14 New ‘Plant Destroyers’ Just Found in Minnesota, Bad News For Our Trees

A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota just made a discovery that sounds like it’s straight out of a plant horror movie.

More than a dozen new water molds infamous for wiping out trees, crops, and ornamental plants around the world are now hanging out in Minnesota forests, nurseries, and waterways, possibly threatening everything from our lush city canopies to the trees up north.

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These 14 previously unreported species of Phytophthora, aka “plant destroyers,” have been detected across the state.

What Exactly Is Phytophthora?

In Greek, Phytophthora literally means "plant destroyer." The U of M says these sneaky invaders are responsible for some of the most destructive plant diseases on the planet, including sudden oak death and aggressive root rot.

According to researchers, they thrive in moist environments, so Minnesota's forests and waterways are basically a dream vacation spot for them.

“With over 5,000 host plants, Phytophthora can cause root rot, decline, and even mortality in many woody species,” said Robert Blanchette, a U of M professor and co-author of the study.

That’s a big problem for Minnesota’s natural ecosystems and nursery industry.

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14 New-to-Minnesota 'Plant Destroyer' Species Detected

The University of Minnesota research team, led by postdoctoral researcher Nickolas Rajtar, spent three years surveying nurseries, forests, and waterways across the state. They detected 22 total species of Phytophthora, 14 of which had never been reported in Minnesota before.

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Researchers discovered that many nurseries in Minnesota import plant materials from out of state, and that could be an easy way for harmful pathogens to sneak in.

Forests and waterways have long been overlooked as sources of infection and are now clearly part of the problem.

U of M says there has been “little to no research” on Phytophthora in Minnesota’s natural environments until now.

“Early detection is the key to mitigating large economic losses,” said Rajtar. “This research is incredibly important to protect our urban and natural forest systems.”

Now that these new species have been identified, researchers will start testing just how harmful they are and how easily they spread.

They’ll also continue monitoring Minnesota’s landscapes, nurseries, and waterways to catch any new invaders early.

Why Minnesotans Should Care About These New "Plant Destroyers"

Whether you’re a gardener, a city tree-lover, or someone who hikes up north, this matters. Invasive pathogens like Phytophthora can devastate local trees, hurt native ecosystems, and cause huge losses in agriculture and landscaping.

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Plus, once these diseases take hold, they’re incredibly hard to stop.

By keeping tabs on what’s in our soil and waterways now, the University of Minnesota is helping us avoid the kinds of plant pandemics other parts of the country have already faced.

If you want to dig deeper into the research or follow updates, check out the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences