Australia has a suprisingly high diversity of powdery mildews infecting legume crops

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-05-16 10:00

Australia; VIC; QLD

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Australian scientists have identified 11 different species of powdery mildew infecting 51 different species of legume (beans, peas and lentils), and say this high level of diversity was unexpected. They looked back at old, dried specimens of legumes and used DNA to identify the powdery mildews infecting them. The most common was a mildew called Podosphaera xanthii, which the scientists say can infect at least 18 different species of legume. Powdery mildews damage legume crops in Australia every year and can cause a 40% drop in mung bean yields, according to the Queensland Government, as well as affecting other legumes and grape vines. The researchers say this is the most comprehensive catalogue of the agricultural pests in Australia to date.