Powdery Mildew Epilog

Abstract

Crucifers include very large group of oilseed Brassica species, and vegetable crops grown all over the world for quality vegetable oil and as vegetables apart from a source of fodder crops. The major oil yielding Brassica crops are: B. juncea (Mustard), B. napus (Rapeseed), B. carinata (Ethiopian mustard), B. rapa subsp. oleifera (Turnip rape), var. Brown Sarson, var. Yellow Sarson, var. Toria, and B. nigra (Black mustard). Main vegetable crops are: B. oleracea var. acephala (Kale), var. capitata (Cabbage), var. sabauda (Savay cabbage), var. gemmifera (Brussels sprouts), var. botrytis (Cauliflower), var. gongylodes (Khol rabi), var. italica (Broccoli), var. alboglabra (Chinese kale), B. rapa sub sp. chinensis (Bok choi), sub sp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage), sub sp. nipposinica, and sub sp. pamchinensis. Fodder crops are: B. oleracea var. fruticosa (Branching bush kale), B. rapa sub sp. rapifera (Turnip), and B. napus sub sp. rapifera (Rutabaga, Swede). Besides, these crops, there are several weeds including Arabidopsis thaliana which is drosophila or ecoli for molecular studies using microbes as a host pathosystem. Out of more than 40 biotic, and abiotic stress reported on crucifers (Saharan et al. this volume), powdery mildew is fourth important biotic disease causing heavy losses, and widely distributed over more than 25 countries of the world on crucifers. More so, powdery mildew is at very alarming stage on oil yielding Brassica crops viz., B. juncea, and B. napus all over the world. These two Brassica species are widely cultivated throughout oil yielding countries as a source of quality edible oil.