Learning Opportunity: How To Protect Floriculture Crops from Oomycete Pathogens

By Nick Matysik|January 5, 2026

Oomycete pathogens (fungus-like microorganisms that cause diseases in plants and animals) are a consistent threat within floriculture. Helping to initiate and spread Phytophthora and Pythium, these pathogens have led to widespread crop losses, resulting in both economic pressure and food insecurity. So, what can growers do to stay up-to-date on the latest research and methods to combat oomycete pathogens?

American Floral Endowment‘s upcoming webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, as part of its ongoing Grow Pro series, will cover the latest research on managing oomycete pathogens in floriculture production. Topics of the webinar will include:

The biology of Pythium and Phytophthora.
Effective management practices.
How to diagnose root rot issues.
Strategies to improve root-zone health and reduce disease pressure.

The featured speaker for “Ruh Roh, Root Rot! Managing Oomycete Pathogens in Floriculture Production” is Dr. Johanna Del Castillo, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension at the University of California, Davis. Her work as a plant pathologist focuses on the:

Biological understanding of fungal and oomycete pathogens.
Development of applied research to solve current agricultural problems.
Improving sustainable solutions for disease control.

Willing participants can register for the webinar directly through Zoom or by visiting the Grow Pro Webinar series page on the AFE website, where information on future webinars in the series can be found. Recordings of all past Grow Pro webinars can also be found on the AFE’s YouTube channel.