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During the period of June to October in 2018, a widespread decline was observed on kiwifruit vines in the vineyards located in the Altınordu, Fatsa, and Perşembe districts of Ordu province in Turkey. The symptoms were associated with reddish-brown rots expanding from the root to the collar with sparse off-color foliage. Based on the percentage of the total infected samples across 18 vineyards, the most common oomycete species were Globisporangium intermedium (37.1%), Phytopythium vexans (34.3%), Globisporangium sylvaticum (14.3%), Globisporangium heterothallicum (11.4%), and Pythium dissotocum (2.9%). The morphological identification of isolates was confirmed based on partial DNA sequences containing the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region gene and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene. The optimum growth temperature and the optimum pH values of the five species ranged from 22.98 to 28.25°C and 5.67 to 8.51, respectively. Pathogenicity tests on the seedlings of kiwifruit cv. Hayward revealed significant differences in virulence among isolates. Phytopythium vexans and Globisporangium sylvaticum isolates caused severe root and collar rot resulting in seedling death, while Globisporangium heterothallicum and Globisporangium intermedium isolates had relatively lower virulence. All Globisporangium spp. and Phytopythium vexans isolates significantly decreased plant growth parameters (plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and root length); however, Pythium dissotocum caused very mild symptoms and did not affect these parameters of growth. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting Globisporangium sylvaticum, Globisporangium heterothallicum, and Globisporangium intermedium causing root and collar rot on kiwifruit not only in Turkey but also in the world.

In this study, Clonostachys rosea strain ST1140, a naturally occurring endophyte in healthy roots of a pistachio tree, was identified morphologically and molecularly through DNA sequencing, and its endophytic ability and growth effect in/on three solanaceous plant species were tested. Three different organic substrates (bread wheat-grain, sawdust, and leonardite) were also investigated for their utility in cultivating and multiplying the strain. In-tray and pot experiments, the rates of seed germination and vegetative development of pepper, tomato, and eggplant inoculated with C. rosea at planting were compared to those of non-inoculated controls. In pot experiments, inoculating seedbeds with increasing doses of C. rosea strain ST1140 with wheat-grain substrate resulted in higher plant height values for all plant species, and the strain endophytically colonized the roots of all plant species. In-tray experiments revealed that ST1140 inoculation resulted in 2-4 days earlier and 10% higher germination rates for all plant species, as well as more vigorous and accelerated seedling growth (10-13 days earlier for seedlings at the 4-5 true leaf stage) on all inoculated plant species. Among three different organic substrates, wheat-grain was found to be the most effective for long-term cultivation and multiplication of the fungus, which could be of interest for its development as a commercial product. These results promised the strain ST1140's use as a biofertilizer in seedbeds with a wheat-grain substrate.

In August 2021, jimson weed (Datura stramonium) plants growing as weeds in potato felds in Bolu province, Turkey, exhibited leaf spots with dark concentric rings. Sunken and lens-shaped lesions with a light center were also frequently observed on petioles, branches, and stems. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the transcription elongation factor 1-α, RNA polymerase second largest subunit, and glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase loci, the causal agent was identifed as Alternaria crassa. The pathogen was successfully re-isolated from inoculated jimson weed plants in the pathogenicity assay, proving Koch’s postulates. Alternaria crassa caused necrotic lesions on potato plants, similar to those of early blight, confrming them as an alternative host of the pathogen. This is apparently the frst report of leaf spot caused by A. crassa on jimson weed in Turkey

In July 2020, a blight disease on lemon balm plants was observed with an incidence of up to 10% in three fields in Sanliurfa province, Turkey. The causal agent was identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum based on macro- and micro-morphological features of the colonies and sequencing of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene and the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA. Re-isolation of N. dimidiatum from lemon balm plants showing blight symptoms was successfully established. To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. dimidiatum causing blight on lemon balm in Turkey and worldwide.

