Crop Knowledge Master Fungi

Pythium Primer

General Information Summary
Pathogens & Hosts Taxonomy Characteristics Disease Types Management Graphics References

Authors

Andrew K. Gonsalves, Educational Specialist

Stephen A. Ferreira, Extension Plant Pathologist

Department of Plant Pathology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

University of Hawaii at Manoa

PATHOGENS & HOSTS

Over twenty Pythium species have been reported to occur in Hawaii (Raabe, et al., 1981). The following is a list of the reported pathogens from this genus (Pythium) and the hosts they infect. The list is organized by the scientific name of the pathogen species (CAPITAL LETTERS), followed by the various susceptible plant hosts. Words in blue indicate what symptom or disease a given pathogen causes on the listed hosts.

PYTHIUM ACANTHOPHORON

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM APHANIDERMATUM

Basal Stem Rot:

banana (Musa acuminata, AAA)

Crown and Root Rot:

taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Schlumbergera truncata

Root Rot:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

sweet pepper (Capsicum frutescens)

watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris)

croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

ti (Cordyline terminalis)

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)

Dracaena deremensis

Echeveria sp.

English lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

Hawaiian holly (Leea coccinea)

tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

rice (Oryza sativa)

yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f.sp. flavicarpa)

Phlox sp.

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

Verbena peruviana

corn, maize (Zea mays)

ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Zoysia sp.

Other:

papaya (Carica papaya)

cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

PYTHIUM ARRHENOMANES

Root Rot:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

banana (Musa acuminata, AAA)

mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

common wheat (Triticum aestivum)

corn, maize (Zea mays)

Rootlet Rot:

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Other:

Billbergia sp.

honohono grass (Commelina diffusa)

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

para grass (Panicum purpurascens)

potato (Solanum tuberosum)

broad bean (Vicia faba)

PYTHIUM ARTOTROGUS

Root Rot:

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

Other:

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

para grass (Panicum purpurascens)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

cowpea (Vigna sinensis)

PYTHIUM ARTOTROGUS var. MACROCANTHUM

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM CAROLINEANUM

Root and Corm Rot:

taro (Colocasia esculenta)

PYTHIUM DEBARYANUM

Root Rot:

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

corn, maize (Zea mays)

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

taro (Colocasia esculenta)

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

potato (Solanum tuberosum)

broad bean (Vicia faba)

cowpea (Vigna sinensis)

PYTHIUM DIMERON

sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

PYTHIUM GRAMINICOLA

Root and Corm Rot:

taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Other:

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

ginger (Zingiber officinale)

PYTHIUM INDIGOFERAE

Root Rot:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM INTERMEDIUM

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM IRREGULARE

Root Rot:

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

broad bean (Vicia faba)

PYTHIUM ?MAMMILLATUM

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM MEGALACANTHUM

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM POLYMORPHON

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

PYTHIUM ROSTRATUM

Root Rot:

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

potato (Solanum tuberosum)

corn, maize (Zea mays)

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

para grass (Panicum purpurascens)

broad bean (Vicia faba)

PYTHIUM SP.

Damping-Off:

Tabebuia pentiphylla

Root Rot:

Formosan koa (Acacia confusa)

Norway maple (Acer platanoides)

maidenhair fern (Adiantum decorum)

Agave victoriae-reginae

Aglaonema sp.

red ginger (Alpinia purpurata)

aphelandra (Aphelandra squarrosa)

celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce)

columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)

Asparagus setaceus

Asparagus sprengeri

Begonia sp.

cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Chinese or celery cabbage (Brassica pekinensis)

box (Buxus microphylla var. japonica)

cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata)

parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

golden-fruited palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

florist's chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Chryothemis pulchella

tangerine (Citrus reticulata)

pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo)

Cucurbita sp.

Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Dracaena fragrans var. massangeana

Elaeocarpus sp.

centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)

grape gardenia (Ervatamia divaricata)

Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna)

Malayan spurge tree (Euphorbia antiquorum)

poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Gardenia sp.

Transvaal daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata)

Hedera sp.

kahili ginger (Hedychium garderianum)

hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

Impatiens sp.

Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambae)

head lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata)

pincushion protea (Leucospermum cordifolium)

privet (Ligustrum sp.)

paperbark (Melaleuca leucadendra)

orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata)

sword fern (Nephrolepis biserrata)

Nephrolepis exaltata

oleander (Nerium oleander)

olive (Olea europea)

Pelargonium hortorum

Peperomia caperata

Peperomia reflexa

avocado (Persea americana)

Philodendron micans

hares-foot fern (Phlebodium aureum)

artillery plant (Pilea macrophylla)

creeping charlie (Pilea nummularifolia)

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)

pea (Pisum sativum)

Pittosporum crassifolium

Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobera)

Plumeria acuminata

bird grass (Poa trivialis)

Podocarpus macrophyllus

leather holly fern (Polystichum adiantiforme)

cottonwood (Populus sp.)

Protea sp.

almond (Prunus amygalus)

Pteris sp.

radish (Raphanus sativus)

azalea (Rhododendron indicum)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

monkey pod (Samanea saman)

Schefflera sp.

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

pathos (Scindapsus aureus)

redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

'ohai (Sesbania tomentosa)

eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Soleirolia repens

sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Tagetes sp.

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)

wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensis)

lime berry (Triphasia trifolia)

nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Vinca sp.

Viola sp.

Xanthosoma brasiliensis

corn, maize (Zea mays)

cultivated zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

papaya (Carica papaya)

Musa sp.

rice (Oryza sativa)

petunia (Petunia hybrids)

edible-podded pea (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon)

Polyscias fruticosa

Spathiphyllum sp.

ginger (Zingiber officinale)

PYTHIUM SPLENDENS

Root Rot:

Aglaonema treubi

anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

papala, kepau (Bougainvillea umbellifera)

pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

China aster (Callistephus chinensis)

jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

Cinnamomum camphora

sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Jasminum sp.

Hawaiian holly (Leea coccinea)

yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f.sp. flavicarpa)

Peperomia sp.

mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis)

Piper ornatum

panax (Polyscias guilfoylei)

sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)

Spathoglottis sp.

Thuja sp.

common wheat (Triticum aestivum)

cowpea (Vigna sinensis)

corn, maize (Zea mays)

Root and Stem End Rot:

Dieffenbachia ?amoena

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

broad bean (Vicia faba)

PYTHIUM ULTIMUM

Damping-Off:

papaya (Carica papaya)

muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. melo)

cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Damping-Off and Root Rot:

giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Root Rot:

Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta

Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

PYTHIUM VEXANS

Root Rot:

onion (Allium cepa)

'ohi'a lehua (Metrosideros collina)

castor bean (Ricinus communis)

spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Other:

pineapple (Ananas comosus)

papaya (Carica papaya)

TAXONOMY

KINGDOM: Mycetae (fungi)

DIVISION: Eumycota

SUBDIVISION: Mastigomycotina (produce zoospores)

CLASS: Oomycetes (water molds, white rusts, downy mildews)

ORDER: Peronosporales

FAMILY: Pythiaceae

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

No information is available for this section at the moment, please check future Knowledge Master Versions.

TYPES OF DISEASES

No information is available for this section at the moment, please check future Knowledge Master Versions.

MANAGEMENT

No information is available for this section at the moment, please check future Knowledge Master Versions.

REFERENCES

Agrios, G.N. 1988. Plant Pathology, 3rd edition. Academic Press, Inc: San Diego. 803 pp.

Farr, , D.F., G.F. Bills, G.P. Chamuris, and A.Y. Rossman. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. APS PRESS: St. Paul, Minnesota. 1252 pp.

Raabe, Robert D., Ibra L. Conners, and Albert P. Martinez. 1981. Checklist of Plant Diseases in Hawaii. Hawaii Institute of Agriculture and Human Resources, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii (Information Text Series 022).

Streets, R.B. 1982. The Diagnosis of Plant Diseases: a field and laboratory manual emphasizing the most practical methods for rapid identification. The University of Arizona Press: Tucson, Arizona.

 

 

JUNE 1994

 

1-PYTHIU

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