The oomycete vegetable pathogen Phytophthora capsici has shown remarkable adaptation to fungicides and new hosts. Like other members of this destructive genus, P. capsici has an explosive epidemiology, rapidly producing massive numbers of asexual spores on infected hosts. In addition, P. capsici can remain dormant for years as sexually-recombined oospores, making it difficult to produce crops at infested sites, and allowing outcrossing populations to maintain significant genetic variation. Genome sequencing, development of a high-density genetic map, and integrative genomic/genetic characterization of P. capsici field isolates and intercross progeny revealed significant mitotic loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and higher levels of SNVs than those reported for humans, plants, and P. infestans. LOH was detected in clonally propagated field isolates and sexual progeny, cumulatively affecting >30% of the genome. LOH altered genotypes for more than 11,000 single nucleotide variant (SNV) sites and showed a strong association with changes in mating type and pathogenicity. Overall, it appears that LOH may provide a rapid mechanism for fixing alleles and may be an important component of adaptability for P. capsici.

Isolates of Phytophthora infestans (n = 178) were collected in 2002 to 2009 from the eastern United States, Midwestern United States, and eastern Canada. Multilocus genotypes were defined using allozyme genotyping, and DNA fingerprinting with the RG-57 probe. Several previously described and three new mulitilocus genotypes were detected. The US-8 genotype was found commonly on commercial potato crops but not on tomato. US-20 was found on tomato in North Carolina from 2002 through 2007 and in Florida in 2005. US-21 was found on tomato in North Carolina in 2005 and Florida in 2006 and 2007. US-22 was detected on tomato in 2007 in Tennessee and New York and became widespread in 2009. US-22 was found in 12 states on tomato and potato and was spread on tomato transplants. This genotype accounted for about 60% of all the isolates genotyped. The US-23 genotype was found in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware on both tomato and potato in 2009. The US-24 genotype was found only in North Dakota in 2009. A1 and A2 mating types were found in close proximity on potato and tomato crops in Pennsylvania and Virginia; therefore, the possibility of sexual reproduction should be monitored. Whereas most individuals of US-8 and US-20 were resistant to mefenoxam, US-21 appeared to be intermediately sensitive, and isolates of US-22, US-23, and US-24 were largely sensitive to mefenoxam. On the basis of sequence analysis of the ras gene, these latter three genotypes appear to have been derived from a common ancestor. Further field and laboratory studies are underway using simple sequence repeat genotyping to monitor current changes in the population structure of P. infestans causing late blight in North America.

Phytophthora capsici infects cucurbitaceous and solanaceous crops worldwide. In free water, P. capsici sporangia release zoospores that may be disseminated by moving surface water. Surface irrigation sources (river system, ponds, and ditches) in three Michigan counties with a history of P. capsici-susceptible crop production were monitored for the pathogen during four growing seasons (2002 to 2005). Pear and cucumber baits were suspended in water at monitoring sites for 3- to 7-day intervals and water temperature was recorded. Baits were washed and lesions were excised and cultured on water agar amended with rifampicin and ampicillin. P. capsici was detected at monitoring sites in multiple years, even when non-host crops were planted nearby. Recovered isolates (N = 270) were screened for sensitivity to the fungicide mefenoxam and characterized for mating type (MT). P. capsici isolates resistant to mefenoxam were common in water sources from southwest and southeast Michigan. Most monitoring sites yielded isolates of a 1:1 ratio of A1:A2 MTs. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of select isolates from 2002 to 2004 indicated a lack of similarity groups persisting over time and in specific geographical locations. Data suggest that P. capsici did not overwinter in any of the surface water sources monitored. Water temperatures were correlated to positive P. capsici detection from all monitoring sites. The frequent detection of P. capsici in surface water used for irrigation in the primary vegetable growing regions in Michigan suggests that this is an important means of pathogen dissemination.

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