- Lead scientist
- Dr Béatrice Henricot
- Partners
- Dr Roger Cook, Plant Pathologist consultant
- Start date
- 2006
- End date
- 2009
- Keywords
powdery mildew, Wisteria, oak, Oidium, Pseudoidium, Erysiphe, Erysiphe alphitoides
- Benefits to gardeners
The project will provide information about the identity of the fungus and its host range.
- The problem
Since 1999, the RHS Advisory Service has received samples of Wisteria spp. (family Papilionaceae) showing dark necrotic spots and marks with yellowish background on both surfaces of the leaves. Microscopic examination of the spots consistently showed typical mycelium of a powdery mildew but the sporulation of the fungus has been so sparse that the full identity of the fungus is unknown.
- Approach
Microscopic examination of the powdery mildew found on Wisteria revealed that the species belongs to Oidium subgenus Pseudoidium, the anamorph of Erysiphe. Without the presence of the sexual stage full species identification is not possible. However, evidence based on DNA data of one isolate points strongly to Erysiphe alphitoides as the causal agent of wisteria powdery mildew. Erysiphe alphitoides is well known as the cause of oak powdery mildew and experiments are under way to find out if the powdery mildew infecting wisteria can also infect oak and vice-versa
- Further information
Read more on powdery mildews
Read the new Disease reports
- References
Henricot, B and Cook R T A (2008). New report of a powdery mildew on Wisteria in the UK. Plant Pathology 57(2):374
Read the report