WOS:000576010400012 PubMed: 32791883 Decline symptoms associated with lethal stem and branch canker stain along with root and collar rots were observed on 5- to 7-year-old roadside oriental plane trees (Platanus orientalis) in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Aboveground symptoms included leaf necrosis, leaf curling, extensive bluish or blackish staining of shoots, branches, stem bark, and wood surfaces, as well as stem cankers and exfoliation of branch bark scales. A general decline of the trees was distinctly visible from a distance. A Phytophthora/Pythium-like oomycete species with globose to ovoid, often papillate and internally proliferating sporangia was consistently isolated from the fine and coarse roots and stained branch parts and shoots. The pathogen was identified as Phytopythium litorale based on several morphological features. Partial DNA sequences of three loci, including nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large ribosomal subunit (LSU), and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (coxII) confirmed the morphological identification. All P. litorale isolates were homothallic, developing gametangia, ornamented oogonia with elongate to lobate antheridia. Pathogenicity of P. litorale was tested by inoculation on excised shoots and by root inoculation on seedlings. P. litorale produced large lesions and blights on shoots in just 5 days and killed 100% of the seedlings in a month. This paper presents the first confirmed report of P. litorale as an important pathogen on a plant species causing branch and stem cankers, and root and collar rot, in and on P. orientalis, resulting in a rapid decline of trees and suggesting a threat to plane.

Lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa cv. Goldcrest) is a coniferous Cuppressaceae tree and is popular in urban landscapes of Turkey. In July 2021, dark-brown elongated bark lesions and resin exuding cracks with die-back symptoms were observed on the main stem of young C. macrocarpa cv. Goldcrest trees in a private house garden in the central district of Çanakkale Province of Turkey. Fungal isolations made from the margin of cankers of trees consistently yielded flat colonies with dense floccose aerial mycelium that were first off-white and grayish olive-green in some parts or in older cultures. Based on the morphological characteristics of obtained isolates, molecular analyses of the ITS rDNA region of a representative isolate, and pathogenicity tests on 4-year-old C. macrocarpa cv. Goldcrest plants, the causal agent was identified as Seiridium cardinale (Wagener) Sutton & Gibson. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of S. cardinale causing canker on C. macrocarpa in Turkey.

Considering the damage caused by fungicides to human health and problems such as microbial resistance, biological control against plant pathogens has started to gain importance worldwide. This research demonstrates a new, simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing chitosan bionanocomposite (CBNC) from Morchella esculenta (L) Pers-extract (MEE). The antifungal property of the synthesized Morchella esculenta (L) Pers-chitosan bionanocomposite (MCBNC) against some plant pathogens was also evaluated. FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, DSC, TGA, and BET were used to characterize the synthesized MCBNC. Mushroom-based chitosan nanoparticles were evaluated for antifungal activity against some fungal pathogens, including Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae, N. dimidiatum, Alternaria alternata, Verticillium dahliae, Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Colletotrichum sp. The findings obtained clearly showed that chitosan nanoparticles have antifungal activity. The results suggest that the chitosan nanoparticle can be used in the field to protect various crops from phytopathogens. Novelty impact statement Chitosan bionanocomposite (MCBNC) synthesis was performed for the first time using the wild mushroom Morchella esculenta, which has strong bioactive properties. It was observed that the bionanomaterial, which was characterized by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, DSC, TGA, and BET analyses, has high antifungal activity against plant pathogens such as Alternaria alternata and Bipolaris sorokiniana. MCBNCs synthesized by the green synthesis method can be an important area of use in the fight against plant pathogens, which corresponds to 1/3 of the world's agricultural production potential.

In 2020, a canker disease with dieback of branches and decline of various fig trees in Şanlıurfa and Mardin provinces of Turkey was observed. The causal pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of ITS, tef1, and tub2 loci. Koch’s postulates were confirmed by successful re-isolation of N. dimidiatum only from plants inoculated with the pathogen. This is the first report of N. dimidiatum associated with dieback and canker of common fig in Turkey.

During the period of June to October in 2018, a widespread decline was observed on kiwifruit vines in the vineyards located in the Altınordu, Fatsa, and Perşembe districts of Ordu province in Turkey. The symptoms were associated with reddish-brown rots expanding from the root to the collar with sparse off-color foliage. Based on the percentage of the total infected samples across 18 vineyards, the most common oomycete species were

