Figure 1.

Phytophthora cinnamomi kills thousands of plant species in natural ecosystems in Western Australia, threatening the environment and biodiversity. (A) An uninfected area within a Eucalypt forest south of Perth dominated by Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah), Banksia grandis and Xanthorea species (grasstrees). (B) Xanthorea species and many proteaceous plants in Western Australia are highly susceptible to P. cinnamomi. When present, P. cinnamomi dramatically changes the floral composition of the region, with more resistant species, such as acacias, rushes and sedges, replacing the plants that have been killed.