Pathogenic and genetic diversity in Plasmodiophora brassicae (clubroot) from Japan

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin, affects various cruciferous crops. Variations in pathogenicity and virulence are present among field populations of P. brassicae. Many races (pathotypes) have been reported in Japan as well as in other countries using various differential systems. Populations can be classified into four pathotypes using two clubroot-resistant (CR) cultivars of Chinese cabbage as differential hosts in Japan. However, it was recently indicated that each population is often heterogenic and composed of multiple genotypes (races or pathotypes). Breakdown in CR cultivars of Chinese cabbage is a problem in some areas of Japan and may contribute to the selective propagation of minor pathogenic genotypes on the CR cultivars. Clubroot has also been recorded on five species of cruciferous weeds in Japan. In particular, clubroot of Cardamine flexuosa is widely distributed in Japan. Some populations of C. flexuosa are often moderately pathogenic on Chinese cabbage and turnip. Therefore, the epidemiological relationship between clubroot of cruciferous crops and that of the weed has been noted but not thoroughly clarified. The relationship between pathogenic and genetic variations has also been examined among populations from cruciferous crops and weeds in Japan. The result implies an interesting genetic relationship among Williams’ races, among pathotypes determined using CR cultivars of Chinese cabbage and among populations from crops and C. flexuosa. This review includes an introduction of the status of studies on pathogenic and genetic diversity in P. brassicae from Japan.