Powdery Mildew and its easily identified powdery white spots is one of the most common diseases in Greenhouse and indoor agriculture. This crop-destroying fungus can infect a wide array of plant species and spread rapidly through greenhouses both indoors and outdoors alike. Powdery Mildew can be transmitted by other plant pests such as aphids or simple contamination by touch or with infected tools, clothing, or boots, and sharing ventilation with previously contaminated spaces and clean spaces.
First symptoms of infection are the dusty gray or white spots on either the upper or lower surfaces of leaves. Left untreated Powdery Mildew will begin to produce spores and begin to spread into stems, fruits and flowers. Although plant death only occurs in extreme cases, PM can greatly reduce fruit or flower yield and aesthetics, and can also decrease the overall value of contaminated crops.
*IMPORTANT*
* If a Powdery Mildew infection has already been detected, any affected plants should be bagged and removed from the environment. Manual monitoring frequency should be increased to prevent further spread of spores and infection. Clean and sanitize any tools or equipment which regularly come into contact with multiple plants to keep mold spores from cross-contaminating healthy plants*
By researching which specific species of fungi afflicts your specific crops, specific conditions and preventative techniques can be focused on to keep your garden powdery mildew free. It is important to mention that no matter which method you choose to treat or control powdery mildew, you will get best results by combining a systemic method and a surface method together. The combination of effects will provide killing pathogens on contact, suppressing spore growth, limiting systemic spread and provides plant system protection. Rotating use of multiple methods or products may be important, as commercial agriculture does. Strains of fungi and other plant diseases can become resistant to repeated use of the same treatment.