Molecular and morphological characterization of Phyllactinia cassiae-fistulae (Erysiphaceae; Ascomycota) from Thailand

Abstract

Phyllactinia cassiae-fistulae and its Ovulariopsis anamorph, a causal agent of powdery mildew on Cassia fistula, have been found in Thailand for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis using the 28S ribosomal DNA sequences clearly demonstrated that P. cassiae-fistulae distinctly formed a unique clade at the basal part of Phyllactinia with 100% bootstrap support. This phylogenetic analysis supports the unique morphology of P. cassiae-fistulae anamorph having cylindrical-ellipsoil conidia and short conidiophores similar to Oidium species.

Keywords: Morphology, phylogeny, powdery mildew, Cassia fistula, Senna siamea

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 109-114