Identification of powdery mildew fungi anno 2006

Authors: HEFFER, VIRGINIA - CLINICAL MICROBIO. INSTIT; POWELSON, MARY - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY; JOHNSON, KEN - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY; Shishkoff, Nina

Submitted to: The Plant Health Instructor
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2006
Publication Date: 7/27/2006
Citation: Heffer, V., Powelson, M., Johnson, K., Shishkoff, N. 2006. Identification of powdery mildew fungi anno 2006. The Plant Health Instructor DOI:1094/PHI-I-2006-0706-01.

Interpretive Summary: Powdery mildews are a group of obligate parasites of plants that can seriously affect yield and food quality. They are difficult to identify, so special training is required. This laboratory exercise is an update of a previous one at the Plant Health Instructor website. In 2002, there was a drastic change in the taxonomy of the Erysiphales, and most teaching documents became outdated and even unusable. This exercise was essentially a new creation, correcting the names, revising the keys used for identification, adding new knowledge on the natural history and epidemiology of powdery mildews, and providing new photographs and illustrations.

Technical Abstract: This is an update of the previous laboratory exercise on powdery mildews at the Plant Health Instructor website. In 2002, there was a drastic change in the taxonomy of the Erysiphales, and most teaching documents had become outdated and even unusable. This exercise was essentially a new creation, correcting the names, revising the dichotomous keys, adding new knowledge on the natural history and epidemiology of powdery mildews, and providing new photographs and illustrations.