Surveyors found in September powdery mildew (Podosphaera plantaginis) infections on 34 percent of the ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) meadows. This is a bit more than last year and these two years hold the ultimate record in the survey’s 24 years history. Last record, twenty percent, was ten years ago.
Research in Laine Lab has revealed how environmental change affect to disease epidemics in natural environment. Fragmented landscape isolates plant populations making them genetically more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. In addition, road networks can enhance fungal disease spreading.
The yearly survey is done together with Glanville fritillary butterfly survey. You can read more about the study system in Finnish or Swedish in the web page of