First molecular confirmation of the fungus Leveillula taurica causing powdery mildew disease on sweet pepper in Iraq

ABSTRACT

A study was initiated to investigate powdery mildew disease on pepper during the growing season 2019/2020. Disease incidence scored 73, 85, 80 and 56% in Al-Mahmudiyah, Al-Yusufiyah and Al-Jadriya/Baghdad and Suwaira/Wasit, respectively. Morphological identification revealed L. taurica formed dimorphic conidia, lanceolate primary conidia and cylindrical to clavate secondary conidia. Conidiophores were straight, having short hyaline and unbranched baring single conidiospores. Sequence comparison of ITS region confirmed L. taurica shared 99% maximum nucleotide identity with sequences from South Korea (MH698492.1), Mexico (MG571545.1) and Australia (MT125857.1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular confirmation of L. taurica infecting pepper in Iraq. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Archives of Phytopathology & Plant Protection is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)