Golovinomyces cichoracearum

Golovinomyces cichoracearum is a species of powdery mildew in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found in North America and Eurasia, where it affects salsifies (Tragopogon) and snakeweeds (Scorzonera).

Golovinomyces cichoracearum can be found on stems, leaves, and (as seen here) on the bracts.

Golovinomyces cichoracearum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Leotiomycetes
Order:	Helotiales
Family:	Erysiphaceae
Genus:	Golovinomyces
Species:	G. cichoracearum
Binomial name
Golovinomyces cichoracearum (DC.), 1805
Synonyms
Golovinomyces cichoracearum var. cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Heluta, 1988 Erysiphe communis var. cichoracearum (DC.) Fr., 1824

Description

The fungus forms thin, white irregular patches on the leaves, stems and bracts of its host. Despite formerly being thought to infect a vast array of distantly related plants, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, like most Erysiphaceae, is highly host-specific and infects only two genera.^[1] It is also likely to infect Pseudopodospermum and Scorzoneroides, although infections on these hosts are unconfirmed.

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 1805 by de Candolle.^[2]