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Geo-ecological survey was conducted for a number of wild olive genotypes growing naturally in tow different locations (kfr-takharim and Harem- (Wadi Al-kabeer) at Edleb province, during 2008 and 2009 seasons. The objective of this work was to study the geo- ecological distribution, and the degree of convergence between genotypes morphology. The plant material consists of a random collection of (16) Phenotypes, from which 50 leaves, 50 fruits and 50 seeds per tree, are also randomly collected. The morphological characteristics were studied according to the International Olive Council methods and a cluster analysis has been also carried out for their morphological characteristics. Results showed that studied genotypes are environmentally flexible, and adapted to the Mediterranean climate, as they are growing at different altitudes, ranging between 281-391 m above sea level. These genotypes could be clustered into three major groups, where a significant variability existing among some of the studied characteristics (fruit and seed's length and wide in addition to fruit and seed's wet and dry weight).The percentage of similarity within the first group was (94%), the second (95.7%) and the third (91.2%), where fruit and seed characteristics, have played a major role in groups distribution, particularly the fruit's weight.

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) is a gram-positive bacterium causing destructive bacterial wilt and canker disease in tomato. Herein, a comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on Cmm-resistant and -susceptible tomato lines. Tomato seedlings were inoculated with Cmm and harvested for transcriptome analysis after 4 and 8 day time-points. Twenty-four transcriptome libraries were profiled by RNA sequencing approach. Total of 545 million clean reads was generated. 1642 and 2715 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified in susceptible lines within 4 and 8 days after inoculation (DAI), respectively. In resistant lines, 1731 and 1281 DEGs were found following 4 and 8 DAI, respectively. Gene Ontology analysis resulted in a higher number of genes involved in biological processes and molecular functions in susceptible lines. On the other hand, such biological processes, "defense response", and "response to stress" were distinctly indicated in resistant lines which were not found in susceptible ones upon inoculation, according to the gene set enrichment analyses. Upon Cmm-inoculation, several defense responsive genes were found to be differentially expressed. Of which 26 genes were in the resistant line and three were in the susceptible line. This study helps to understand the transcriptome response of Cmm-resistant and -susceptible tomato lines. The results provide comprehensive data for molecular breeding studies, for the purpose to control of the pathogen in tomato., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Potato wart caused by Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilberszky) Pervical was observed in Turkey on different cultivars (Agria, Granola, Marabel, Marfona, Russet Burbank and Van Gogh) during the 2004 harvest season in the Misli (Bud) Plain where approximately 40,000 ha of potatoes are grown. This plain, lying between Nigde and Nevsehir provinces in the central-eastern Anatolia Region, has a predominance of sandy soils (60 to 80% sand) and climatic conditions suitable for production that has been a long-term monoculture using heavy fertilization with nitrogen (500 to 1,500 kg of N per ha) and phosphorus (200 to 500 kg of P 2 O 5 per ha). The wart symptoms were observed on tubers but not on roots and stems. The warts were white, almost spherical, and softer in texture than the tuber tissue. Resting sporangia, observed within the fresh wart tissue using light microscopy, were light brown, spherical to ovoid and 50 to 70 μm in diameter. Soil surveys confirmed that resting sporangia were present in the fields where wart was observed. Resting sporangia were isolated from infected tubers and surrounding soil (2). An average of <1 sporangium per gram of soil was detected in the infested fields. Pathogenicity of the causal agent was demonstrated on 10 tubers of potato cv. Granola. Sprouts on the tubers were cut off at 2 mm above the tuber surface, the eye fields were ringed with warm vaseline using a sterile syringe without a needle and then inoculated by placing fresh cauliflower-like warts containing summer sporangia in the vaseline wells. The tubers were first incubated at 8 to 12°C for 48 h in the dark and after removing the wart tissue, placed in moist peat at 18°C and kept in an 8-h lighting period per day as described by Glynne-Lemmarzalh (1). Sporangia were reisolated from the white, fresh wart tissues observed 8 to 10 weeks later on the inoculated tubers. Two tubers inoculated with sterile tap water did not develop warts. Koch's postulates were fulfilled. Currently, approximately 20,000 ha of the Misli Plain are under official quarantine due to the finding of potato wart. Because of the large-scale occurrence in 2004, it is suspected that the pathogen entered Turkey 3 to 4 years earlier through importation of seed potato tubers from European countries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of wart on potatoes grown in Turkey. The importance of this occurrence in the middle of an area where 50% of Turkey potatoes are produced is duly noted. References: (1) European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. OEPP/EPPO Bull. 34:213, 2004. (2) M. C. Hampson and P. R. Thompson. Plant Soil 46:659, 1977.

