First Report of <i>Erysiphe</i> sp. as a Causal Agent of Powdery Mildew on <i>Punica granatum</i> in Italy
Journal: Plant Disease
Year: 2016

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate), belonging to the Punicaceae family, is a plant native to the Middle East. Its fruit has gained widespread popularity as a functional and nutraceutical food and hence, pomegranate growing has noticeably increased in southern Italy from 43 ha in 2010 to 168 ha in 2015 (http://agri.istat.it/). In June 2015, a severe outbreak of powdery mildew was observed on 70% of 450,000 2-year-old pomegranate plants cvs. Wonderful One and Ako in a nursery located in Lecce Provin