Erysiphe polygoni

Erysiphe polygoni is a species of powdery mildew in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found across the globe, where it affects Antigonon, Muehlenbeckia, and Polygonum (sensu lato).

Erysiphe polygoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Leotiomycetes
Order:	Helotiales
Family:	Erysiphaceae
Genus:	Erysiphe
Species:	E. polygoni
Binomial name
Erysiphe polygoni DC., 1805
Synonyms
Microsphaera polygoni (DC.) Sawada, 1914 Ischnochaeta polygoni (DC.) Sawada, 1959 Erysiphe communis var. ranunculacearum Link, 1824 Oidium antigononis B.S. Reddy, Khalis & Manohar., 1982 Pseudoidium antigononis (B.S. Reddy, Khalis & Manohar.) U. Braun & R.T.A. Cook, 2012 Alphitomorpha communis Wallr., 1819 Tigria leveillei Trevis., 1853 Albigo communis (Wallr.) Reum, 1883 Erysiphe cichoracearum f. muehlenbeckiae Nelen, 1966

Description

The fungus forms diffuse white patches on the leaves of its host. Erysiphe polygoni, like most Erysiphaceae, is fairly host-specific and infects only members of a few genera.^[1]

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 1805 by de Candolle. The type specimen was collected in France, on Polygonum aviculare. The specific epithet derives from the type host. The species was formally rather broadly defined but has since been split, meaning records formerly assigned to E. polygoni are now assigned to other species. On Rumex subg. Rumex the species E. rumicicola can be found, while on Rumex subg. Acetosa, the species is E. acetosae.^[2]