Diversity, Phylogeny, and Host-Specialization of Hyaloperonospora Species in Korea

The genus Hyaloperonospora (Peronosporaceae; Oomycota) is an obligate biotrophic group that causes downy mildew disease on the Brassicaceae and allied families of Brassicales, including many economically relevant crops, such as broccoli, cabbage, radish, rape, and wasabi. To investigate the diversity of Hyaloperonospora species in northeast Asia, we performed a morphological analysis for the dried herbarium specimens collected in Korea, along with molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mtDNA sequences. It was confirmed that 14 species of Hyaloperonospora exist in Korea. Of these, three species, previously classified under the genus Peronospora, were combined to Hyaloperonospora: H. arabidis-glabrae comb. nov. (ex Arabis glabra), H. nasturtii-montani comb. nov. (ex Rorippa indica), and H. nasturtii-palustris comb. nov. (ex Rorippa palustris). In addition, finding two potentially new species specific to northeast Asian plants is noteworthy in support of the view that the species abundance of Hyaloperonospora has been underestimated hitherto.