[5][6] In sexual reproduction, if multiple mating types are present, hyphal antheridium can contact each other and undergo plasmogamy, merging their membranes near the end of growing season.

A sporangium can be produced, which generates a cyst and releases zoospores, or the oospore can create a germ tube which can directly penetrate and infect a host.

[4][5] This disease cycle is extremely dependent on water for dispersal, making greenhouses, irrigation systems, and hydroponics especially prone to spread of P. dissotocum.

P. dissotocum can infect a large range of hosts, including many agricultural and horticultural crops like lettuce, spinach, peppers, parsnip, parsley, tomato, sugar cane, and carrot[4][9][10][11][12][13][14] and hydroponic Cannabis sativa.

The organism is found in many regions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, meaning that increasing globalization could cause introduction of the pathogen to potentially vulnerable crops and ecosystems.