SEM Observations on the Perithecia of Phyllactinia corylea Causing Powdery Mildew Disease in Mulberry

Surface morphology of perithecia of the powdery mildew fungus of mulberry, Phyllactinia corylea is described under scanning electron microscope. The perithecia have penicellate cells on the upper surface and at an average 17 acicular appendages towards the lower surface each emerging from a bulbous base. Many perithecial walls towards the base have shrunken walls. When the perithecia dry out they are pushed above the leaf surface by the acicular append-ages which then bend at the base. The bending of the appendages may be attributed to the shrinkage of lower wall cells due to loss of water.