Phytophthora (fi-tof-thor-a) is a serious, long-persistent, destructive disease that can easily be spread from farm to farm on infected fruit. This disease can last a decade in the soil and attacks (blights/melts) vine crops, solanaceous crops, and legumes. The disease is caused by an oomycete, which is a different kind of organism from a fungus. Most fungicides don't control oomycetes. Growers with phytophthora have to rely on specialized control chemistries and often must make substantial changes to their production plans and planting systems. You do NOT want this showing up on your farm, especially not because of some rotting fall vine crops brought in from elsewhere.