages and the lower aggressiveness of the TWK lineage are discussed in view of the hypotheses on the history of spread and evolutionary history of the P. lateralis lineages.