Erysiphe neelamensis, a new powdery mildew fungus (Ascomycota: Erysiphaceae) from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

A new powdery mildew species, Erysiphe neelamensis, was found on Celtis eriocarpa in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The identification was based upon morpho-anatomical features and results of a molecular sequence analysis. This species is morphologically distinguished from phylogenetically allied Erysiphe species by having chasmothecia with fewer, shorter appendages and a small number of asci and ascospores. A phylogenetic analysis of the nrDNA of ITS region of E. neelamensis supports the involvement of a novel species of the genus Erysiphe. The new species is described, illustrated and compared with all allied species, along with a phylogram showing its inferred phylogenetic position.