A fungal disease of rye caused by the highly specialized biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. secalis. The disease affects the above-ground organs of the plant, reducing yields by 10–15% due to impaired photosynthesis and premature leaf senescence.
In the reference
76
varieties
crop Rye,
where this is mentioned in the description.
The pathogen Blumeria graminis (DC.) Speer f. sp. secalis is an obligate parasite adapted exclusively to species of the genus Secale. The infection manifests as a white, web-like mycelium on leaves and leaf sheaths, which eventually densifies and takes on a grayish hue. As the pathogen develops, cleistothecia—small black dots that ensure the survival of the inoculum—form on the affected areas.
The pathogen population exhibits high virulence diversity and constant emergence of physiological races. Breeding for resistance relies on studying Pm genes; however, their effectiveness is limited due to the rapid variability of the fungus. Consequently, rye breeding programs primarily focus on developing cultivars with quantitative adult-plant resistance and the ability to slow down infection development.
General information about the subject — on the page
Powdery mildew.
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