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Powdery mildew

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Powdery mildew
Example of powdery mildew (right) along with Downy mildew on a grape leaf
Causal agentsSpecies of fungi in the order Erysiphales
Hostsplants

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of ascomycete fungi in the order Erysiphales. Powdery mildew is one of the easier plant diseases to identify, as the signs of the causal pathogen are quite distinctive. Infected plants display white powdery spots on the leaves and stems.[1] This mycelial layer may quickly spread to cover all of the leaves. The lower leaves are the most affected, but the mildew can appear on any above-ground part of the plant. As the disease progresses, the spots get larger and denser as large numbers of asexual spores are formed, and the mildew may spread up and down the length of the plant.

Powdery mildew grows well in environments with high humidity and moderate temperatures; greenhouses provide an ideal moist, temperate environment for the spread of the disease. This causes harm to agricultural and horticultural practices where powdery mildew may thrive in a greenhouse setting.[2] In an agricultural or horticultural setting, the pathogen can be controlled using chemical methods, bio-organic methods, and genetic resistance. It is important to be aware of powdery mildew and its management strategies as the resulting disease can significantly reduce important crop yields.[3]

Powdery mildew on a recently infected plant.
Powdery mildew growing on a leaf (magnified)
Powdery mildew growing on a leaf (high magnification)

Reproduction

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Powdery mildew fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually.[4] Sexual reproduction occurs via chasmothecia (formerly cleistothecium), a type of ascocarp in which genetic recombination takes place. Ascocarps including chasmothecia, apothecia, perithecia, and pseudothecia, are the fruiting bodies unique to fungi in the Ascomycota phylum (known as ascomycetes). Within each ascocarp are several asci that contain ascospores. Powdery mildew fungi must be adapted to their host for successful infection.[citation needed]

Under optimal conditions, ascospores mature and are released to initiate new infections.[5] Conditions necessary for spore maturation differ among species. In asexual reproduction, the mother fungi and offspring are genetically identical.[4] Asexual reproduction is the predominant form of reproduction and dispersal in powdery mildew infections of wheat and barley species, as compared to sexual reproduction.[6] Yet sexual reproduction results in durable and resistant overwintering spores, produced in chasmothecia. These spores are dark (to protect against UV irradiation), round and thick-walled (to protect against freezing rupture), giving them the ability to survive throughout the winter. They will germinate in the spring for new infection.[7]

DNA repair

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DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is an enzymatic system for recognizing and repairing erroneous base insertions, deletions, and mis-incorporations in DNA that can arise during DNA replication and recombination.[8] This system can also repair some forms of DNA damage. Four closely related species of plant parasites from the powdery mildew genera were found to have lost between 5 and 21 of the 48 to 52 MMR genes that are present in most other ascomycete genomes.[9] The powdery mildew species with higher levels of MMR gene loss exhibited elevated rates of various types of mutation.[9] These elevated mutation rates suggest that a lack of genes essential for accurate DNA replication can cause an increased rate of sequence evolution and evolutionary diversification.[9]

Management

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In an agricultural setting, the pathogen can be controlled using chemical methods, genetic resistance, and careful farming methods.[citation needed] Some cultivated plants have varieties resistant to powdery mildew.[citation needed]

Powdery mildew growth can be limited by reducing humidity, such as by allowing space between plants for airflow, and pruning to thin foliage.[7]

Conventional chemical control

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Standard fungicides are an effective way to manage powdery mildew disease on plants.[10] Spray programs of conventional fungicides are advised to begin when powdery mildew symptoms and signs are first noticed.[11] Conventional fungicides should be applied on a regular basis for best results against the disease.[11]

Control is possible with triadimefon and propiconazole. It is also possible with hexaconazole, myclobutanil, and penconazole.[10]

Non-conventional chemical control

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Some unconventional chemical control methods offer alternative modes of action.[2] The most effective non-conventional methods of chemical control against powdery mildew are milk, natural sulfur (S8>), potassium bicarbonate, metal salts, and oils.[12]

