Phytophthora cinnamomi is an oomycete that occurs world-wide. The fungus-like organism causes severe root rot and dieback on Fraser firs, shortleaf and loblolly pines, azaleas, camellia, boxwood, and many other trees and woody ornamentals (5). The disease impacts a range of economic groups including nursery crops and avocado production, managed forests, and Christmas tree farms.The fungus can be isolated from the soil and plant material either by plating on a selective medium or baiting. Direct soil plating involves suspending 1 g of infested soil in approximately 25 ml of distilled water. The soil to water ratio may be adjusted depending on the pathogen population levels. The soil-water suspension is transferred onto the surface of PARPH-V8 selective agar plates at a rate of approximately 5 ml of suspension per plate, then allowed to incubate for three days. PARPH-V8 contains 20 g agar, 200 ml filtered V8 broth, 800 ml deionized water, 50 g hymexazol, 5 mg pimiricin, 10 mg rifampicin, 250 mg ampicillin, and 125 mg a.i. pentachloronitrobenzene. After a three day incubation period at room temperature, the residue on the plates is washed off under running tap water with a spatula or finger pads so that the plate can be examined for colonies