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First Report of Powdery Mildew on Tomato Caused by Oidium neolycopersici in Venezuela

During 2004 and 2005, a powdery mildew was observed in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rio Grande) fields in several states in Venezuela. Symptoms included development of patches of dense white mycelium, predominantly on the upper leaf surface. Leaves in the middle and lower canopies were the most affected. Similar symptoms sometimes were observed on stems. The foliage of infected plants turned yellow and showed necrosis followed by desiccation and rapid defoliation. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of typical structures of the Oidium genus. Hyphae were hyaline and septate. Conidiophores were unbranched, erect, measured 51 to 108 (80) μm, and consisted of 3 or 4 cells. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoidal to ovoidal, and measured 16 to 43 (30) × 12 to 22 (16) μm. Conidia were produced singly, without fibrosin bodies. Conidial polar germination was common. Appressoria were lobed. The sexual stage was not found. The fungus was identified as Oidium neolycopersici, recently recognized as a distinct species (1,2). Conidia from infected tomato leaves were shaken onto leaves of 10 plants of L. esculentum and L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. and five plants of a weed (Physalis peruviana L.). Noninoculated plants served as a control. Symptoms that developed on all inoculated plants were similar to those of plants naturally infected. Within 7 to 8 days, symptoms in L. esculentum consisted of small colonies that quickly covered large portions of foliar tissue. L. pimpinellifolium showed small and localized symptoms after 10 days and P. peruviana showed symptoms after 15 days. To our knowledge, this is the first report of O. neolycopersici in Venezuela.

References: (1) H. Jones et al. Mol. Plant Pathol. 2:303, 2001. (2) L. Kiss et al. Mycol. Res. 105:684, 2001.