Erysiphe betae

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Erysiphe betae is a plant pathogen. It is a form of powdery mildew that affects sugar beet.

Identification

This pathogen is a strict obligated parasite, and therefore can only be identified when in planta.

Description

This fungus has a white powdery appearance. It appears on leaves in the summer time.

Pathogenicity

This pathogen decreases yields in crops by the reduction of chlorophyll in the leaves of plants. This will effect, (as was mentioned), the yield and the quality of the seed crops. It also causes leave and shoot deformities. In the case of Erysiphe betae entry into the cell is bath mechanical penetration and enzymatic degradation of the cuticle and the cell wall.

Plant defenses

The way that plants deal with these enzymes is they have an array of specialized inhibitors that counter act the effects of that specific pathogen. Some of these degrading enzymes include pectin lyases and polygalacturonases. In the case of when the pathogen gets entry through mechanical means the plant in itself doesn’t have much it can do against this kind of attack.

Methods of control

In the case of control against Erysiphe betae, not much is known about how to totally eradicate this decease once it has taken hold of your crop. It must therefore be assumed that the best method of control is prevention. Reducing the chances of this pathogen getting into your crop seems to be the best way of stopping this decease.