Powdery mildew on a maple leaf as seen under a scanning electron microscope

Metal salt fungicides should be applied on a regular basis up until harvest of the host.[12] Sulfur must be applied before the disease has emerged since it prevents fungi spores from germinating.[13] Copper sulfate is an effective fungicide allowed in organic farming, but can cause harm to the host plant. Addition of lime hampers this effect.[13]

Neem oil effectively manages powdery mildew on many plants by interfering with the fungus' metabolism and terminating spore production.[13] Sulfur and Fish Oil + Sesame Oil is a mixture effective against powdery mildew.[2]

Milk has long been popular with home gardeners and small-scale organic growers as a treatment for powdery mildew. Milk is diluted with water (typically 1:10) and sprayed on susceptible plants at the first sign of infection, or as a preventative measure, with repeated weekly application often controlling or eliminating the disease. Studies have shown milk's effectiveness as comparable to some conventional fungicides,[14] and better than benomyl and fenarimol at higher concentrations.[15] Milk has proven effective in treating powdery mildew of summer squash,[15] pumpkins,[14] grapes,[16] and roses.[16] The exact mechanism of action is unknown, but one known effect is that ferroglobulin, a protein in whey, produces oxygen radicals when exposed to sunlight, and contact with these radicals is damaging to the fungus.[16]

Dilute sprays containing sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and vegetable or mineral oils in water are often recommended for controlling powdery mildew, but such mixtures have limited and inconsistent efficacy.[17] While sodium bicarbonate has been shown to reduce to growth of mildews in lab tests, sprays containing only baking soda and water are not effective in controlling fungal diseases on infected plants, and high concentrations of sodium are harmful to plants.[17]

Potassium bicarbonate is an effective low-toxicity fungicide against powdery mildew and apple scab.[18][19][20][21]

Another non-conventional chemical treatment involves treating with a solution of calcium silicate. Silicon helps the plant cells defend against fungal attack by degrading haustoria and by producing callose and papilla. With silicon treatment, epidermal cells of wheat are less susceptible to powdery mildew.[22]

Genetic resistance

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The Pm3 allele is an effective genetic resistance strategy that protects host species against powdery mildew fungus.[23]

In 2014, resistance was induced in hexaploid bread wheat to powdery mildew via targeted mutations with the use of CRISPR and TALENS gene-editing technology.[24]

In specific crops

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Sunflowers

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Sunflower powdery mildew is a disease caused by the pathogens Golovinomyces cichoracearum, Podosphaera xanthii, and Leveillula taurica. The symptoms caused by L. taurica differ from the other pathogen symptoms. Green-yellow spots appear on upper leaf surface.[25]

Cereals

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Further information: Powdery mildew (barley)

Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, causes powdery mildew of wheat, whereas f. sp. hordei causes powdery mildew of barley.[citation needed]

Legumes

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Powdery mildew on soybean leaves

Legumes, such as soybeans, are affected by Microsphaera diffusa.[26]

Grapes

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Powdery mildew of grape

Erysiphe necator (or Uncinula necator) causes powdery mildew of grapes.[citation needed]

Onions

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The fungus causing powdery mildew of onions is Leveillula taurica (also known by its anamorph name, Oidiopsis taurica). It also infects the artichoke.[citation needed]

Apples and pears

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Podosphaera leucotricha causes powdery mildew of apples and pears.[citation needed]

Squashes

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Powdery mildew of cucurbits

Multiple species of fungus can cause powdery mildew of cucurbits: cucumbers, squashes (including pumpkins), luffas, melons, and watermelons.

