In the last 20 years, seven different Phytophthora species (P. cambivora, P. hibernalis, P. citrophthora, P. capsici, P. cactorum, P. drechsleri and P. infestans) have been determined in Turkey on chestnut, citrus, pepper, strawberry, melon, and potato respectively. Two of them, P. citrophthora and P. capsici, which attack citrus and pepper, are very destructive and have the greatest economic importance. P. citrophthora has caused approximately 15% fruit losses every year and 8–30% infection on a susceptible lemon cultivar in Cukurova region. P. capsici is very dangerous for pepper‐spice and pepper‐paste production because it causes up to 100% drying and killing of pepper plants under conditions of poor drainage and incorrect irrigation practices. P. cambiuora, which causes the ink disease of chestnut, has spread from the Black Sea coast to the Mediterranean; about 20 000 chestnut trees have been killed by this organism from 1952 to 1970. Recently, P. infestans on potato is achieving importance, as the potato area increases. The other species of Phytophthora do not have any economic importance and only first records have been noted.