Isolates of Phytophthora colocasiae from Hainan Island in China: Evidence Suggesting an Asian Origin of This Species

Abstract

The 280 isolates of Phytophthora colocasiae obtained from Hainan Island consisted of 136 A1, 102 A2 and 42 A0 mating types. The three mating types tested were all pathogenic to taro leaves and similar in electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins. The representative isolates tested showed considerable variation in growth response to temperature, in ability to produce sporangia and in morphology of sporangia. Results suggest that Hainan Island is inside the center of origin of P. colocasiae.