Why Sequence Sudden Oak Death and Soybean Blight Pathogens?
Phytophthora is a genus of the oomycetes (water molds), which, through convergent evolution, have similarities to fungi. Oomycetes are not fungi (as had been earlier thought), however; they are stramenopiles, members of a kingdom distinct from plants, fungi, and animals that also includes diatoms and golden-brown and brown algae, such as kelp. Fifty-nine species of Phytophthora are recognized. They attack hundreds of different plant species, including many crops, costing tens of billions of dollars in damage per year. Genome sequencing efforts at JGI have focused on two species, Phytophthora sojae and P. ramorum. P. sojae has been developed as a model species for the genus, having in place excellent genetic and genomics resources (including genetic maps, BAC libraries, and EST sequences) as well as having a well organized community of researchers. The particularly virulent P. ramorum is now destroying coastal oaks in California (causing Sudden Oak Death); attacks black oak, shreve oak,
