Deadly plant disease found in Scotland

A parasitic fungi described as the "foot and mouth" of the plant world has been discovered in two National Trust gardens in Scotland.

Arduaine Gardens, near Oban, and Inverewe Gardens, Wester Ross, have both reported cases of Phytophthora.

The fungal disease is known as sudden oak death disease and causes brown rot in plants.

It is a notifiable disease meaning cases must be reported to the authorities.

It affects shrubs such as rhododendrons, lilacs and viburnums.

Gordon Gray Stephens, director of Scottish Native Woods, told This Is North Scotland: "It is potentially very serious in terms of our native woodlands.

"The Atlantic oak woods, for which Argyll and Lochaber are the strong-holds, are Scotland's temperate rainforest. While we are talking about saving rainforests in third-world countries, we ought to be taking action to save our own.

"This is one of a number of tree diseases that are coming into this country. Nothing is safe. One of the big problems is people moving diseases around the world."

The disease is thought to be spread by rain splash, irrigation or ground water as well as by movement of contaminated plant material or in soil carried by vehicles, machinery, footwear or animals.