European forests are currently threatened by numerous endogenous and introduced Phytophthora species. With the intensification of international trade and in the context of changing climate, the situation is likely to worsen. Invasive ,Phytophthora spp. are inadvertently introduced and the situation is complicated by the recent events of hybridization within this genus. Poland, having huge forested lands and where forests represent an important economic income is facing these problems. Monitoring, efficient diagnostic and identification of Phytophthora diseases is crucial towards coping with such pathogens.

On February 21-24, in the Forest Research Institute in Warsaw, the course on molecular technologies for diagnostic of Phytophthora species was carried out. The aim of the course was to make foresters familiar with Phytophthora menace, to provide them with basic knowledge of pathogen biology and epidemiology and to introduce to them cutting edge technologies making Phytophthora diagnostic efficient and very easy to perform. This technological transfer should help to identify Phytophthora diseases during surveys, to build links between foresters and scientists and to provide practitioners with best means of managing these emerging diseases.

The Course was conducted by experienced scientists from this Institute represented by Dr Tomasz Oszako and Swiss experts represented by Dr Lassaad Belbahri and Gautier Calmin from University of Applied Sciences in Lullier. The participants were from the Forest Protection Service, Forest Districts, and from Agricultural Academy in Warsaw, Cracow and Poznan.

Different presentations introducing the problem were organised. Molecular technologies and emerging technologies were conducted by the different groups of foresters participating in the course. This includes baiting of Phytophthora spp., DNA extraction, PCR, Real Time PCR, kits for identification of Phytophthora, spp.

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