Peronospora farinosa f. sp. betae. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Peronospora farinosa f. sp. betae. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Beta spp., including the cultivated varieties of B. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, e.g. chard, fodder beet, mangold, red beet, spinach beet and sugar beet. DISEASE: Downy mildew of beet. Typical infection is systemic and the young leaves at the centre of the rosette are attacked. Infected leaves are at first pale green; they fail to expand fully, their colour changes to yellowish green, and they become swollen, brittle and are usually incurred. Conidia are formed in great profusion, first on the under surface of infected leaves but spreading to the upper surface in wet weather. After sporulation the leaves die prematurely. Some leaves are only partly infected; the tip remains healthy and the division between diseased and healthy tissue is sharply defined. Under humid conditions, early in the season, the fungus may cause a non-systemic leaf-spot on young plants. All aerial parts of the seed plant in its second year may become infected. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Africa (Kenya, Morocco); Asia (Israel, USSR); Australasia (Australia, N.S.W., Victoria. New Zealand); Europe (widespread); North America (Canada, U.S.A.); South America (Argentina). Note that CMI Map No. 28, ed. 3, 1969, shows records of P. farinosa on Beta, Spinacia and Chenopodium spp. TRANSMISSION: The disease can be transmitted by oospores, perennial mycelium or by continual reinfection from living plants. Oospores, on debris in the ground, are a potential source of inoculum but have only been reported of economic importance on seed crops in France. Seed crops and groundkeepers can provide a source of living inoculum overwinter and this is the most common and economically important source of the fungus (Byford & Hull, 1967). Seed may be contaminated by oospores and mycelium and there is evidence that oospores on imported seed were responsible for the introduction of the disease into Australia (15, 193).