2026/03/31 by Geoffrey R. Dixon, Strelkov Stephen E., Sarah Trinder +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid #Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics #Platelet Disorders and Treatments
paper · doi:10.1080/14620316.2026.2645630
openalex publication_date 2026/03/31 · openalex created_date 2026/04/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a major disease of brassicas. The European Clubroot Differential (ECD) set developed in 1974 harmonises classification of variation in pathotypes across Brassica rapa, B. napus, and B. oleracea. This review traces the origin, evolution, and global legacy of the ECD. Early studies revealed pathotype variability even within single fields, highlighting the need for reliable differential hosts. The ECD triptych of 15 hosts provides a foundation for international collaboration and research. Despite initial limitations in reproducibility due to mixed pathotypes and host variability, the ECD system enabled comparative pathotyping across continents. Nationally tailored differential sets, including French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Sinitic), and Canadian versions, emerged addressing local cropping systems and resistance sources. The Canadian Clubroot Differential (CCD) set, derived from the ECD and expanded with B. napus cultivars, provided critical insights into emerging pathotypes and resistance erosion in canola. Tools, such as molecular markers and genome-wide association studies, enhanced pathotype discrimination and opportunities for resistance breeding. Region-specific sets remain essential until genomic tools enable comprehensive standardisation. The ECD’s enduring contribution lies in shaping both historical and contemporary approaches for sustainably managing one of the most economically damaging diseases of brassica crops worldwide.