Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae

Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae
Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae photographed on Aesculus pavia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Leotiomycetes
Order: Helotiales
Family: Erysiphaceae
Genus: Erysiphe
Species:
E. aesculi-sylvaticae
Binomial name
Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae
Andr. Paul & M. Bradshaw, 2025

Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae is a species of powdery mildew in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found in North America, where it affects native hosts Aesculus sylvatica and Aesculus pavia.

Description

The fungus forms thin, white irregular patches on the leaves of its host. Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae, like most Erysiphaceae, is highly host-specific and infects only two species of Aesculus. The species on other Aesculus, which has been introduced to Europe and Asia, is Erysiphe flexuosa. The species on Aesculus flava likely represents another undescribed species.[1]

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 2025 by Andrew Paul and Michael Bradshaw. The species epithet refers to the type host, Aesculus sylvatica. The type specimen was collected in North Carolina. E. aesculi-sylvaticae differs from E. flexuosa in having short uncinuloid chasmothecial appendages (shorter than the chasmothecial diameter) and in being confined to host species of Aesculus sect. Pavia.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Paul, Andrew; Crouch, Uma; Mitchell, James K.; Bradshaw, Michael (2025). "Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae sp. nov. Infecting North American Aesculus Species: A New Cryptic Species Provides Insights Into the Invasion Dynamics of an Important Fungal Pathogen". Forest Pathology. 55 (4) e70036. Bibcode:2025FoPat..5525510P. doi:10.1111/efp.70036. ISSN 1439-0329.