Leaf Blight of Fatsia japonica caused by Phytophthora cactorum (oral)

A leaf blight disease was found on Fatsia japonica plants growing in the first author's apartment garden in May, 2003. Major symptoms were leaf blight and petiole rot. A species of Phytophthora was isolated from the lesions. The isolate readily produced sporangia and sex organs on V8 juice agar plates. Sporangia were papillate, ovoid to subspherical and caducous with a pedicel. Sporangia were 33.6-38.4 ${\times}$ 33.6$\mu\textrm{m}$ with 1/b ratio approximately 1.14, papillae 4-5$\mu\textrm{m}$ high, pedicels also 4-5$\mu\textrm{m}$ long. Oogonia were spherical, 28.8$\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter. Antheridia were globose, 14.4$\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter and mating with oogonia paragynously. Mycelia grew best at 30$^{\circ}C$ and did not grow at 35$^{\circ}C$ or above, and at 5$^{\circ}C$. The morphological characteristics conformed to P. cactorum (Leb. And Cohn) Schroeter.