Discovered by Forest Research scientists from a beech bleeding canker in 2003

During surveys in the southwest of England in November 2003, a new species of Phytophthora, later named Phytophthora kernoviae, was discovered by Professor Clive Brasier, Emeritus Mycologist at Forest Research. It was isolated from a beech tree with bleeding canker.

At the same time researchers from the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) isolated an identical organism from infected rhododendrons.

Since the discovery, our scientists have been involved in extensive studies and the characterisation of this novel organism, given the name kernoviae, derived from Kernow, the Cornish name for Cornwall.

Further reading

• Research paper: Phytophthora kernoviae sp. nov., an invasive pathogen
• Management of Phytophthora kernoviae and P. ramorum in south west England. Phytophthoras in Forests and Natural Ecosystems (pages 177-183)
• Fichtner et al. (2012). Infectivity and sporulation potential of Phytophthora kernoviae to select North American native plants. Plant Pathology.