Powdery Mildew Management in Horticultural Systems
Summary
Powdery mildew, caused by obligate biotrophic fungi, poses a persistent threat across a wide range of horticultural crops, from fruiting vegetables to ornamental species. Characterised by white, powdery mycelial growth on aerial plant parts, the disease impairs photosynthesis, reduces marketable yields and compromises aesthetic quality. Management relies on an integrated approach that combines cultural practices—such as optimised plant spacing, pruning to enhance air circulation and sanitation measures to remove infected debris—with strategic use of chemical fungicides. Rising concerns over fungicide resistance and environmental impact have driven adoption of alternative tactics, including deployment of resistant cultivars identified through QTL mapping and genomic selection, exploitation of naturally occurring antagonistic microorganisms, and application of plant defence activators. Advances in predictive modelling and decision support systems enable site-specific fungicide applications, minimising inputs and delaying resistance. At the molecular level, elucidation of host immune signalling pathways and regulatory genes has begun to inform precision breeding and biotechnological interventions. Together, these strategies form the basis for sustainable powdery mildew management in diverse horticultural environments worldwide.
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Powdery Mildew Management in Horticultural Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in powdery mildew management in horticultural systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Obligate biotroph: A fungus that requires living host tissue to complete its life cycle and cannot be cultured independently in vitro.
Hypersensitive response (HR): A rapid, localized cell-death programme in plants that restricts pathogen spread at infection sites.
Transcription factor: A protein that binds specific DNA sequences to regulate expression of downstream genes involved in defence and development.
Quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN): A specific genetic variant associated with variation in a quantitative trait such as disease resistance.
Genomic selection: A breeding approach using genome-wide marker information to predict and select superior genotypes prior to phenotypic evaluation.
Lipopeptide: A microbial-derived compound composed of lipid and peptide moieties, often exhibiting antimicrobial activity.
References
- Contribution of a WRKY Transcription Factor, ShWRKY81, to Powdery Mildew Resistance in Wild Tomato. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Genetic loci associated with tissue-specific resistance to powdery mildew in octoploid strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). Frontiers in Plant Science (2024).
- Crude lipopeptides from culture of Bacillus subtilis strain ET-1 against Podosphaera xanthii on Cucumis melo. Journal of Natural Pesticide Research (2023).
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