Search

Monilinia laxa is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens causing brown rot, blossom blight and spur infection on stone fruits such as peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry and plum. In 2019–2020 surveys, 30 orchards in the apricot and almond production areas of Malatya and Elazıg provinces of Turkey exhibited blossom and twig blight symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of boron products, pyroligneous acid and some fungicides on Monilinia laxa. Boron derivatives and boscalid were tested at different concentrations (0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.1,0.2, 0.4, 0.6%; w/v, μg.ml−1) for their inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of M. laxa. Mycelial growth of M. laxa was completely inhibited by boric acid (0.1%), borax (0.09%), Etidot (0.09%), pyroligneous acid (0.8%) and boscalid (0.6 µgml−1). Boric acid (0.12%), borax (0.1%), Etidot-67 (0.15%), PA (1.2%) and boscalid (0.8 µg ml−1) significantly inhibited germination of conidia of M. laxa isolates. EC50 values for 4 isolates of M. laxa ranged from 0.028 to 0.569% (MIC values ranged from 0.09 to 0.8 µgml−1) for mycelial growth and from 0.052 to 0.750% (MIC values ranged from 0.1 to 0.12) for conidial germination. In field trials conducted in the two subsequent years, boscalid + pyraclostrobin showed the highest efficacy (82.4% and 85.2%), followed by PA + borax (64.2% and 65.6%), PA + boric acid (48.2% and 54.6%), and boric acid + borax (18.2% and 21.9%, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is among the three largest pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) producers in the world. Several harmful organisms adversely affect pistachio production. Pistachio bark beetle (PBB) [Hylesinus (= Chaetoptelius) vestitus (Mulsant & Rey, 1860) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)] is an important pistachio pest in several parts of the world, including Turkey. Dry twig traps could be used to attract the pest for breeding and then destroying these traps could serve as a sustainable management approach against the pest. Therefore, this 3-year (2019–2021) study assessed the efficacy of twig traps in suppressing PBB infestation. The traps were prepared from waste, dry twigs obtained after pruning. Each trap contained 10 twigs tied together and hanged on the trees. Three different trap densities [67 (high), 40 (medium), and 20 (low) traps per hectare] along with a control (no trap) were used in the study. Furthermore, optimum number of twigs per trap was determined. The traps were prepared with 5, 10, and 15 twigs and hanged after each 5th tree (40 traps per hectare). The traps were hanged during the first week of February and collected during first week of April upon emergence of new generation adult. The pest infestation was recorded in pistachio shoots and buds once the tree shed the leaves. Ten trees were randomly selected and 10 last-year shoots with fruit buds were collected from the four sides of each to determine the pest infestation. A total 100 shoots were observed from each treatment in each replication. The pest infestation significantly differed among trap densities. The traps lowered pest population by 95–98% during 2nd year of the study. Data relating to number of twigs per trap indicated non-significant differences in infestation rate; therefore, 10 twigs per trap are recommended. Although high trap density trapped higher number of insects, non-significant difference between high and medium density warrant that 40 traps per hectare would effectively suppress PBB infestation. Therefore, hanging 40 traps per hectare and destroying them through burning could give complete control over the pest in few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fall season 2017, forty samples showing necrotic and wilted leaves, stem cankers, shoot cankers, leaf and fruit blight were collected from walnut trees in seven commercial orchards in Aydin province of Turkey. Ten isolates were identified based on morphology of monoconidial cultures obtained from pine needles. Morphological characteristics and DNA sequence comparisons of ITS and EF-1α gene sequences of the isolates revealed the presence of Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, and Neofusicoccum mediterraneum. Four isolates were identified as Neofusicoccum parvum with 100% similarity for ITS (accession nos. MW426289 to MW426292) and EF1α (MT212730 to MT212733); two isolates were Neofusicoccum mediterraneum with 100% similarity for ITS (accession nos. MW426287 and MW426288) and EF1α (MT212728 and MT21729), and one isolate was Botryosphaeria dothidea with 100% similarity for ITS (accession nos. MW426293) and EF1α (MT212734). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 2-year-old walnut trees cv. Chandler, and ten monoconidial isolates were pathogenic. This is the first report of N. parvum and B. dothidea causing twig blight and branch and dieback disease of walnuts in the Aegean region of Turkey and N. mediterraneum on walnut trees in Turkey. This emerging disease could pose a potential threat to new tree plantations of walnut in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pupae of the pistachio twig borer moth (Kermania pistaciella Amsel (Lep.: Tineidae)) were collected in the Şahinbey and Nizip-Alahacı regions of Gaziantep in February and March 2017. The pupae were kept in cages and parasitoids from Cheloninae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) were obtained. Chelonus chetini Beyarslan & Şahan sp. nov. is described as a new species for science. The new species is described and the figures of its diagnostic characters are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fossil conifer Araucaria rothwellii J.Kvaček from the Campanian-Maastrichtian marine sediments of the Bozova Formation in southeastern Turkey is described based on leaf compressions and leaf impressions. The new species is characterized by twigs possessing helically arranged broadly lanceolate leaves with attenuate apexes and slightly narrowed bases. Amphistomatic leaves bear stomata arranged in rows surrounded by four to six subsidiary cells; the rows are longitudinal to the leaf margin. Ordinary epidermal cells are elongately rhomboidal with straight or slightly undulate anticlinal walls. Comparisons with already published fossil species and recent species are provided. The new fossil species A. rothwellii is similar in macro- and micromorphology to extant A. bidwillii , which is indigenous to Queensland in northeast Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the development of a range of anti-cancer agents, cancer diagnoses are still increasing in number, remaining a leading cause of death. Anticancer drug treatment is particularly important for leukemia. We screened Turkish plants and found the unique antileukemic activity of twig components in Turkish Caucasian beech, selectively inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells. This effect is unique among some kinds of beeches, presumably related to oxidative stress. This study would lead to effective use of discarded material, i.e., twig of beech, and a new anti-leukemic drug based on large tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]