• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.248-251
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• 2022

In October 2022, common Asian cowpea (Vigna nakashimae) powdery mildew disease was investigated at Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (36°40'12.7"N,126°51'36.4"E). The disease mainly occurred on the front of the leaves, and weak powdery mildew disease occurred on the back side of leaf. The chasmothecia was identified on the back side of the leaf. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence and 28S large subunit sequence, along with the morphological characteristics of the anamorph and teleomorph of the causal fungus identified as Podosphaera xanthii. This is the first time in Korea to report common Asian cowpea (Vigna nakashimae) powdery mildew disease caused by Podospaera xanthii.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2022

In Japan and China, Podosphaera pseudofusca causes powdery mildew in Fatoua villosa. During a taxonomic revision of Korean powdery mildew fungi, isolates newly collected from F. villosa were studied. Through morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region and large subunit gene of rDNA, the powdery mildew fungus was identified as Podosphaera xanthii. In this study, we propose the merging of P. pseudofusca sensu Braun into the P. xanthii complex. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Podosphaera powdery mildew on F. villosa in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

During the extensive forays for discovering the biodiversity of phytopathogenic fungi in Korea, powdery mildew-affected purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) were frequently found. Since 2004, nine samples have been deposited in the Korea University Herbarium. The initial symptoms include white, evanescent mycelia and irregular patches on mature leaves. Mild symptoms in the form of discolored lesions are also noticed on the stem and petal of the affected plants. Based on the morphological characteristics of the anamorph and the phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences, the causal fungus was identified as Podosphaera xanthii. This is the first report that identifies the causal agent of powdery mildew disease affecting purple coneflower in Korea.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2020

Powdery mildew is a common and serious disease of the Cucurbitaceae including cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in most areas of the world. To identify causal agents of the powdery mildew and their physiological race(s), we collected cucumber leaves displaying typical symptoms of powdery mildew from different locations in Korea. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, all powdery mildew isolates were identified as an obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen, Podosphaera xanthii. After inoculation at melon (Cucumis melo) differentials to identify the fungal race(s), P. xanthii isolate MI180427 and IC190611 were identified as race 1 which has been repeatedly reported as dominant race in Korea. However, another isolate SE180328 produced different disease response in the tested differentials, being identified as race 2 which has not been reported in Korea. To confirm the race of SE180328, we inoculated additional melon differentials and determined the isolate as race 2F that is the prevalent race of powdery mildew in Beijing, China. Report of this new race 2F in Korea will be helpful for future breeding programs to develop resistant varieties to this race.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.91-101
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• 2017

Three species of powdery mildew (Erysiphales) on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) have been listed in Korea, namely Erysiphe cichoracearum (now genus Golovinomyces), Leveillula taurica, and Sphaerotheca fusca (now genus Podosphaera; syn. Podosphaera xanthii). Since E. cichoracearum was recorded on eggplant for the first time in Korea in 1969, it has been regarded as a major powdery mildew agent on that plant. In 1998, the causal agent of powdery mildew on eggplant was recorded as L. taurica, then as S. fusca in 2002. During our extensive field surveys in Korea, we collected 22 samples of eggplant powdery mildews. Our microscopic observations and molecular sequence analyses showed that all of our samples belonged to the genus Podosphaera, in the absence of either E. cichoracearum or L. taurica, suggesting that P. xanthii is the dominant agent of powdery mildew disease on eggplants in Korea. As there have been no additional findings on L. taurica after the first report on the species, it seems to be a minor species that is rarely found in greenhouses. The presence of E. cichoracearum (syn. Golovinomyces cichoracearum s. lat.) on eggplants is questionable, as the morphological characteristics of E. cichoracearum in the original description of the Korean collection deviate from the morphological variations of this species. In addition, no herbarium material of E. cichoracearum remains. Consequently, it seems that P. xanthii is the main species of powdery mildew on eggplants, whereas L. taurica occurs rarely on eggplants, in Korea. This review provides the historical and recent taxonomy of eggplant powdery mildews in detail.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2018

Powdery mildew caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Podosphaera xanthii poses a serious threat to melon (Cucumis melo L.) production worldwide. Frequent occurrences of the disease in different regions of South Korea hints at the potential existence of several races which need to be identified. The races of five isolates collected from different powdery mildew affected regions were identified based on the pathogenicity tests of these isolates on eight known differential melon cultigens namely, SCNU1154, PMR 45, WMR 29, PMR 5, MR-1, PI124112, Edisto 47 and PI414723. None of the isolates have shown same disease responses to those of the known races tested in this study and in previous reports on these identical differential melon cultigens. This indicates that the tested uncharacterized isolates are new races. Among the isolates, the isolates from Hadong, Buyeo, Yeongam and Gokseong have shown same pathogenicity indicating the possibility of these isolates being one new race, for which we propose the name 'race KN1'. The isolate of Janghueng have also shown unique disease response in the tested differential melon cultigens and hence, we identified it as another new race with a proposed name 'race KN2'. Report of these new races will be helpful in taking effective control measures in prevalent regions and for future breeding programs aimed at developing varieties that are resistant to these race(s).

