Is Phytophthora kernoviae established in the UK?
P.kernoviae is not established widely in the UK, but occurs mainly in Cornwall and to a much lesser extent in South Wales.At present P. kernoviae does not appear to affect as many plant species as P. ramorum but there are indications that it is more virulent as it appears to be causing more serious damage to rhododendron. It has also been found causing potentially lethal infections on two English oaks and forty-five beech trees, as well as infecting other ornamental trees and shrubs. All this has increased our concern about the potential impact of this pathogen. Phytophthora ramorum and belongs to a different Phytophthora grouping. This is the first record of this pathogen anywhere in the world. is a fungal like organism which affects the aerial parts of its tree and shrub hosts. It was first found on rhododendron and a beech tree in Cornwall in 2003.
