Revisiting Golovinomyces Species (Erysiphaceae) in Korea: Re-identification, New Records, and Description of Golovinomyces physalidis sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Golovinomyces (Erysiphaceae, Ascomycota) comprises obligate biotrophic fungi responsible for powdery mildew diseases on many economically important and wild plant species, mainly within the Asteraceae. From 1987 to 2024, we collected about 1000 samples of Golovinomyces spp. across Korea and performed morphological observation along with multi-locus sequence analyses (including internal transcribed spacer, large subunit, intergenic spacer, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). Resolving five previous ambiguous species complexes, Golovinomyces ambrosiae, Golovinomyces artemisiae, Golovinomyces biocellatus, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, and Golovinomyces orontii, clarified species boundaries and refined previous identifications. As a result, this study identified 21 Golovinomyces species, representing an increase from 15 species previously recorded in Korea. A new species, Golovinomyces physalidis, was described as the causal agent of powdery mildew on Physaliastrum echinatum and Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii. Additionally, five species (Golovinomyces chrysanthemi, Golovinomyces latisporus, Golovinomyces monardae, Golovinomyces montagnei, and Golovinomyces riedlianus) and three host plants (Achillea ptarmica var. acuminata, P. echinatum, and Xanthium italicum) were newly documented in Korea. The present findings establish an updated taxonomic framework for Golovinomyces species, thereby improving identification accuracy and enhancing disease management.