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Phytophthora, the plant destroyer

Hundreds of species of plants, including many important crop, horticultural and forest species across Australia are killed by plant pathogens in the genus Phytophthora. Phytophthora diseases cause huge economic losses (estimated at over AU$200 million annually) and extensive environmental damage. Professor Adrienne Hardham, from the University’s Research School of Biological Sciences, heads a team working on understanding the molecular and cellular basis of infection of host plants with a view to being able to apply this knowledge to the development of novel and sustainable ways of controlling Phytophthora diseases.
The photograph on the left shows a healthy jarrah forest in
Western Australia; on the right a similar forest is shown
after infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi.
The major infective agents for most species of Phytophthora are motile spores called zoospores which swim in waterlogged soil and are attracted to the roots of potential host plants. The spores release an adhesive and stick themselves to the root surface from where they invade and colonise the plant. One of the approaches Prof. Hardham and her group have taken in their research is the generation of antibodies which serve as highly specific markers and help identify certain components of the zoospores.
Another major aspect of their research is the identification and characterisation of “pathogenicity genes” - genes whose encoded proteins play essential roles in infection and the spread of disease. This research will contribute to knowledge of fundamental aspects of Phytophthora growth, reproduction and development and provide information on genes which could serve as targets for the development of new control treatments. The group is also interested in the cell biology of the plant response to infection by fungal and oomycete pathogens. In particular they have been able to document the rapid reorganisation of important organelles in response to attack by a various pathogens.
Professor Adrienne Hardham,
Plant Cell Biology Group, RSBS, ANU

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