Abstract A novel powdery mildew disease was observed on chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) in Brazil. The morphological features of fungal colonies and conidia were in agreement with those typical for the genus Leveillula . The total DNA of three field‐collected samples were used as template in PCR assays with the pair of primer PMITS1 and PMITS2, targeting the internal transcribed space (ITS) region of Erysiphales isolates. Amplicons were Sanger sequenced and their BLAST analysis revealed 100% identity with a large number of L. taurica ( lato sensu, Clade 1) isolates from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the pathogen identification. Equivalent symptoms were observed on chickpea seedlings after controlled inoculation, fulfilling the Koch's postulates. Leveillula taurica ( lato sensu, Clade 1) isolates have been reported infecting Fabaceae hosts worldwide, including chickpeas in North America, Africa and Asia. However, this is the first record of L. taurica infecting this crop in Brazil and South America.