New Pythium Species Isolated By Ohio Scientists

Scientists at the Ohio State University have identified a new species of Pythium, a water mold that attacks soybeans and corn in saturated soils killing newly emerged seedlings. Pythium pathogens are one of the major causes of crop replants, and are becoming more economically important because of the continued rise in seed costs. The new Pythium species, called Pythium delawarii, was labeled as a new species when its characteristics didn't match any of the more than 200 described Pythium species. Anne Dorrance, lead author of the paper published in Mycologia, said that the discovery would aid in future management of Pythium diseases and help in developing new cultivars and seed treatment compounds.

For more information, read http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~oardcrss/story.php?id=5167 The paper published by Mycologia is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3852/08-133