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← MSc Plant Diversity students get extra training in the preparation of herbarium specimens
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First survey samples received!

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Oliver Ellingham

This morning I was lucky enough to find a sealed envelope waiting for me on my desk. I had an idea and hope of what it may contain, and was far from disappointed…

In mid-May of this year the Powdery Mildew Survey was launched: a project run jointly between the University of Reading and the RHS to help to form a more complete picture of powdery mildew presence in the UK and to develop cutting-edge, molecular identification techniques.

Figure 1: Powdery mildew survey 'flyer'. This has been disseminated at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as shows in Birmingham and the upcoming Hampton Court Flower Show

Figure 1: Powdery mildew survey ‘flyer’. This has been disseminated at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as shows in Birmingham and the upcoming Hampton Court Flower Show

Within the envelope were samples of powdery mildew infected plant material all the way from Dollar, a small town near Stirling in Scotland.

The samples found on Knapweed (Centaurea montana), Comfrey (Symphytum sp.), Fringe cup (Tellima grandiflora), and Forget-me-not (Myosotis sp.) will I suspect yield species of powdery mildew which I have not yet been able to analyse, and if not will increase my sampling size and range. Either way, they will be a valuable addition to the study.

Figure 2: Samples from Scotland; perfectly sent and now preserved in silica gel till our next DNA extraction.

Figure 2: Samples from Scotland; perfectly sent and now preserved in silica gel till our next DNA extraction

The white-talcam powder like coating found on the plants leaves, shoots, buds and fruits may look uninspiring and inconsequential, but has huge economic effects due to losses of important crops. So keep your eyes open this summer, and if you feel like doing your bit, please do send me your samples.

Follow project news on Twitter #powderyM

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About Oliver Ellingham

PhD student at the University of Reading. Working on ID techniques of powdery mildew Fungi. Interested in mycology, plant pathology and arboriculture.
View all posts by Oliver Ellingham →
This entry was posted in PhD research, Public Engagement with Science, RHS research and tagged Ascomycota, Citizen Science, Erysiphales, Fungal identification, Fungi, Gardening Survey, Oli Ellingham, Oliver Ellingham, Pathology, Plant Pathology, Powdery Mildew, RHS, Royal Horticultural Society, Survey. Bookmark the permalink.
← MSc Plant Diversity students get extra training in the preparation of herbarium specimens
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  • 4 Replies
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Last reply was July 9, 2014
  1. paul Egan-Wyer
    View June 13, 2014

    I have just posted a package to you today, can I email photos the plant to you?

    Reply
  2. Alastair Culham
    View June 13, 2014

    I’ve sent you the contact details via email. Many thanks for sending the samples.

    Reply
  3. Dr M
    View June 26, 2014

    Strange how I overlooked powdery mildews etc as just a nuisance, if I even thought of them at all. Then reading a post like this and discovering a whole new dimension and what a fascinating part of global biodiversity they are! Grateful thanks from Dr M

    Reply
  4. Citizen Science Samples | Culham Research Group
    View July 9, 2014

    […] Potential Neoerysiphe galeopsidis on Centaurea montana […]

    Reply
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