Comparative aggressiveness and fungicide sensitivity of <i>Phytopythium vexans</i> and <i>P. litorale</i> associated with kiwifruit vine decline in <scp>Türkiye</scp>

This study establishes P. litorale as a highly aggressive pathogen in KVDS etiology and demonstrates that in vitro data alone are misleading for predicting fungicide field performance. Pyraclostrobin-based fungicides are identified as the most effective candidates for managing KVDS caused by P. litorale. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating in vivo validation in screening protocols and adopting species-specific management approaches, providing a critical roadmap for developing sustainable solutions against this devastating disease. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.