Identification of Erysiphe quercicola associated with powdery mildew disease on Ailanthus excelsa in India

In December 2017, Ailanthus excelsa plants showing typical symptoms of powdery mildew disease were found in Kukrail picnic spot forest area in Lucknow, India. Morphological characteristics of the anamorph and molecular sequence analysis of the ITS and 28S regions of rDNA verified the fungus as Erysiphe quercicola, which is known as common and widespread powdery mildew on different forest trees spp. Although E. quercicola has been reportedly associated with powdery mildew diseases of tropical trees and shrubs other than Quercus spp., this is the first report of E. quercicola on E. excelsa tree in India.