Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common plant disease caused by different fungi. It affects a broad range of different plants, such as wheat, barley, grapes, onions, apples, etc.

It can easily be identified by white powdery spots on the infected plant (Figure 1). In agriculture, the disease can be controlled by using chemical methods including fungicides. Treatment is crucial, as prolonged infection of the crop significantly reduces yields.

Figure 1: Healthy (left) and powdery mildew infected (right) barley leaf

Figure 2: Life cycle of Blumeria graminis, the causative agent of powdery mildew on barley leaves