Five Phytophthora species comprising a total of 243 isolates (77 P. cinnamomi, 23 P. citrophthora, 18 P. multivora, 18 P. pini, and 107 P. plurivora) were screened for sensitivity to mefenoxam, fosetyl-Al, dimethomorph, dimethomorph + ametoctradin, and fluoxastrobin using amended agar assays. Mefenoxam-insensitive isolates were detected within P. cinnamomi (4%), P. multivora (11%), and P. plurivora (12%) even atapproximately 2.5×the recommendedlabelrate. These isolates were also insensitive to higher (off-label) concentrations of fluoxastrobin. Concentrations of dimethomorph (400 lg/ml) and dimethomorph + ametoctradin (100 lg/ml) were mostly effective in mycelial growth inhibition, but two P. plurivora isolates were insensitive, suggesting that resistance management is required. All mefenoxam-insensitive isolates were sensitive to fosetyl-Al at the label rate. Surprisingly, populations of P. cinnamomi from mid-Atlantic oak forests included insensitive isolates. For mostspecies, isolates recovered from asymptomatic hosts (e.g., soil/potting media collected from randomly selected asymptomatic hosts) had a significantly greaterrelative growth ratewhencompared with isolates recovered from symptomatic hosts (e.g., isolates recovered from lesions or wilted plants). These findings suggest that mefenoxam and fluoxastrobin should be used sparingly to manage oomycetes in Maryland ornamental nurseries.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), causes losses in tomato production worldwide, with major impacts on Californian tomato processing. Single-gene resistance is the primary management tool, but its efficacy has been compromised following the emergence of two successive resistance-breaking races, which, in California, emerged within 12 years of resistance deployment. Fol race 3-resistant (F3) processing tomato cultivars (containing the I3 resistance gene) were deployed in the state starting in approximately 2009. The emergence of a new resistance-breaking race (which would be called race 4) is imminent, and early detection will be critical to delay the spread while new resistance is sought. The detection of Fol race 4 is challenged by the lack of validated, rapid, and accurate diagnostic tools. In evaluating in planta phenotyping methods, this study found that rapid seedling phenotyping is not reliable and generates false positives for nonpathogens. Longer (10 weeks) mature plant assays are the most reliable, but may not be sufficiently timely. As an additional challenge, based on field and greenhouse studies, Fol race 3 can cause symptoms in resistant F3 cultivars at frequencies greater (30%) than expected for off-types (<2%). We developed a three-F3 cultivar in planta assay to overcome the challenges this posed to differentiating Fol race 3 and Fol race 4. Using the assay, we determined that all putative resistance-breaking cases were Fol race 3; Fol race 4 was not detected in these early survey efforts. These results highlight the need for developing rapid Fol race 4 detection tools and a better understanding of the factors underlying inconsistent I3 gene expression in Fol race 3.

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option available.