Powdery MildewBY: JUSTIN KEITH, TANNER EIDSON AND CHARLES RING

What causes the disease?

Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of fungi with Sphaerotheca fuliginea being the most commonly reported cause. It is one of the easier diseases to identify, as its symptoms are quite distinctive. Infected plants display white powdery spots on the leaves and stems.

Signs or Symptoms:

older lesions turn brown and appeared shriveled

• mycelium of fungus forms mats and appears as white, grayish white or tan colored patches on leaves, buds, stems or young fruit

• fruiting bodies (cleistothecia) appear as small black or brown specks on the mycelial mats

• infected leaves often appear chlorotic due to decreased photosynthesis

• leaf curl

• leaf drop

• infected fruit and flowers are often aborted or malformed

• early signs include small chlorotic spots or blistering on leaves or flowers

Disease Control and Prevention:

Powdery mildew can be prevented, and it can be controlled once it appears, but it can't be cured. The key to preventing it is planting mildew-resistant or mildew- tolerant varieties. Resistant varieties get less mildew than susceptible varieties; tolerant varieties may get some mildew, but it shouldn't affect the performance of the plant. Prevention also includes siting plants where they will have good air circulation, and exposing as much leaf surface as possible to direct sunlight, which inhibits spore germination.

Powdery Mildew affects plants, trees, and all types of plants that produces fruits or foliage. So every plant is at risk.