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Pests and Diseases

Downy Mildew

Fungal Diseases of Crops

A group of related oomycete diseases, in the family Peronosporaceae and long managed alongside fungal pathogens in agricultural practice, that produce a fuzzy grayish growth on the underside of leaves in crops such as grape, cucurbits, onion, lettuce and hops under cool, moist conditions. Grape downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola and introduced to Europe from North America in the nineteenth century, prompted the development of Bordeaux mixture, one of the first widely used fungicides.

Facts
Classification
Agent Kind
Fungus 1
Connections

Associated With

Grape, Crops

Grape downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is one of the most historically significant vineyard diseases, prompting the invention of Bordeaux mixture.

Sources
1. Downy Mildew (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening definition paragraph
    Downy mildew refers to any of several types of oomycete microbes that are obligate parasites of plants. Downy mildews exclusively belong to the Peronosporaceae family. In commercial agriculture, they are a particular problem for growers of crucifers, grapes and vegetables that grow on vines. The prime example is Peronospora farinosa featured in NCBI-Taxonomy and HYP3.
  • lead description
    A group of related oomycete diseases, in the family Peronosporaceae and long managed alongside fungal pathogens in agricultural practice, that produce a fuzzy grayish growth on the underside of leaves in crops such as grape, cucurbits, onion, lettuce and hops under cool, moist conditions.
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