Abstract

Powdery mildew fungi are common on the Fabaceae, but sexual states have not been found in Australia, resulting in an inadequate understanding of which species occur. The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of thirty-two anamorphic powdery mildew specimens on the Fabaceae were analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequencing to reveal four species in Australia. Erysiphe trifolii was identified on a broad range of fabaceous hosts and E. pisi was found on Pisum sativum. Oidium hardenbergiae was found on Hardenbergia and was genetically similar to these two Erysiphe species. The fourth species, on Vigna and Phaseolus in tropical Australia, was determined to be Podosphaera xanthii.