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is an expanding crop in Turkey grown on 949 ha, yielding 4,209 tons of fruit annually (FAO 2021). In June 2021, 5% of 220 5-year-old trees of cv. Hass grafted onto the rootstock Fuerte (36°06′25.6"N 35°59′16.7"E) in Samandağ district of Hatay showed symptoms of twig and branch dieback with brownish black leaf and bark discoloration. Vascular tissues of branches bearing blackened dead twigs were sampled from five trees. Tissues were surface disinfected in 1% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterile distilled water (SDW), dried, placed on potato dextrose agar, and incubated at 25 °C. After 7 days, a slow-growing fungus was consistently recovered. Colonies were identified as Verticillium dahliae Kleb. on the basis of the presence of black microsclerotia (35.2 to 160.8 × 20.3 to 68.5 μm), verticillate conidiophores, and hyaline, elliptical, single celled conidia (2.9 to 7.3 × 2.2 to 3.8 μm) (Pegg and Brady 2002). Identification was confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of rDNA amplified from one single-conidial isolate (AvVd01 deposited in the plant pathogenic fungal collection of the first author’s institution) using universal ITS1/ITS4 primers. BLAST analysis of the amplicon sequenced (GenBank accession No. MZ664289) showed 100% identity with a sequence of V. dahliae from kiwifruit in Turkey (MK287620.1). To fulfill Koch's postulates, 15 healthy 1-year-old P. americana ‘Hass’ seedlings were inoculated by submerging trimmed roots in a conidial suspension of 107 conidia/ml for 5 min using AvVd01. Ten control plants were dipped in SDW in the same manner. Inoculated plants showed symptoms identical to those of naturally infected plants within a month. V. dahliae was reisolated from inoculated plants but not from controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of V. dahliae causing wilt on avocado in Turkey (Farr and Rossman 2022). It is expected to cause more problems in avocado plantings previously dedicated to vegetable crops.

In June 2020, many plants exhibited symptoms of root rot and foliar blight in the experimental field of common sage in Sanliurfa province, Turkey. The pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of partial sequence of the transcription elongation factor 1-alpha gene and the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by successful re-isolation of the pathogen from inoculated plants in the pathogenicity assay. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of N. novaehollandiae causing root rot and foliar blight of common sage worldwide.

In this study, a total of 78 Talaromyces isolates were isolated from the pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) rhizosphere heavily infested with Neoscytalidium spp. The identification studies of the four representative isolates based on morphological and molecular methods showed that all isolates were T. funiculosus. The 575 bp long sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region of T. funiculosus isolate ST976, selected as a representative of the isolates, was deposited in GenBank under accession no. MW130842. The Maximum Likelihood tree clustered the ST976 isolate with reference T. funiculosus isolates derived from the GenBank nucleotide database. The phosphorus dissolution ability of ST976 isolate was determined by an experiment using six soil samples collected from agricultural lands in various locations of Şanlıurfa province. The pH of the soil samples taken varied between 7.21 and 7.88. As a result of the analysis performed with the addition of the isolate ST976 applied to soil samples with different soil structures (Clay and Clay-Loam), it was determined that the isolate ST976 dissolved 109–311% more phosphorus than the control sample. The study is one of the first studies proving the ability of T. funiculosus isolate ST976 to dissolve phosphorus without any additives to soil solution was determined., Bu çalışmada Neoscytalidium spp. ile yoğun bir şekilde bulaşık antepfıstığı (Pistacia vera L.) rizosferinden toplam 78 Talaromyces izolatı izole edilmiştir. Dört temsilci izolatın morfolojik ve moleküler yöntemlere dayanarak tanımlama çalışmaları, tüm izolatların T. funiculosus olduğunu göstermiştir. İzolatları temsilen seçilen T. funiculosus ST976 izolatının internal transcribed spacer bölgesinin 575 bç büyüklüğündeki sekansı, GenBank tarafından sağlanan MW130842 erişim numarası ile kaydedilmiştir. Maximum Likelihood dendogramı, ST976 izolatını, GenBank nükleotid veri tabanında bulunan referans T. funiculosus izolatları ile birlikte kümelemiştir. ST976 izolatının fosfor çözünme kabiliyeti, Şanlıurfa ilinin farklı lokasyonlarında bulunan tarım arazilerinden alınan altı toprak numunesi ile yapılan deney ile belirlenmiştir. Alınan toprak örneklerinin pH'sı 7.21 ile 7.88 arasında değişmektedir. Farklı toprak yapılarına (Killi ve Killli-Tın) sahip toprak örneklerine uygulanan ST976 izolatının ilave edilmesi ile yapılan analiz sonucunda ST976 izolatının kontrol numunesine göre % 109-311 daha fazla fosfor çözündüğü tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma, T. funiculosus izolatı ST976'nın fosforu toprak çözeltisine herhangi bir katkı maddesi olmadan çözebildiğini kanıtlayan ilk çalışmalardan biridir.

