Mildew

views updated May 23 2018

Mildew

Mildews are whitish fungi that grow on moist surfaces. Some mildews are parasites growing on the surface of plant foliage or fruits . Other mildews grow on the moistened surfaces of materials made from plant or animal tissues, such as wood , paper , clothing, or leather.

The downy mildews are in the fungal family Peronosporaceae. These fungi can only exist as parasites, and under conditions favorable to their growth they can be important plant pathogens . Heavily infested leaves have whitish mycelium emerging through the small pores on their surface known as stomata, and through other exterior lesions. It is this downy mycelium that gives the fungus its common name. Various species are economically important, for example, Plasmopara viticola is a downy mildew of cultivated grapes (Vitis vinifera).

The powdery mildews are in the family of fungi known as the Erysiphaceae. These can be important parasites of grasses and other plants, especially under humid conditions. Severely infested plants can have a whitish or grayish bloom of mycelium and spores over much of their above-ground surfaces. One of the most important species is the powdery mildew of grasses (Erysiphe graminis), which affects a wide range of grasses grown as food for humans or as fodder for livestock .

When they are perceived to be pests , mildews are sometimes treated with a pesticide called a mildewcide. Commonly used chemicals for this purpose include benzoic acid , formaldehyde, cresols, phenols, sulfur powder, and organic compounds containing mercury, lead , zinc, or copper . Infestations of mildews on books, walls, and other organic-rich surfaces can sometimes be treated by wiping with a dilute solution of domestic bleach (sodium hypochlorite ).

See also Fungicide.

Mildew

views updated May 23 2018

Mildew

Mildews are whitish fungi that grow on moist surfaces. Some mildews are parasites growing on the surface of plant foliage or fruits. Other mildews grow on the moistened surfaces of materials made from plant or animal tissues, such as wood, paper, clothing, or leather.

The downy mildews are in the fungal family Peronosporaceae. These fungi can only exist as parasites, and under conditions favorable to their growth they can be important plant pathogens. Heavily infested leaves have whitish mycelium emerging through the small pores on their surface known as stomata, and through other exterior lesions. It is this downy mycelium that gives the fungus its common name. Various species are economically important, for example, Plasmopara viticola is a downy mildew of cultivated grapes (Vitis vinifera ).

The powdery mildews are in the family of fungi known as the Erysiphaceae. These can be important parasites of grasses and other plants, especially under humid conditions. Severely infested plants can have a whitish or grayish bloom of mycelium and spores over much of their above-ground surfaces. One of the most important species is the powdery mildew of grasses (Erysiphe graminis ), which affects a wide range of grasses grown as food for humans or as fodder for livestock.

When they are perceived to be pests, mildews are sometimes treated with a pesticide called a mildewcide. Commonly used chemicals for this purpose include benzoic acid, formaldehyde, cresols, phenols, sulfur powder, and organic compounds containing mercury, lead, zinc, or copper. Infestations of mildews on books, walls, and other organic-rich surfaces can sometimes be treated by wiping with a dilute solution of domestic bleach (sodium hypochlorite ).

See also Fungicide.

mildew

views updated Jun 08 2018

mil·dew / ˈmilˌd(y)oō/ • n. a thin whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather.• v. affect or be affected with mildew.DERIVATIVES: mil·dew·y adj.

mildew

views updated Jun 27 2018

mildew Any fungal disease of a plant in which the mycelium of the causal agent is visible as white or pale-coloured, cottony or powdery patches on leaves etc. See also DOWNY MILDEW and POWDERY MILDEW.

mildew

views updated May 18 2018

mildew Any fungal disease of a plant in which the mycelium of the causal agent is visible as white or pale-coloured, cottony or powdery patches on leaves, etc. See also downy mildew and powdery mildew.

mildew

views updated May 18 2018

mildew † honey-dew OE.; morbid growth on plants, etc. XIV. OE. mildēaw, meledēaw = OS. milidou (Du. meeldauw), OHG. militou (G., with assim. to mehl MEAL1, mehltau), Sw. mjöldagg; f. Gmc. *meliþ honey + *dawwaz DEW.

mildew

views updated May 29 2018

mildew External filaments and fruiting structures of numerous mould-like fungi. Mildews are parasites of plants and cause substantial damage to growing crops. See also fungus