Recent Discoveries about Erysiphaceae (Ascomycota: Helotiales) in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province, Iran

This study involved the collection of samples exhibiting powdery mildew symptoms from various locations in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province. These samples were then meticulously examined to identify specific characteristics related to various structures, such as Casmothecium (including diameter, shape, and dimensions of appendages), sscus (shape, dimensions), ascospore (number per ascus, shape, dimensions), foot-cells of conidiophore (shape, dimensions), and conidium (solitary or catenate formation, shape, dimensions). This examination was conducted using multiple microscopic slides and detailed drawings of the structures were prepared using an Olympus CH30 microscope equipped with a drawing tube. The study revealed that Helichrysum oligocephalum represents a new host at the genus and species level for the genus Golovinomyces in Iran. Additionally, it was noted that there were no previous reports of powdery mildew on Vicia narbonensis in Iran. Furthermore, while some species had been previously documented in Iran, new host plants were identified for them. For instance, Bromus hordeaceus was identified as a new host for the Blumeria graminis species complex and Carduus pycnocephalus, Cirsium syriacus, and Jurinea carduiformis were found to be new hosts for Golovinomyces montagnei. Additionally, Erodium glauchophyllum and E. moschatum were identified as new hosts for Podosphaera erodii and Geranium pyrenaicum was found to be a new host for Podosphaera fugax. These findings introduced as new hosts of powdery mildew fungi in Iran.