Phytophthora Foot Rot of Wasabi Caused by Phytophthora pseudocryptogea

In June 2021, foot rot symptoms were observed in wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) plants growing in vinyl greenhouses of the Alpine Agricultural Experiment Station, Wild Vegetable Research Institute, in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, Korea. Diseased plants displayed black soft rot of crowns and petioles at the soil line and wilted. The incidence of diseased plants was 2-10% in four out of five vinyl greenhouses investigated. Eight fungal isolates were obtained from diseased plants. All the isolates were identified as Phytophthora pseudocrytogea based on their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. Three isolates of P. pseudocrytogea were used for pathogenicity test on wasabi plants via artificial inoculation. The pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed in the inoculated wasabi plants. The symptoms shown by the inoculated plants were similar to those observed in plants from the investigated vinyl greenhouses. This is the first report of P. pseudocryptogea causing Phytophthora foot rot in wasabi.