Crops
Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni, 1888
Downy mildew
This stramenopile *, of American origin and a specialized parasite of Vitaceae, is present in the vast majority of vineyards around the world, except in a few vineyards located in production areas that are too dry. It is responsible for vine mildew, a disease with potentially searing epidemics and characterized by the presence of primary foci (figure 1) in the plots which can spread very quickly.
It has been raging on vines in France for many years, its introduction in our country dates back to 1878. Downy mildew is one of the main diseases of the vine, causing more or less damage each year and requiring in all cases several fungicide treatments. .
Classification : Protozoa, Alveolata, Incertae_sedis_, Peronosporea, Peronosporidae, Peronosporales, Peronosporaceae
Synonymes : Botrytis viticola Berk. & M.A. Curtis, (1848), Peronospora viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) de Bary, (1863)
English name : downy mildew
* There are about 800 saprophytic or parasitic species of oomycetes. The latter have long been classified under the Phycomycetes or “Lower Fungi” (Eumycetes). This classification was revised a few years ago because their ultra structure, their biochemistry and their molecular sequences indicated that they belonged to a group of organisms including mainly algae (green and brown), diatoms . Currently, depending on bibliographic sources, they can be associated with either the Chromista (Index fungorum) or the Stramenopila (Tree of life).