Objective European forests and related ecosystems are under threat of destruction or serious damage from the plant pathogenic pseudofungus Phytophthora. Nine damaging species, 7 new to science, have been discovered in many parts of Europe, from the UK to Turkey, damaging native forests and riparian ecosystems. Usually, large trees, oak, beech and alder, are attacked but under storey plants are also affected. Changes wrought by Phytophthora threaten the integrity, health, biodiversity, flora and stability of forests and riverbanks. Monitoring disease, tracking its movement and determining biodiversity within Phytophthora will provide an improved understanding of the origins of the cluster and thus aid the development of sustainable prophylactic strategies. There is however a lack of suitable methodology for this task. The aim therefore is to develop a 'toolbox ' of molecular markers for some or all of these nine Phytophthora species in plants, soil and water. A.generic technique for detecting Phytophthora, currently under development, will be adapted to detect several/all of the species of interest simultaneously. In addition, a panel of co-dominant micro satellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and mitochondrial (tm) DNA markers, will be developed to study their population genetics and gene flow. An existing panel of markers, already developed for studies of P. infesting, the cause of the economically important disease late blight of potato and tomato, will be adapted for this study. Many of the present markers are located within conserved genes and should be transferable, with modification. The tactical goals are (1) To develop detection technology to detect all species of Phytophthora affecting native forests and other natural ecosystems in Europe, even when several species are pres net in a sample, and (2) to adapt and expand an existing panel of micro satellites, SNPs and medina markers for P. intestine, to the same wider range of damaging Phytophthora. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsnucleotides Keywords Nanotechnology Phytophthora Risk Assessment forests molecular markers movement PCR detection origins population biology Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Call for proposal FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships Coordinator SCOTTISH CROP RESEARCH INSTITUTE EU contribution No data Address Invergowrie DUNDEE United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data