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DNA blueprints may abate sudden oak death

LIVERMORE, Calif., June 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy has completed genetic blueprints of two organisms responsible for Sudden Oak Death and soybean disease.

The department's Joint Genome Institute has blueprinted Phytophthora ramorum -- a fungus-like pathogen that causes the forest disease SOD -- and the related Phytophthora sojae, which causes soybean disease.

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Experts at the institute and the California Oak Mortality Task Force met this week at the Walnut Creek Production Genomics Facility to discuss how the DNA sequence information will yield more sensitive field detection systems for these diseases and more effective treatments.

SOD, which has caused a dieback of oak tree species in California, has spread throughout 13 state counties and has been detected in 125 nurseries across the country.

Soybean disease accounts for a number of conditions and pests that cause stem and root rot, molds and seed decays, according to the Laboratory for Soybean Disease Research at the University of Illinois.

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