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Phytophthora megasperma, a pathogen of Trifolium repens in irrigated pastures of northern Victoria

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Abstract

This is the first report of Phytophthora megasperma Drechs. causing root rot of white clover (Tryolium repens L.) in Australia. The fungus was isolated from diseased and apparently healthy white clover roots and nodules, from a wide range of sites in northern Victoria. The morphology of the fungus is described and compared with other members of the P. megasperma complex. Pathogenicity studies showed that root rot caused by the fungus occurred more commonly on nodulated than un-nodulated plants. The fungus was frequently observed to sporulate profusely from discoloured nodules found on infected plants and this suggests that nodules may provide the site for infection.

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Williams, B.L., Pascoe, I.G. Phytophthora megasperma, a pathogen of Trifolium repens in irrigated pastures of northern Victoria. Australasian Plant Pathology 23, 88–96 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1071/APP9940088

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/APP9940088

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