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2016

Powdery mildew is an important disease of the melon (Cucumis melo L.). Seven isolates of powdery mildew fungi were collected from five locations in Korea; Anseong (DH487), Icheon (BN103, BN625, BN968), Yeongam (YA141), Changnyeong (CN582), and Suncheon (SN102). All 7 fungi had a similar trend of conidial chain and conidiophore development as Podosphaera xanthii with fibrosin bodies in mature conidia. Among them, 2 isolates of powdery mildew fungi; CN582 and SN102 showed similar responses to resistance against powdery mildew as the previously reported race 1 and race N2. The isolates YA141 and BN103 showed similar responses as like as race A. However, three isolates of powdery mildew fungi (BN625, BN968, and DH487) showed different responses compared to the previously reported races (1, N1, N2, A, S, and 5). Therefore, these three isolates could be designated as new races in melon. Nine out of 15 commercial melon cultivars in Korea showed resistance to race 1 (CN582). However, the new race BN968 invaded all 15 cultivars. Results of the two molecular markers were consistent in response to disease development by race 1 of Podosphaera xanthii in case of the above mentioned cultivars. This study confirmed the presence of new melon powdery mildew fungi in Korea which are similarly notorious as like as the previously reported race 1. Therefore, breeders can use these two molecular markers for breeding melon in Korea that is resistant to race 1 and as well as to some other races.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.673-683
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• 2014

This study was conducted to establish an efficient screening method to identify cucurbits resistant to powdery mildew. Powdery mildew fungus was obtained from a single lesion of infected cucumber leaf in 2010 at Daejeon. The fungus was identified as Podosphaera xanthii race 1 based on morphological characteristics and resistance responses of four melon differentials. Development of powdery mildew caused by the fungal isolate on 34 commercial cultivars of cucumber was investigated at three plant growth stages in a greenhouse. The degree of resistance of cotyledons of each cultivar to the fungus was not correlated with that of whole plant, but powdery mildew occurrence in the first true leaf was highly correlated with resistance at the level of the whole plant. Based on these results, the first true leaf of cucurbit cultivars can be used for screening of resistance to powdery mildew. In addition, variation of resistance of commercial 12 cucumber and 26 melon cultivars to the powdery mildew fungus due to different growing seasons was tested. In the case of cucumber, the resistance response in some cultivars was influenced by growing season. The resistant cultivars showed higher resistance in the warm season than in the cool season. By contrast, the resistant melon cultivars demonstrated strong resistance in all the tested growing seasons. Interestingly, the tested powdery mildew pathogen, a member of P. xanthii race 1, was not pathogenic on seven cultivars of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). To follow up on this, diverse race 1 isolates of P. xanthii should be collected and tested.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.419-430
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• 2016

Powdery mildew disease caused by Podosphaera xanthii is a major concern for Cucumis melo production worldwide. Knowledge on genetic behavior of the related genes and their modulating phytohormones often offer the most efficient approach to develop resistance against different diseases. Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) genes encode proteins with seven transmembrane domains that have significant function in plant resistance to powdery mildew fungus. We collected 14 MLO genes from ‘Melonomics’ database. Multiple sequence analysis of MLO proteins revealed the existence of both evolutionary conserved cysteine and proline residues. Moreover, natural genetic variation in conserved amino acids and their replacement by other amino acids are also observed. Real-time quantitative PCR expression analysis was conducted for the leaf samples of P. xanthii infected and phyto-hormones (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) treated plants in melon ‘SCNU1154’ line. Upon P. xanthii infection using 7 different races, the melon line showed variable disease reactions with respect to spread of infection symptoms and disease severity. Three out of 14 CmMLO genes were up-regulated and 7 were down-regulated in leaf samples in response to all races. The up- or down-regulation of the other 4 CmMLO genes was race-specific. The expression of 14 CmMLO genes under methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid application was also variable. Eleven CmMLO genes were up-regulated under salicylic acid treatment, and 7 were up-regulated under methyl jasmonate treatments in C. melo L. Taken together, these stress-responsive CmMLO genes might be useful resources for the development of powdery mildew disease resistant C. melo L.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.912-923
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• 2016

Watermelon production is often limited by powdery mildew in areas with a large daily temperature range. Development of resistant watermelon cultivars can protect against powdery mildew; however, little is known about the characteristics of its causal agents. Here, we identified the genus and race of a causal pathogen of powdery mildew in Ansung province of South Korea, and developed molecular markers for the generation of resistant watermelon cultivars. The causal pathogen was determined to be Podosphaera xanthii based on multiple sequence alignments of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rDNA. The physiological race was identified as 1W, and the Ansung isolate was named P. xanthii 1W-AN. Following inoculation with the identified P. xanthii 1W-AN, we found inheritance of the resistant gene fitting a single dominant Mendelian model in a segregated population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI 254744). To develop molecular markers linked to fungus-resistant loci, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was accomplished between DNA pooled from eight near-isogenic lines (NILs; $BC_4F_6$), originated from PI 254744 and susceptible 'SBB' watermelon. After sequencing bands from RAPD were identified in all eight NILs and PI254744, 42 sequence-characterized amplifiedregion (SCAR) markers were developed. Overall, 107 $F_2$ plants derived from $BC_4F_6$ NIL-1 ${\times}$ 'SBB' were tested, and one SCAR marker was selected. Sequence comparison between the SCAR marker and the reference watermelon genome identified three Nco I restriction enzyme sites harboring a single nucleotide polymorphism, and codominant cleavage-amplified polymorphic site markers were subsequently developed. A CAPS marker was converted to a high-resolution melt (HRM) marker, which can discriminate C/T SNP (254PMR-HRM3). The 254PMR-HRM3 marker was evaluated in 138 $F_{2:3}$ plants of a segregating population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI254744) and was presumed to be 4.3 cM from the resistance locus. These results could ensure P. xanthii 1W-AN resistance in watermelon germplasm and aid watermelon cultivar development in marker-assist breeding programs.