Ronald Nigh wrote
> Various herbs achieve control, perhaps because, at least in part,
> of their Si content. Our standard cure for powedery mildew in
> vegies is a the classic mixture of mashed garlic and onion in a
> neutral soap base (as adherent). This is what works best (after
> contolling humidity conditions).
>
> Another source for Si is Equicetum tea, which is also used in Mexico as a
> fungistat, though I don't know how it works for PM.
Extremely cool. Equicetum is scouring rush--that wonderful primitive
(related to way-early ferns) swampyland plant that uptakes silica
into its tissues. "Aboriginal" and "pioneer" people alike used it as
a scrubbing fiber.
I wonder whether the silicates' sharp edges don't rupture the conidia
of the powdery mildew? Here's a UW-Madison slide of those, in their
stalky form:
http://www.wisc.edu/plantpath/pp300/docs/pmcond.html
What's intriguing me about this is that, in an earlier discussion of
organic worming agents, someone mentioned diatomaceous earth as a
dietary supplement. The sharp-edged silica remains of the diatoms cut
thru the exoskeletons of worms or parasites; they also cut thru the
slime of slugs and snails, which is why diatomaceous earth is
recommended for slug/snail control in the garden.
I'll resist the pun about cutting edge pest control.
Am I correct in remembering that it was powdery mildew that took out
Wisconsin's hops industry (as well as in the east) in the late 19th
or early 20th century? And the base for that moved to dryside
Washington state? (Whence Willamette and Cascade hops were
named????) I seem to recall my local homebrewing supplier and vintner
telling me this story, and saying that Cascade hops were PM
resistant.
None of which has anything to do with the original question. But,
ah, the little things that twinkle in our memories.
pax
m
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