Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora andina on Solanaceous Hosts in South America

Abstract

This review summarizes research on the closely related pathogens Phytophthora infestans and P. andina and their hosts in S. America. Hopefully, the paper brings together information not previously assembled, although it is not exhaustive. Not all areas of S. America have contributed directly. For example, there is no direct contribution from Brazil, an important potato and tomato producing country. However, the Brazilian pathogen populations are more or less defined and the data is summarized from the literature. An important issue is the uncertain taxonomy of both the hosts and pathogens, as evidenced by a recent collegial debate on the naming of P. andina in the journal Plant Pathology (Cárdenas et al. 2011; G. A. Forbes et al. 2011). Overall, the resources dedicated to finding new host/pathogen interactions involving solanaceous plants and Phytophthora is limited and many researchers believe that much diversity is lurking undiscovered in the Andean region.