Powdery Mildew

 Written by: Mir Aqa Itebar

Powdery mildew is a disease damages all parts of the vine except the roots, and when the grapefruit is very small, the spread of the disease begins. This disease faces gardeners with some problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some gardeners and an agricultural expert about this disease.

Gul Muhammad, a resident of Alar village, Qarabagh district, Kabul province says, “Powdery mildew is a disease that attacks grapes when the fruits are small and this disease doesn’t leave the grapes to grow and the grapes remains small like the size of mung bean. Last year I suffered 40 thousand Afghanis loss due to this disease.”

Barialay, a resident of Saraikhoja district, Kabul province says, “We have at least 700 grapevines. Last year powdery mildew attacked the my grapevines. When I took a businessman to purchase the grapes, he did not dare to purchase the crops and he said that the crops are not edible and nor suitable for making raisin. I faced the loss of about 230 thousand Afghanis due to this disease.”

Agricultural expert, Zekria Faizy talks about this disease, “Powdery mildew is the most persistent fungal problem of grapes and one of the most widespread fungal diseases of grapevines. It is caused by the fungal pathogen Erysiphe necator and seen as ash-grey to white powdery growth on green tissue of the vine. It affects all kinds of grapes. This disease might increase more next year if not treated this year and might cause to dry the grapevines.”

What do gardeners think about the causes of this disease?

Barialay says, “This disease most attacks when the weather is humid, rainy, lightning and no breeze.”

Gul Muhammad says, “I don’t know about the causes of this disease of grapes.”

Zekria Faizy says, “The fungus of powdery mildew lives in decayed fruits in the garden, on the bark and leaves of the grapes. The eggs that cause the disease alives after the spring rains and begins to function. This disease likes humidity. The disease progresses gradually until the white spots appear on different parts of the grapevines. The white powder of this disease is transferred by the wind from one vine to another.”

How do gardeners prevent powdery mildew?

Barialay says, “We spray Sulphur powder on the grapevines, leaves of them and the clusters of grapes.”

 A gardener, Alhaj Lal Muhammad says, “I grow grape garden more than 70 years and I have not seen powdery mildew disease on my grapevines. I don’t let the weeds and extra bushes grow in my garden and I usually cut the extra branches of the grapevines to reach sunray to all grapevines.”

Zekria Faizy talks about the prevention of this disease: “: Burning or burying weeds, as well as burning leaves and barks affected by powdery mildew, deep plowing in winter, shoveling the ground, using Sulphur powder; cutting vine branches that block the sun's rays and air, this could partially eliminate this disease from the gardens.”