Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands
April 15, 2021

On April 15th, the International Working Group on Peronospora in spinach (IWGP) have denominated two new races of the downy mildew pathogen (Peronospora effusa) on spinach. This has been done on the basis of a worldwide evaluation of isolates from growers fields and trap nurseries.

Isolate SP1924 found in Europe, is denominated as race Pe: 18 and isolate UA202001E, found in the USA, is denominated as race Pe: 19. Both races pose a significant threat to the spinach industry in all parts of the world, and resistance to these new races is important.

Jordi Boshoven, researcher Phytopatholgy & Content Analysis responsible for spinach disease trials at Bejo:  ‘It is important that we develop spinach varieties that are resistant to downy mildew race Pe: 1 to Pe: 19. We are on top of it and our research focus is mainly on this important disease.’ 

Bejo is member of the IWGP and delivers her contribution to use the common host differential set to identify new isolates. All denominated isolates and seeds of the differential set are available at Naktuinbouw (The Netherlands).

For further information, please check the official press release published by Plantum.

Website: http://www.bejo.com

Published: April 15, 2021