Mildew damages plants to the point of death and should be treated as quickly as possible. The disease is caused by two different types of fungi. We'll tell you how you can recognize the different pathogens.
How do powdery mildew and downy mildew appear?
Mildew is a fungal disease that is characterized by the typicalwhite to gray coating. The affected areas look like they have been sprinkled with flour. In powdery mildew, the coating is on the upper side of the leaf. Downy mildew affects the underside of the leaves.
What similarities do the mildew species have?
The cause of mildew inboth cases is a type of fungus However, the false fungus in downy mildew is more closely related to diatoms. The parasites settled on or in the leaves. Then they suck nutrients and moisture from the cells of the leaves.
How does powdery mildew manifest itself?
If the powdery mildew coating has spread,brown, dried spots will appear on the leaves. The fungal mycelium forms suckling appendages that extract nutrients and moisture from the leaves. This limits the metabolism of the cells and causes them to die. As it spreads, the leaves die and, in the worst case, the entire plant dies. The fungus needs warmth to grow and is therefore also called “fair weather mushroom”.
How do I recognize downy mildew?
Downy mildew is usually only discovered bybrown spots on the top of the leaves. These are already damaged cells. Only a look at the underside reveals the mushroom lawn. Downy mildew requires a lot of moisture to grow. The pseudo fungus penetrates into the interior of the leaf and feeds on the cell juices there. This creates the brown oil stains on the top. Because it needs moisture, the fungus appears mainly in spring and autumn. That's why it is also called the “bad weather mushroom”.
Tip
Universal remedy for mildew
A universal remedy for mildew is garlic broth. Due to the substances it contains, garlic can be used as a natural fungicide against many types of fungi. This means you can still eat the fruits of infected and treated plants. However, the fruits themselves should not be affected by mildew as the fungi can cause allergies.
