phytophthora

[ fahy-tof-ther-uh ]

noun

1. any of a group of fungi of the genus Phytophthora, which cause a serious plant disease, especially affecting apple and pear trees and potatoes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phytophthora¹

< New Latin (1876), equivalent to Greek phyto- phyto- + -phthora, feminine of -phthoros, verbid of phtheírein to destroy

Example Sentences

North Carolina State University researchers used text analytics on both historic and modern writing to reveal more information about the effects and spread of the plant pathogen -- now known as Phytophthora infestans -- that caused the 1840s Irish potato famine and that continues to vex breeders of potatoes and tomatoes.

From Science Daily

That can mean planting in soil that’s warmer and wetter — places where a nasty fungal disease called Phytophthora root rot can take hold, sucking moisture away from saplings and causing needles to crisp to burnt orange.

From Seattle Times

Chastagner has been concerned that changing soil temperature and moisture “may change the frequency at which we would see some Phytophthora that are more adapted to warmer soil conditions.”

From Seattle Times

“Phytophthora thrives on these humid, moist, kind of swampier sites. Unfortunately, that is the kind of problem that's kind of creeping up into our region as things start to warm up.”

From Salon

The main threat is a root rot in the trees caused by a soil-borne pathogen called Phytophthora, a new strain of the same microorganism that helped cause the Irish famine of the 1840s.

From Salon