In this work, a protocol for zoospores production of Phytophthora cryptogea, an economically important plant pathogen was optimized. Five different concentrations of zoospores (5 × 105, 5 × 104, 5 × 103, 5 × 102, 5 × 101 zoospores/ml) from four different isolates of P. cryptogea (Maria 1, Maria 2, S3 1-A, Amazzone) were used as inoculum on pot marigold ( Calendula officinalis) and gerbera ( Gerbera jamesonii) plants. Maria 1 was the most virulent isolate both on pot marigold and gerbera plants according to disease severity. A rapid and sensitive pathogen DNA extraction protocol suitable for large quantities of plant samples was adopted. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was able to detect the pathogen in artificially inoculated symptomless pot marigold (collected day 12) and gerbera plants (day 8) after pathogen inoculation, with the suspension of 5 × 105, 5 × 104, 5 × 103 P. cryptogea zoospores/ml. Real-time PCR showed the possibility to detect the pathogen in artificially inoculated symptomless pot marigold (collected day 8) and gerbera plants (day 4) after pathogen inoculation, with the suspension of 5 × 105, 5 × 104 P. cryptogea zoospores/ml. The first symptoms appeared on pot marigold plants 14 days after pathogen inoculation and on gerbera plants 10 days after inoculation. Real-time PCR showed the possibility to detect the pathogen 4 days before conventional PCR and 6 days before the appearance of disease symptoms both on pot marigold and gerbera plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]