The Downy Mildews - Genetics, Molecular Biology and Control

Aleš Lebeda – Professor of plant pathology, mycology and agricultural botany. Head of the Department of Botany, Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic). Altogether he has published nearly 800 various scientific and professional papers. He has published more than 200 research papers in more than 50 international journals as well as several book chapters. He edited 15 books and proceedings. Recently he has been elected President of the Czech Society for Plant Pathology and Editor-in-Chief of Plant Protection Science. He has served as a visiting scientist and lecturer in many countries (e.g. The Netherlans, Germany, UK, USA etc.). He has given over 110 lectures in 24 countries. He is a member of several international scientific societies. Peter T.N. Spencer-Phillips - plant pathologist and mycologist, and Head of the School of Biosciences at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. He is Vice-President of the British Mycological Society (2007-2009) and Co-ordinator of the Downy Mildew Working Group of the International Society for Plant Pathology (1998-2008). He organised the Downy Mildews sessions at the last three International Congresses of Plant Pathology (1998, 2003, 2008), and he initiated the Advances in Downy Mildew Research series of books (published in 2002, 2004 & 2007). He has published in journals, books and proceedings, and is a member of the editorial board of three international journals. B. M. Cooke – is a professor of plant pathology in the School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland, and the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Plant Pathology.

Foreword.- Progress and challenges in systematics of downy mildews and white blister rusts: new insights from genes and morphology.- Classical and molecular genetics of Bremia lactucae, cause of lettuce downy mildew.- Species hybrids in the genus Phytophthora with emphasis on the alder pathogen Phytophthora alni: a review.- Proteomic analysis of a compatible interaction between Pisum sativum (pea) and the downy mildew pathogen Peronospora viciae.- Tapping into molecular conversation between oomycete plant pathogens and their hosts.- Diversity of defence mechanisms in plant–oomycete interactions: a case study of Lactuca spp. and Bremia lactucae.- Natural history of Arabidopsis thaliana and oomycete symbioses.- Comparative epidemiology of zoosporic plant pathogens.- Structure and variation in the wild-plant pathosystem: Lactuca serriola–Bremia lactucae.- Development of detection systems for the sporangia of Peronospora destructor.- Fungicide modes of action and resistance in downy mildews.- Activity of carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides against Bremia lactucae.- Beta-aminobutyric acid-induced resistance in grapevine against downy mildew: involvement of pterostilbene.- Effects of garlic (Allium sativum) juice containing allicin on Phytophthora infestans and downy mildew of cucumber caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis.