Fishing for Phytophthora in watercourses of the highly urbanized Swiss Plateau

• DOI: 10.1007/s11557-024-01951-7
• Publication Date: 2024-03-01T05:05:01Z
• Authors: Corine N. Schoebel; Simone Prospero; Daniel Rigling; Beat Ruffner
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences

Abstract Phytophthora species are a cause for concern due to their invasive potential and the damage they can in agriculture, forestry, natural ecosystems worldwide. Since water plays crucial role dispersal, stream river baiting is commonly used survey risk areas presence of quarantine species. However, our understanding distribution diversity European watercourses remains incomplete. This study investigated Swiss watercourses, with focus on highly urbanized Plateau. Over period 2012–2016, we sampled 32 including major rivers smaller streams. We isolated selective media sequenced internal transcribed spacer region identify recovered 241 isolates, representing 11 from five clades. clade 6 prevailed, P. lacustris being most common, found 94.7% watercourses. The number per watercourse ranged one five, no correlation complexity. Our reveals six previously unreported Switzerland, while known were not found. Watercourses appear less suited detect pathogenic still limited environment.