Erysiphe catalpae and Erysiphe elevata in Europe

• DOI: 10.1007/s11557-006-0099-3
• Publication Date: 2006-03-02T09:46:23Z
• Authors: Nosratollah Ale-Agha; Adrien Bolay; Uwe Braun; Benno Feige; Horst Jage; Volker Kummer; Aleš Lebeda; Marcin Piątek; Hyeon-Dong Shin; Katarína Zimmerma...
• Keywords: Ascocarp

The recent epidemic spread of the North American powdery mildew Erysiphe elevata in Europe is described and discussed. Since 2002, this plant pathogenic fungus has been collected on Catalpa bignonioides, C. erubescens and C. speciosa in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland. The diagnostically important anamorph of E. elevata, so far unknown, is described and illustrated in detail. Type material of Erysiphe catalpae and two specimens of E. catalpae recently collected in Poland have been examined and compared with E. elevata. The anamorph as well as the teleomorph of E. catalpae proved to be easily distinguishable from E. elevata. The supposition that E. catalpae, introduced in Armenia, was based on immature ascomata of E. elevata proved to be wrong. The origin and distribution of E. catalpae are discussed, and a key to powdery mildew fungi on Catalpa spp. in Europe is provided.