| Summary: | <i>Phytophthora</i> species are known as water molds and are widespread in rivers and riparian habitats, but the distribution of these oomycetes in coastal and sea ecosystems is not well explored. The present study aims to investigate salt tolerance and potential to survive in marine environment of thirteen <i>Phytophthora</i> species, including <i>P. citricola</i>, <i>P. plurivora</i>, <i>P. pseudosyringae</i>, <i>P. inundata</i>, <i>P. chlamydospora</i>, <i>P. gonapodyides</i>, <i>P. bilorbang</i>, <i>P. lacustris</i>, <i>P. pseudocryptogea</i>, <i>P. syringae</i>, <i>P. polonica</i>, <i>P. honggalleglyana</i>, and <i>P. gallica</i>. The effect of varying concentrations of sodium chloride and the impact of sea water from the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea on mycelial growth, colony type, and formation of different morphological structures by <i>Phytophthora</i> species were studied. The tested isolates belong to different clades of the genus and members of clade 6 stand out with more extensive colony growth on media with elevated salt content compared to the growth on the control medium. A number of <i>Phytophthora</i> isolates produced morphological structures for sexual and/or asexual reproduction under salt stress conditions. The ability of the studied <i>Phytophthora</i> species to exist in marine environment is discussed.
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