Spores of powdery mildew on cucumber leaf seen through Foldscope
Section of leaf of cucumber showing powdery mildew infection, photo taken with Foldscope

Podosphaera xanthii (a.k.a. Sphaerotheca fuliginea) is the most commonly reported cause on cucurbits.[27] Erysiphe cichoracearum was formerly reported to be the primary causal organism throughout most of the world.[27][28]

Since 1925, commercial Cucumis melo (cantaloup and muskmelon) production has been engaged in a biological "arms race" against cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) caused by the fungus Podosphaera xanthii, with new cultivars of melons being developed for resistance to successively arising races of the fungus, identified simply as race 1, race 2, etc. (seven in total by 2004), for races found around the world, and race N1 through N4 for some divergent races native to Japan.[29] Various subraces have been identified, and given names such as race 2U.S., race 3.5, and race 4.5.[30] A new race S was discovered in 2003, and a specific melon cultivar (C. melo var. acidulus 'PI 313970') found resistant to it, then used for backcrossing to increase resistance in other cultivars.[30] Such modern selective breeding of plants for phytopathological resistance to particular fungal races involves a great deal of genetic research; this PI 313970 versus race S case involved multi-stage hybridization to propagate a recessive gene, pm-S in successive generations, and how this may affect other recessive and codominant genes for resistance to other races of P. xanthii "remains to be determined".[30]

A 2004 literature review regarding powdery mildew races that parasitize various cucurbit plants concluded that "race identification is important for basic research and is especially important for the commercial seed industry, which requires accuracy in declaring the type and level of resistance ... in its products". However, identifying specific races was seen as having little utility in horticulture for choosing specific cultivars, because of the rapidity with which the local pathogen population can change geographically, seasonally, and by host plant.[29]

At least three other Erysiphaceae fungi can cause powdery mildew in cucurbits: The most frequent, after P. xanthii, is Erysiphe cichoracearum, the former primary causal organism throughout most of the world.[27][28] Podosphaera fusca is another, sometimes considered synonymous with P. xanthii.[31] Cucumbers in greenhouse environments have also been reported to be susceptible to Leveillula taurica.[32]

Lilacs

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Microsphaera syringae is a fungus that can cause powdery mildew in lilac.[33]

Strawberries

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Podosphaera aphanis is the cause of powdery mildew in strawberries and other Rosaceae like Geum rivale (the water avens).[citation needed]

Tree leaves

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Sawadaea tulasnei is a fungus that causes powdery mildew on tree leaves. This fungus attacks the leaves of the Acer platanoides (Norway maple) in North America, Great Britain, and Ireland, Acer palmatum (also known as the Japanese maple or smooth Japanese maple).[34]

Oregon grape

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Erysiphe berberidis is a fungus that causes powdery mildew on Oregon grape leaves. [35]

Arabidopsis

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Golovinomyces orontii causes powdery mildew on Arabidopsis (rockcress) leaves.[citation needed]

Cannabis

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Further information: List of hemp diseases § Powdery mildew

Caused by several fungi including Golovinomyces ambrosiae (syn. G. spadiceus) and Podosphaera macularis.[36]

Hyperparasites

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In the family Sphaeropsidaceae of the Sphaeropsidales fungi, species of the genus Cicinnobolus are hyperparasites of powdery mildew.[37]

