Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae

Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae
Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae photographed on Aesculus pavia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Leotiomycetes
Order:	Helotiales
Family:	Erysiphaceae
Genus:	Erysiphe
Species:	E. aesculi-sylvaticae
Binomial name
Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae Andr. Paul & M. Bradshaw, 2025

Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae is a species of powdery mildew in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found in North America, where it affects native hosts Aesculus sylvatica and Aesculus pavia .

Description

The fungus forms thin, white irregular patches on the leaves of its host. Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae, like most Erysiphaceae, is highly host-specific and infects only two species of Aesculus . The species on other Aesculus, which has been introduced to Europe and Asia, is Erysiphe flexuosa . The species on Aesculus flava likely represents another undescribed species. ^[1]

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 2025 by Andrew Paul and Michael Bradshaw. The species epithet refers to the type host, Aesculus sylvatica . The type specimen was collected in North Carolina. E. aesculi-sylvaticae differs from E. flexuosa in having short uncinuloid chasmothecial appendages (shorter than the chasmothecial diameter) and in being confined to host species of Aesculus sect. Pavia. ^[1]

References

1. Paul, Andrew; Crouch, Uma; Mitchell, James K.; Bradshaw, Michael (2025). "Erysiphe aesculi-sylvaticae sp. nov. Infecting North American Aesculus Species: A New Cryptic Species Provides Insights Into the Invasion Dynamics of an Important Fungal Pathogen". Forest Pathology. 55 (4): e70036. Bibcode:2025FoPat..5525510P. doi: 10.1111/efp.70036 . ISSN   1439-0329.