Incidence and Severity of Powdery Mildew Fungal Diseases on Plants of Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae in Srinagar and Anantnag Districts of Kashmir Valley, India

摘要

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. They are responsible for huge losses to growers. In Kashmir, powdery mildew fungi are known to cause severe losses to plants of economic importance. However, little attention havebeen paid towards the incidence and severity of powdery mildew disease of Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae in all parts of Kashmir including Srinagar and Anantnag districts. Therefore, a study was undertaken on the incidence and severity of powdery mildew fungi on the plants of Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae in these districts. It was observed on the basis of ananorph and teleomorph characters that plants of Asteraceae were infected with powdery mildew fungal species like Erysiphe cichoraceareum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea whereas, plants of Cucurbitaceae were infected with powdery mildew fungus, Sphaerotheca fuliginea. The incidence and severity of powdery mildew fungi was mild, moderate to severe on all the tested plants surveyed in different localities ofAnantnag and Srinagar districts, respectively. There was also variation found in the incidence and severity on powdery mildew fungi in different seasons. On the plants of Asteraceae, the lowest incidence of powdery mildew infection was found in early spring and the highest incidence was found in summer season. In case of plants of Cucurbitaceae, the highest incidence was found in autumn season as compared to summer season.