During the 2003 winter growing season, a disease occurred on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) cvs. Selin, Astona, 198 RN, Malike, and Tulin that were growing in almost all greenhouses of Serik, Aksu, Kumluca, Demre, and Kinik in the Antalya Province, and Keçiborlu, Çandir, and Şeyhler in the Isparta Province in the western Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Disease incidence ranged from 26 to 65%, resulting in economically heavy losses. Symptoms were water-soaked, dark brown-to-black lesions on the leaf margins and asymmetrical wilting of the leaflets. In advanced stages of disease, vascular tissue had a light brown discoloration. A gram-positive bacterium was consistently isolated and formed light gray colonies with internal light gray flecks approximately 2 to 3 mm in diameter on the modified semiselective medium (SCM) (2). Thirty isolates were identified as Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers CMM 5 and CMM 6 on the basis of consistent amplification of a 614-bp DNA fragment (1). The isolates were also identified as C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (similarity 0.810 to 0.888%) using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (Microbial ID, Newark, DE). A pathogenicity test was done by spraying a 6-week-old tomato seedling (cv. Selin) with the bacterial concentration of 10 8 CFU/ml in sterile water. Control tomato seedlings were only sprayed with sterile water. The inoculated plants were covered with polyethylene bags for 48 h and kept in a growth chamber at 25°C. Symptoms developed on the inoculated plants within approximately 10 days and were similar to those observed in the greenhouse. No symptoms developed on control plants. The bacterium was reisolated from inoculated plants, and its identity was confirmed by colony type on SCM, PCR, and FAME analysis. Although it has been known to be present previously in Aegean, eastern Mediterranean, and the eastern Anatolia regions of Turkey, to our knowledge, this is the first report of bacterial canker on greenhouse tomatoes in the western Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Occurrence of the disease in almost all greenhouses may be the result of the high relative humidity present and the lack of protective bactericide applications in many greenhouses of the region. References: (1) J. Dreier et al. Phytopathology 85:462, 1995. (2) M. Fatmi and N. W. Schaad. Phytopathology 78:121, 1988.

A serious outbreak of a leaf spot disease was observed on tomato transplants grown in commercial seedling companies in southwestern Turkey (Antalya) during the springs of 2002 and 2003. Disease incidence was more severe in the western Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Occurrence of the outbreak resulted in approximately 20 and 25% seedling losses in the springs of 2002 and 2003, respectively. The initial symptoms consisted of pronounced water-soaked, dark brown-to-black spots on young expanding leaves that were 1 to 2 mm in diameter. Later, a number of leaf spots on older leaves enlarged and coalesced, causing leaf desiccation and finally, seedling death. In addition, in 2003 the disease incidence was approximately 5% in 142 commercial greenhouses. Tomato production was unaffected since significant outbreaks did not occur on greenhouse plants. No fruit symptoms were observed. Twenty-six strains were isolated from diseased tomato seedlings and plants from different greenhouses located in different places and all were gram negative and fluorescent on King's B medium. All strains were levan and gelatin liquefaction positive and oxidase and arginine dihydrolase negative. None of the 26 strains utilized erythritol and l-lactate as the sole carbon source (1,2). Fatty acid analysis identified the strains as Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato with similarity indices ranging from 0.876 to 0.932%. Pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed on 4-week-old tomato seedlings (cv. Biotek Selin) sprayed with the bacterial suspensions containing 10 8 CFU/ml of sterile water. Later, a number of leaf spots on the leaves enlarged and coalesced, causing leaf desiccation. Inoculated and control tomato seedlings were covered with polyethylene bags and placed in a growth chamber at 25°C for 48 h and then the bags were removed. Small (1 to 2 mm), water-soaked, dark brown-to-black spots similar to those observed in the greenhouses of commercial seedling companies and commercial greenhouses that produce tomato developed on the young expanding leaves of inoculated plants within 7 to 10 days. No symptoms developed on control plants. The bacterium was reisolated from inoculated plants and identified as a strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. Koch's postulates were fulfilled. To our knowledge, this is the first report for the occurrence and outbreak of the bacterial speck disease on tomato transplants in greenhouses of commercial tomato seedling production companies in Turkey. References: (1) D. C. Hildebrand et al. Pages 60-80 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. N. D. Schaad, ed. The American Phytopathological Society, 1988. (2) J. B. Jones et al. Plant Dis. 70:151, 1986.

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, causal agent of bacterial spot of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was isolated from tomato and pepper plants in greenhouse production in the Province of Antalya, in southwestern Turkey. Disease incidence was less than 4% of plants observed in 2001 and ranged from 1 to 20% in 2002. Eleven seedling-producing companies and 26 greenhouses that produce tomato and pepper were surveyed during the rainy seasons of 2001 and 2002. The increase in disease incidence in 2002 is an indication that this disease is becoming more prevalent on tomato and pepper plants grown in greenhouses in southwestern Turkey. A gram-negative bacterium producing yellow-pigmented colonies on nutrient agar was consistently isolated from brown, circular spots on leaflets of tomato and sweet pepper seedlings. Five isolates were pathogenic on commercial cultivars of tomato and pepper when bacterial suspensions (10 8 CFU/ml) were infiltrated into the intercellular spaces of leaves to determine race by using procedures described by Bouzar et al. (1). All the isolates produced hypersensitive reaction responses on tomato genotype cv. Hawaii 7998 and pepper genotype cvs. 20 R and 30 R and were designated tomato race 1 pepper race 1 (T1P1) (1). Fatty acid analysis of the strains identified them as X. axonopodis vesicatoria with similarity index values of 0.872 to 0.933. In addition, the strains were tested with X. axonopodis vesicatoria-specific polymerase chain reaction primers (RST 2/3 and RST 9/10) (2). The isolates were determined to be X. axonopodis vesicatoria. Although bacterial spot of tomato has been suspected in Turkey for a number of years, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the bacterium on tomato. References: (1) H. Bouzar et al. Phytopathology 84:663, 1994. (2) R. P. Leite, Jr. et al. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 60:1068, 1994.

The essential oil of Rosa damascena petals was evaluated for its antibacterial effects against three strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis spp. vesicatoria. The essential oil may be a potential control agent in the management of the disease caused by X.a. vesicatoria in tomato and pepper plants.