CSIRO PUBLISHING - Australasian Plant Pathology

Phytophthora cinnamomi causing disease in subalpine vegetation in New South Wales

K. L. McDougall, B. A. Summerell, D. Coburn and M. Newton

Abstract

Phytophthora cinnamomi is causing the death of a dominant understorey shrub (Oxylobium arborescens) in subalpine woodland at Barrington Tops National Park, northern New South Wales. A threatened species, Tasmannia purpurascens, is also affected. The diseased area is about 5 ha, which is large in New South Wales where P. cinnamomi has not been regarded as a serious pathogen. The infestation is unusual in such high altitude vegetation.