A powdery mildew on an ornamental plant Symphoricarpos albus (Caprifoliaceae) was found in Kyiv (Ukraine) in October 2015. The causal agent was mainly in the anamorphic state, but the teleomorph in the form of several fruiting bodies (chasmothecia) were present. Only one of these was almost mature. Its morphology suggested it belonged to the common North American species Erysiphe (Microsphaera) symphoricarpi. Two separate phylogenetic analyses using ITS and 28S rDNA sequences showed that the fungus on S. albus collected in Ukraine grouped with E. symphoricarpi collected in Hungary, UK, and USA with strong bootstrap supports (MP = 100%, ML = 100%). This is the first record of this species in Ukraine. It is assumed that the disease will not have a significant impact on green spaces, because the pathogen develops in late autumn and fruiting bodies are rare.
Keywords: Symphoricarpos, powdery mildew fungi, molecular phylogeny, introduced species, North American fungus, ornamental planting, snowberry
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