Cystotheca quercina

Cystotheca quercina is a species of powdery mildew in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found in Asia on plants in the genus Quercus.

Cystotheca quercina
Cystotheca quercina on Quercus leucotrichophora in India.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Leotiomycetes
Order:	Helotiales
Family:	Erysiphaceae
Genus:	Cystotheca
Species:	C. quercina
Binomial name
Cystotheca quercina N. Ahmad, A.K. Sarbhoy, Kamal & D.K. Agarwal, 2006

Description

Cystotheca quercina on Quercus leucotrichophora in India (as seen from the underside).

Many Cystotheca species form dense, white or brown, distorting patches on the leaves of their hosts. Some species in this genus are also known to cause witch's-broom galls on their hosts. Cystotheca nanyuensis, like most Erysiphaceae, is highly host-specific and is only known to infect Quercus leucotrichophora. It has been recorded from India and Pakistan.^[1][2] This species is similar to Cystotheca wrightii but differs in that it forms white, thin primary mycelium, has larger ascomata, up to 95 μm diameter, and 4–5(–8)-spored asci.^[3]

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 2006 by N. Ahmad, A.K. Sarbhoy, Kamal and D.K. Agarwal. The type specimen was collected in India. The specific epithet derives from the host genus.