Molecular Phylogenetics of Powdery Mildew Fungi

Powdery mildew fungi (order Erysiphales) comprise a monophyletic lineage of obligate biotrophic ascomycetes that infect a vast array of host plants, including many crops and ornamentals. Traditional classification based on morphology and host range has proved inadequate to resolve cryptic species and to trace evolutionary relationships. Over the past two decades, molecular phylogenetics has transformed our understanding of their diversity, systematics and epidemiology. Analyses of ribosomal DNA regions such as the internal transcribed spacer have provided a framework for species delimitation, but have revealed complexes that require additional markers. Incorporation of multiple gene regions—including protein‐coding loci—and, more recently, genome‐scale datasets has clarified deep branching patterns within the Erysiphaceae and has identified saprobic sister groups. These advances have shed light on host–pathogen coevolution, biogeographical spread of invasive lineages and drivers of speciation. Improved resolution underpins more accurate diagnostics, informs quarantine measures and guides breeding programmes for disease resistance, thereby linking fundamental evolutionary research to practical crop protection.

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Molecular Phylogenetics of Powdery Mildew Fungi publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular phylogenetics of powdery mildew fungi across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Obligate biotroph: A pathogen that requires living host tissue to complete its life cycle.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS): A variable region of nuclear ribosomal DNA widely used for species identification in fungi.

Multi‐locus phylogeny: An evolutionary analysis based on sequence data from multiple, independently inherited genes to improve resolution among closely related taxa.

Single‐copy orthologue: A gene present as a single copy in the genomes of different species, used in comparative genomics to infer evolutionary relationships.

References

1. Multi-locus phylogeny and taxonomy of an unresolved, heterogeneous species complex within the genus Golovinomyces (Ascomycota, Erysiphales), including G. ambrosiae, G. circumfusus and G. spadiceus. BMC Microbiology (2020).
2. Secondary DNA Barcodes (CAM, GAPDH, GS, and RpB2) to Characterize Species Complexes and Strengthen the Powdery Mildew Phylogeny. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2022).
3. Beyond Nuclear Ribosomal DNA Sequences: Evolution, Taxonomy, and Closest Known Saprobic Relatives of Powdery Mildew Fungi (Erysiphaceae) Inferred From Their First Comprehensive Genome-Scale Phylogenetic Analyses. Frontiers in Microbiology (2022).