Overview

The overall objective is to produce a platform of tools needed to detect, identify, and ultimately prevent spread of novel species of Phytophthora with a major focus on development of surveillance tools for common and high threat species of Phytophthora on horticultural crops including potato and root crops, cacao and floriculture crops from Central America. We are deploying a series of technologies including: a Phytophthora diagnostics workshop, protocols book, a Lucid key, molecular and digital diagnostic identification systems to identify Phytophthora species and improve the diagnostic capabilities for important plant disease clinics in the region. We work with collaborators including, FHIA in Honduras, Universidad de Costa Rica, Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE), The World Cocoa Foundation, DOLE Fresh Fruit, the Organization of Tropical Studies and the Associacion de Mujeres Indigenous de Talamanca (ACMUITA) to conduct a survey of Phytophthora species on horticultural crops in the region. The accurate identification of Phytophthora has important implications for growers in Latin America and the US and will result in the development of a Central American Phytophthora Diagnostic Network (CAPDN).