Ampelomyces quisqualis is an anamorphic fungus that is a hyperparasite of powdery mildews. This parasitism reduces growth and may eventually kill the mildew. Research on biological control of powdery mildews (especially in high-value crops such as grapes) has been ongoing since the 1970s, resulting in the development of fungicides which contain A. quisqualis as the active ingredient.[38][39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ciliberto, Giada (2024-03-31). "Lo chiamano il "mal bianco" ed è una malattia delle piante: come riconoscerla e combatterla". retididedalus.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  2. ^ a b c Keinath, Anthony P.; DuBose, Virginia B. (2012-12-01). "Controlling powdery mildew on cucurbit rootstock seedlings in the greenhouse with fungicides and biofungicides". Crop Protection. 42: 338–344. Bibcode:2012CrPro..42..338K. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2012.06.009.
  3. ^ "Powdery Mildew". Small Grain Wheat Diseases. Archived from the original on 2002-12-23.
  4. ^ a b "Sexual reproduction only second choice for powdery mildew". Science Daily. July 14, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-08-21.
    Wicker, Thomas; Oberhaensli, Simone; Parlange, Francis; Buchmann, Jan P.; Shatalina, Margarita; et al. (2013). "The wheat powdery mildew genome shows the unique evolution of an obligate biotroph". Nature Genetics. 45 (9): 1092–1096. doi:10.1038/ng.2704. PMID 23852167.
  5. ^ Zhu, M.; et al. (2017). "Very-long-chain aldehydes induce appressorium formation in ascospores of the wheat powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis". Fungal Biology. 121 (8): 716–728. Bibcode:2017FunB..121..716Z. doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2017.05.003. PMID 28705398.
  6. ^ Hacquard, Stéphane; Kracher, Barbara; Maekawa, Takaki; Vernaldi, Saskia; Schulze-Lefert, Paul; Themaat, Emiel Ver Loren van (2013-06-11). "Mosaic genome structure of the barley powdery mildew pathogen and conservation of transcriptional programs in divergent hosts". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 110 (24): E2219–28. Bibcode:2013PNAS..110E2219H. doi:10.1073/pnas.1306807110. PMC 3683789. PMID 23696672.
  7. ^ a b Grabowski, Michelle. "Powdery Mildew in the Flower Garden".
  8. ^ Iyer, Ravi R.; Pluciennik, Anna; Burdett, Vickers; Modrich, Paul L. (2006-02-01). "DNA Mismatch Repair: Functions and Mechanisms". Chemical Reviews. 106 (2): 302–323. doi:10.1021/cr0404794. PMID 16464007.
  9. ^ a b c Phillips, Megan A; Steenwyk, Jacob L; Shen, Xing-Xing; Rokas, Antonis (2021-10-01). "Examination of Gene Loss in the DNA Mismatch Repair Pathway and Its Mutational Consequences in a Fungal Phylum". Genome Biology and Evolution. 13 (10). doi:10.1093/gbe/evab219. PMC 8597960. PMID 34554246.
  10. ^ a b Gupta, D.; Sharma, J.NL. Chemical control of Powdery Mildew of Apple in warmer climates of Himachal Pradesh, India. VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics. ISHS Acta Horticulturae. Vol. 696. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.696.61.
  11. ^ a b Petterson, James. "Measure for Control". Projects.ncsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  12. ^ a b "Powdery Mildew: Symptoms, Treatment and Control". Planet Natural. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  13. ^ a b c Beckerman, Janna. "Using Organic Fungicides" (PDF). Disease Management Strategies for Horticultural Crops.
  14. ^ a b DeBacco, Matthew. "Compost Tea and Milk to Suppress Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) on Pumpkins and Evaluation of Horticultural Pots Made from Recyclable Fibers Under Field Conditions". University of Connecticut. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b Bettiol, Wagner (September 1999). "Effectiveness of cow's milk against zucchini squash powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) in greenhouse conditions". Crop Protection. 18 (8): 489–492. Bibcode:1999CrPro..18..489B. doi:10.1016/s0261-2194(99)00046-0.
