Mildew

Mildew
Example of downy mildew (left) along with powdery mildew on a grape leaf
Unidentified species of mildew growing on a plastic shower curtain.  The numbered ticks on the scale are eleven (11) microns apart.

Mildew refers to certain kinds of molds or fungi.

In Old English, it meant honeydew (a substance secreted by aphids on leaves, formerly thought to distill from the air like dew), and later came to mean mildew in the modern sense of mold or fungus.[1]

Contents

Plant pathogens

What horticulturalists and gardeners often refer to as mildew is more precisely called powdery mildew. It is caused by many different species of fungi in the order Erysiphales. Most species are specific to a narrow range of hosts, and all are obligate parasites of flowering plants. The species that affects roses is Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosa.

Another plant-associated type of mildew is downy mildew. Downy mildews are caused by fungus-like organisms in the family Peronosporaceae (Oomycota). They are obligate plant pathogens, and the many species are each parasitic on a narrow range of hosts. In agriculture, downy mildews are a particular problem for growers of potatoes, grapes, tobacco and cucurbits.

Household Varieties

The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit. Molds can thrive on many organic materials, including clothing, leather, paper, and the ceilings, walls and floors of homes or offices with poor moisture control. There are many species of molds. The black mold (often called mildew) which lives on shower walls, window sills, and other places where moisture levels are high is often Stachybotrys chartarum and is linked with sick building syndrome[2]. In unaired places, such as basements, they can produce a strong musty odor.

The English word was exported into French as mildiou and as mildiu in Spanish[3].

See also

Karl Johanssvamp, Iduns kokbok.png Fungi portal

References

  1. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1969, entry "melit-" in Appendix
  2. ^ "Smelly Moldy Houses". http://www.bioidea.net/resources/smelly_houses/. 
  3. ^ "Mildiu". http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildiu. 

External links



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  • mildew — [mil′do͞o΄, mil′dyo͞o΄] n. [ME mildewe < OE meledeaw, nectar, lit., honeydew, akin to Goth milith, honey < IE base * melit (> L mel, Gr meli, honey) + base of OE deaw,DEW] 1. a thin, furry, usually whitish coating or discoloration,… …   English World dictionary

  • Mildew — Mil dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mildewed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mildewing}.] To taint with mildew; as, mildewed clothing. [1913 Webster] He . . . mildews the white wheat. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mildew — Mil dew, v. i. To become tainted with mildew. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mildew — Mil dew, n. [AS. melede[ a]w; akin to OHG. militou, G. mehlthau, mehltau; prob. orig. meaning, honeydew; cf. Goth. milip honey. See {Mellifluous}, and {Dew}.] (Bot.) A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mildew — (n.) mid 13c., mildeu honeydew, nectar, from O.E. meledeaw honeydew (sticky stuff exuded by aphids), from P.Gmc. compound of *melith honey (see MELISSA (Cf. Melissa)) + *dawwaz dew (see DEW (Cf. dew)). Cf. O.S. milidou, Du …   Etymology dictionary

  • mildew — ► NOUN ▪ a coating of minute fungi on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather. ► VERB ▪ affect with mildew. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • Mildew — (engl., spr. milldju), Meltau des Weinstocks, s. Peronospora …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • mildew — mildewy, adj. /mil dooh , dyooh /, n. 1. Plant Pathol. a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usually whitish coating on the surface of affected parts, caused by any of various fungi. 2. any of these fungi. Cf. downy mildew, powdery… …   Universalium

  • mildew — mil•dew [[t]ˈmɪlˌdu, ˌdyu[/t]] n. 1) ppa a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usu. whitish coating on the affected parts, caused by any of various fungi 2) fng any of these fungi, esp. downy mildew or powdery mildew 3) fng any similar …   From formal English to slang

  • mildew — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English meledēaw honeydew; akin to Old High German militou honeydew Date: 14th century 1. a. a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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