Importance
The host of the fungal pathogen, '' Syringa vulgaris'' or the common lilac, is an ancient plant with significance in horticultural activities and wild roots in eastern Europe. Its Latin epithet, vulgaris, translates into ‘common’ in English, and was popularized by the pioneer taxonomistSymptoms
Powdery mildew of lilac leaves an opaque-white discoloration on the leaves of ''S. vulgaris''. This process is predominant at the end of the season but can begin to take place during new growth. Eventually the fungal pathogen contributes to the damaging and early senescing of the infected leaves. The opaque-white discoloration is mycelial growth along the surface of the leaf. When the pathogen is sufficiently advanced, the presence of small dark dots indicates the production of cleistothecium ( chasmothecium), an important structure in the protection of potential inoculum.Treatment
There are methods to treat powdery mildew using home-made preparations including fresh milk, which contains the active anti-pathogenic compound lecithin. Lecithin is recognized by the European Union as a treatment for powdery mildews diseases and is commonly available in the soy-derived formulation ‘soy lecithin’. Other experimental treatments include using baking soda (disrupts pH), neem oil (fungicidal properties), or sulfur containing solutions. Historically, flowers of sulfur has been prepared into a dust and applied to the leaves. Synthetic compounds such as thiophanate-methyl, propiconazole, and chlorothalonil are used to treat variety of powdery mildew diseases, as well as other fungal pathogens. Many chemical treatments are known to contribute to disease resistance, and can be harmful if not used with appropriate caution. Compounds with high risk such as thiophanate-methyl can be referred to in the FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action CommitteeReferences
{{taxonbar, from=Q10488583 syringae Fungal plant pathogens and diseases