  16. ^ a b c Raloff, Janet. "A Dairy Solution to Mildew Woes". Science News Magazine. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  17. ^ a b Chalker-Scott, Linda. "Miracle, myth...or marketing? Baking soda: will fungi fail and roses rejoice?" (PDF). Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Washington State University. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide - Publication Summary - ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service". Attra.ncat.org. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  19. ^ Powdery Mildew – Sustainable Gardening Australia Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ Organic Fruit Production in Michigan Archived 2012-02-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ Tamm, Lucius; Amsler, Thomas; Schaerer, Hansjakob; Refardt, Mathias (2006). "Efficacy of Armicarb (potassium bicarbonate) against scab and sooty blotch on apples" (PDF). In Boos, Markus (ed.). Ecofruit: 12th International Conference on Cultivation Technique and Phytopathological Problems in Organic Fruit-growing. pp. 87–92. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  22. ^ Bélanger, R. R.; Benhamou, Nicole; Menzies, J. G. (2003). "Cytological Evidence of an Active Role of Silicon in Wheat Resistance to Powdery Mildew ( Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici )". Phytopathology. 93 (4): 402–412. doi:10.1094/PHYTO.2003.93.4.402. PMID 18944354.
  23. ^ "Combination of resistance genes offers better protection for wheat against powdery mildew". Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  24. ^ Wang, Yanpeng; Cheng, Xi; Shan, Qiwei; Zhang, Yi; Liu, Jinxing; Gao, Caixia; Qiu, Jin-Long (2014). "Simultaneous editing of three homoeoalleles in hexaploid bread wheat confers heritable resistance to powdery mildew". Nature Biotechnology. 32 (9): 947–951. doi:10.1038/nbt.2969. PMID 25038773.
  25. ^ Harveson, R.M.; Markell, S.G.; Block, C.C.; Gulya, T.J., eds. (2016). "Part I: Biotic Diseases §Powdery Mildew". Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests. American Phytopathological Society. pp. 20–22. doi:10.1094/9780890545096.002. ISBN 978-0-89054-509-6.
  26. ^ Bennett, J. Michael; Rhetoric, Emeritus; Hicks, Dale R.; Naeve, Seth L.; Bennett, Nancy Bush (2014). The Minnesota Soybean Field Book (PDF). St Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  27. ^ a b c "Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits fact sheet". Vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Watermelon Breeding (by year, then author) - Cucurbit Breeding". Cucurbitbreeding.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  29. ^ a b Cohen, R.; Burger, Y.; Katzir, N. (2004). "Monitoring Physiological races of Podosphaera xanthii (syn. Sphaerotheca fuliginea), the Causal Agent of Powdery Mildew in Curcubits: Factors Affecting Race Identification and the Importance for Research and Commerce". Phythoparasitica. 32 (2): 174–183. Bibcode:2004Phyto..32..174C. doi:10.1007/BF02979784. S2CID 27174422.
  30. ^ a b c McCreight, James D.; Coffey, Michael D. (June 2011). "Inheritance of Resistance in Melon PI 313970 to Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Incited by Podosphaera xanthii Race S". HortScience. 46 (6): 838–840. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.46.6.838. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  31. ^ Pérez-García, A.; Romero, D.; Fernández-Ortuño, D.; López-Ruiz, F.; De Vicente, A.; Torés Montosa, Juan Antonio (March 2009). "The powdery mildew fungus Podosphaera fusca (synonym Podosphaera xanthii), a constant threat to cucurbits". Molecular Plant Pathology. 10 (2): 153–160. doi:10.1111/j.1364-3703.2008.00527.x. PMC 6640438. PMID 19236565.
  32. ^ Velkov, Nikolay; Masheva, Stoika (2002). "Species and Races Composition of Powerdy Mildew on Cucurbits in Bulgaria" (PDF). Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. 25: 7–10. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Problem: Powdery Mildew of Lilac (Microsphaera syringae)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  34. ^ "Sawadaea tulasnei - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  35. ^ "Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook". Pnwhandbooks.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  36. ^ Ocamb, Cynthia M. (2015-09-11). "Hemp (Cannabis sativa)-Powdery Mildew". Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks. Pacific Northwest Extension (Oregon, Washington, Idaho). Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  37. ^ faculty.ucr.edu, retrieved December 2015.
  38. ^ Franceschini, Sergio. "Regulatory information: Ampelomyces quisqualis – AQ 10" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  39. ^ Powdery mildew in the Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB)

Further reading

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  • Braun, U.; Cook, R.T.A. (2012). Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews). CBS Biodiversity Series. Vol. 11. Utrecht: CBS-KNAW Fungal Diversity Centre. ISBN 978-90-70351-89-2. OCLC 793656582.
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