Diseases

Powdery mildew — Kentucky bluegrass

Poa pratensis L.

A fungal disease of Kentucky bluegrass caused by a specialized form of Blumeria graminis f. sp. poae, manifesting as a grey coating on leaves under shaded conditions.

In the reference 30 varieties crop Kentucky bluegrass, where this is mentioned in the description.

The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. poae. The disease affects leaves and leaf sheaths, covering them with a light, web-like coating of mycelium and conidia. The pathogen develops most actively in cool, humid weather on slow-growing stands with poor air circulation.

Severe infection disrupts the plant's water balance and reduces the intensity of photosynthesis. In breeding Kentucky bluegrass for resistance, the PpMLO gene family plays a key role, including the genes PpMLO2, PpMLO13, and PpMLO14. The resistance of commercial varieties is also associated with the activity of defense genes HSP90, RBOH, and RPM.

General information about the subject — on the page Powdery mildew.

Sources8

Varieties of Kentucky bluegrass mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.