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Title

The Threat to the World Phytophthora Genetic Resource Collection (WPC) is Imminent and Real

Writer

Michael Coffey

Contents

The WPC has been in existence for 50 years. The last ten years have seen dramatic changes with the emergence of many new threatening diseases caused by new strains or even new species of Phytophthora. At the same time many collections of Phytophthora have either been lost or incorporated into the WPC. But its very existence is now in jeopardy.

What is the WPC?
It is the only major depository of the species. It contains about 10,000 accessions stored under liquid nitrogen. It also has a DNA Bank consisting of 6000 deposits stored at -86C. Currently, ITS sequences of about 2500 accessions have, or soon will be, submitted to GenBank and the Phytophthora Database. It therefore represents a unique and invaluable resource.

What is the threat to its existence?
Since its inception in the 1960s the WPC has always been threatened. In 1980 a conference was organized by APS to discuss its plight with the retirement of Professor Zentmyer. A new curator arrived in 1981 and it was saved. The University of California recognized its importance and uniqueness and provided a grant of 00 annually from 1986 until 2007. The Department of Plant Pathology provided matching funds until 2007. A competitive grant from the USDA Crop Biosecurity Program provided an alternative source of funding until March 2010. The threat to its continued existence is real. There is no funding available after March 2010.

What is the value of the Collection?
It contains unique and extensive genetic resources of many important global species including Phytophthora infestans. P. palmivora and P. nicotianae. There is a DNA Bank and many of these deposits have been characterized by ITS and other sequencing. It is the only major resource of live cultures, matching DNA and ITS sequences in existence.

How can it be saved?
If there was a relatively small annual grant of about ,000 it could be maintained. This would allow for consumables such as liquid nitrogen, cryotubes, media and plates. It would also allow for critical repairs as the majority of LN dewars are no longer capable of automatic filling. It would also provide for some part-time student help in preparing materials for deposition or retrieval.

What if there is no support?
The most valuable genetic resource for Phytophthora research will be lost within a few months.

Professor Michael David Coffey PhD, FTCD
coffey@ucr.edu
cell 951 990 2579
phone 951 827 4764