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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #224043
Title: First report of powdery mildew of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) caused by Leveillula taurica in Washington State

Author
item ATTANAYAKE, K.P.R.N. - WASHINTON STATE UNIV.
item GLAWE, D - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV.
item McPhee, Kevin
item Dugan, Frank
item Chen, Weidong

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2007
Publication Date: 7/2/2008
Citation: Attanayake, K., Glawe, D., Mcphee, K.E., Dugan, F.M., Chen, W. 2008. First report of powdery mildew of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) caused by Leveillula taurica in Washington State. Plant Health Progress.doi:10.1094/PHP-2008-0702-01-BR.

Interpretive Summary: Chickpea is an important grain legume worldwide, and an important rotational and specialty crop in the US. In October 2007, powdery mildew was found on chickpea plants in a field near Pullman, Whitman County, Washington. Typical powdery mildew symptoms and signs were observed on petioles and adaxial leaf surfaces exhibited dense white powdery patches. Morphological features of the anamorph and DNA sequence data showed that the pathogen is Leveillula taurica. Leveillula taurica occurs on a broad host range comprised of more than 70 plant families including monocots and dicots from all over the world. L. taurica has been considered an emerging plant pathogen on various hosts in the US Pacific Northwest. Discovery of this fungus on an additional host species in the Pacific Northwest suggests that this pathogen is becoming established in the region.

Technical Abstract: Chickpea is an important grain legume worldwide, and an important rotational and specialty crop in the US. In October 2007, powdery mildew was found on chickpea plants in a field near Pullman, Washington. Typical powdery mildew symptoms and signs were observed on petioles and adaxial leaf surfaces. Typical morphological features include submerged myielium, branched or unbranched conidiophores emerging through stomata singly or in groups,and primary and secondary conidia. Morphological features of the anamorph fit the description of Leveillula taurica. Its ITS sequence was identical to previously deposited Leveillula taurica sequences in GenBank. Leveillula taurica occurs on a broad host range comprised of more than 70 plant families including monocots and dicots from all over the world. L. taurica has been considered an emerging plant pathogen on various hosts in the US Pacific Northwest. This is the first record of powdery mildew caused by L. taurica on chickpea in Washington state. Discovery of this fungus on an additional host species in the Pacific Northwest suggests that this pathogen is becoming established in the region.