This book contains selected papers presented at the Downy Mildew Workshop during the International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP) held in August 2008 at Torino, Italy, and some additional relevant papers selected by the editors. The papers are focused on the biology, evolution, resistance mechanisms, host-parasite interactions, genetic variation, population ecology, epidemiology, chemical control and fungicide resistance of downy mildews. This volume represents a continuation of a previous volume entitled: The Downy Mildews—Genetics, Molecular Biology and Control (A. Lebeda, P.T.N. Spencer-Phillips and B.M. Cooke, Eds.; Springer, 2008, 206 pp., ISBN 978-1-4020-8972-5).

Knowledge of downy mildew pathogens, and the plant diseases they cause, has advanced substantially during last decade. Progress in some areas has been summarized in three consecutive volumes of “Advances in Downy Mildew Research” (2002, 2004 and 2007). However, the last Downy Mildew Workshop provided an opportunity to collect new information and research topics about downy mildews, and to publish this spin-off volume. It contains 17 invited reviews and original research papers. This book gives the most recent and comprehensive update of knowledge about downy mildews.

We hope that it will be of use to students, academics and researchers in plant pathology, mycology, crop protection, taxonomy, plant biology and ecology, as well as to others involved in the agricultural and horticultural advisory services and industry.