''Hyaloperonospora brassicae'', in the family

Peronosporaceae Peronosporaceae are a family of water moulds that contains 21 genera, comprising more than 600 species. Most of them are called downy mildews. Peronosporaceae are obligate biotrophic plant pathogens. They parasitise their host plants as an ...

, is a plant pathogen. It causes downy mildew of species of ''Brassica'', ''Raphanus'', ''Sinapis'' and probably other genera within the ''Brassicaceae''. In the past, the cause of downy mildew in any plant in the family ''Brassicaceae'' was considered to be a single species ''Peronospora parasitica''. However, this has recently been shown to be a complex of species with narrower host ranges, now classified in the genus ''

Hyaloperonospora ''Hyaloperonospora'' is a genus of oomycete, obligate, plant pathogens that was originally considered to be part of ''Peronospora''. Species in this group produce a disease called downy mildew and can infect many important crops. From the 19 down ...

'', for example ''

Hyaloperonospora parasitica ''Hyaloperonospora parasitica'' is an oomycete from the family Peronosporaceae. It has been considered for a long time to cause downy mildew of a variety of species within the Brassicaceae, on which the disease can cause economically important da ...

'' on the weed ''Capsella bursa-pastoris''. From the perspective of plant pathology, ''Hyaloperonospora brassicae'' is now the name of the most important pathogen in this complex, attacking the major agricultural and horticultural ''Brassica'' species. Other significant Brassicaceous hosts are attacked by different species in the complex, e.g. horseradish (''Armoracia rusticana'') by ''Hyaloperonospora cochleariae'', wallflower (''Erysimum cheiri'') by ''Hyaloperonospora cheiranthi''. Downy mildew is a disease of major importance on the horticultural ''Brassica'' species. It is most serious on the flowerhead types (cauliflower, broccoli), less serious on the leaf brassicas (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and least serious on the root brassicas (turnips, swedes) and oil brassicas (rape). The pathogen persists as oospores in the soil. Attacks are most important in ''Brassica'' seedbeds, with infection appearing as yellow speckling of the upper surface of seedling leaves, and white mildew on the lower surface. Severely affected seedlings are stunted or killed. Similar symptoms appear on leaves in the field, causing premature senescence and favouring bacterial spoilage in the cold store after harvest. Affected Brussels sprouts show black spotting, which reduces their market quality. The heads of flowerhead brassicas can be severely affected, and become unmarketable. Control by fungicide treatment is essential at the seed-bed stage, with reduction of humidity and leaf wetness as fas as possible. Similarly, flowerhead brassicas grown under protected conditions may require fungicide sprays. In the field, control relies on the use of healthy seedlings, adequate crop rotation and avoidance of unfavourable conditions. Fungicide sprays are not very effective. However, fungicides may in any case be used against white rust (''

Albugo candida ''Albugo candida'', commonly known as white rust, is a species of oomycete in the family Albuginaceae. It is sometimes called a fungus, but in fact forms part of a distinct lineage of fungus-like microorganisms, Oomycetes, commonly known as wa ...

''), and these have some action against ''H. brassicae''.

References

External links

Index Fungorum

USDA ARS Fungal Database
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5952594 Peronosporales Water mould plant pathogens and diseases Leaf vegetable diseases