First report of powdery mildew of coastal wattle (Acacia sophorae) caused by Erysiphe quercicola

Abstract

A powdery mildew was found associated with the coastal wattle, Acacia sophorae, at Tullymorgan, in northern New South Wales, Australia. Morphological characterisation identified it as belonging to the genus Erysiphe, while internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed it as Erysiphe quercicola, a pathogen with a worldwide distribution and a broad host range. This is the first record of E. quericola infecting A. sophorae, and the first powdery mildew infection recorded for this native Australian plant.