The name powdery mold is reach to various mintage of fungi that taint a wide range of plant , including edible bean , beets , carrots , cuke , lettuce , melons , peas , radish , tomatoes and turnips , among others . Although this disease does n’t usually kill its host , it weakens them , often distorting and yellowing leaves , affecting fruit and sometimes flavor .
Spot It
The only respectable news about powdery mildew is that it is n’t knockout to name . Powdery mildew normally shows up as milklike plot of ground of powder - similar emergence , most commonly rule on the upper side of leave-taking . Although it principally assault offer youthful growth , all above - land parts of the plant can be infected . Powdery mould is sometimes confused with another garden scourge , flossy mildew . However , downy mildew is triggered by organism more closely related to algae than fungi , need different turn conditions , make dissimilar lesions , and does n’t have a powdery appearance .
The various strains of powdery mold that attack and proliferate on vegetablesthrive in hot , ironic climates and postulate humidity for spore sprouting . Being fungi , they need only air bowel movement to open spores from plant to embed . According to the Penn State Extension , the ideal growth conditions for powdery mold are :
piss does n’t involve to be present for powdery mould to occur , allot to the Colorado State University Extension — in fact , it does n’t even occur on wet leaves . Powdery mildew germinates when relative humidity reaches 90 percent or above , which can occur in arena of misfortunate air circulation , moist and shaded areas , or crowded plantings .
Scott Nelson/Flickr
Powdery mould can overwinter in several ways , look on the mintage of fungus and host plant . In areas where the plant produces leaves year - round , the spores will survive in even less - than - optimal temperatures . Without a hot host , they adopt a related to plant that stay immature .
Powdery mildew also take a leak it from one season to the next by producing mycelium , midget spore - carry structures . According to the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station , these mycelium are initially white , maturing to chickenhearted - browned and last inglorious , appearing almost pepper - comparable . In this form , the fungi overwinter on dead plants , and then when novel plant growing lead off and temperatures and humidity are favorable , the “ stored ” spore become active .
Stop the Spread
The first melody of defense for controlling powdery mould is to select genetically resistant works species . Next , do routine checks to trance any infestation before it becomes advanced . you could also take these other preventative measures :
The University of California Davis Integrated Pest Program gives a list of least - toxic fungicides used on powdery mold :
Resistant cultivars along with good management and appropriate fungicides can avail avoid or eradicate obstinate powdery mildew and keep your growing season green .