In a recent survey of olive groves in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey, a new and serious decline of olive trees, beginning with foliar scorching and then dieback of twigs, branches, and even whole trees, was observed for the first time. In more advanced stages of the disease, necrosis and cankers were observed on the bark of the trunk, branches, and twigs. Isolations from symptomatic tissues from multiple cultivars in diverse locations yielded Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, which were identified using ITS, tef1, and tub2 loci of genomic DNA, in combination with morphological data. In vitro studies showed that conidial germination, hyphal growth, and pycnidia formation of the pathogen were positively correlated with elevated temperatures. Wild type olive “Delice”, “Edincik Su”, and “Memecik” seemed like the most resistant cultivars on which disease severity values were the lowest among 14 screened olive cultivars in two experimental orchards under natural conditions. Pathogenicity tests showed that “Gemlik” was the most susceptible cultivar showing the largest cankers and extensive scorch lesions. Isolates caused canker but not leaf scorch on O. europaea cultivars “Arbequina” “Halhalı”, “Manzanilla”, “Nizip Yağlık”, and “Saurani”. Neoscytalidium isolates are likely to have a negative impact on the health of diverse olive groves, which are primarily confined to Mediterranean-type climatic regions. These findings suggest an increased risk of infection in environments with increasing temperatures, as is common in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. The information gathered in this study will be used to examine the disease's epidemiology and establish disease control initiatives. This is also the first report of N. dimidiatum infecting O. europaea in the world.

Lemon balm (Melissa ofcinalis L.) is native to the Eastern Mediterranean region and Western Asia and is a well-known medicinal plant of Lamiaceae due to its valuable aqueous and alcoholic extracts (De Sousa et al. 2004). In the summer of 2021, wilting and root rot were observed on about 20% of two-year-old M. ofcinalis cv. Melis plants in a feld of Koruklu village, Akçatepe district of Şanlıurfa, Turkey.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant in Turkey, with a cultivated area of 2,218 hectares in 2020 (TURKSTAT 2021). In June 2020, wilting, extensive stem and leaf blight or necrosis were observed in two-year-old lavender plants cultivated in the experimental felds of the GAP Agricultural Research Institute, Şanlıurfa, Turkey.

In July 2020, a leaf blight disease with intense defoliation on Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.) plants was observed in a pilot experiment feld in Akçakale and a commercial feld in Haliliye with an incidence of 5.4 and 11.7%, respectively, in Şanlıurfa province. After a surface-sterilization for 1 min with 1% NaOCl, isolations from symptomatic tissues of six afected plants for each feld consistently yielded a fungus with the same colony morphology on potato dextrose agar. Cultures were powdery with a thick aerial mycelium, initially white that changed from olive green to black within 10 days.

In August 2019, symptoms including dark brown and irregular sunken lesions or blights on the fruit pedicel and calyx of eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) occurred with a 3% incidence in two felds in Şanlıurfa province of Turkey.

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a perennial herb or sub-shrub native to the eastern Mediterranean. In July 2020, symptoms of chlorosis, wilting, and root rot appeared in 25% of two-year-old S. officinalis cv. Elif plants in two fields (N 36°53'42.457'', E 38°55'34.777''; N 36°53'27.236'', E 38°55'38.618'') in Şanlıurfa, Turkey.

WOS: 000408655400004, Crown and root rot, caused by the Oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora, has become a destructive disease of apricot and cherry in eastern Turkey. There are no currently registered fungicides labeled for its control. In greenhouse experiments conducted in 2012 and 2013, 1-year-old potted apricot rootstock Zerdali and cherry rootstock Mahaleb plants were treated either with foliar spray of fosetyl-Al (140, 160, and 180 g a.i./100 l) or phosphorous acid (187.5, 200, and 215 g a.i./100 l) or soil drench of 100 ml of metalaxyl-M (= mefenoxam)+mancozeb (12+192, 16+256, and 20+320 g a.i./100 l) one day after wound inoculation of crowns and roots. In both years, phosphorous acid at 200 and 215 g a.i./100 l, fosetyl-Al at 160 and 180 g a.i./100 l, and metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 20+320 g a.i./100 l significantly reduced the root rot severity on Zerdali by 70.68-80.00% and crown rot severity on both Zerdali and Mahaleb, by 68.32-91.96 and 74.21-82.60%, respectively, compared with phosphorous acid at 187.5 g a.i./100 l, fosetyl-Al at 140 g a.i./100 l, metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 12+192 and 16+256 g a.i./100 l and control. Moreover, fosetyl-Al at 180 g a.i./100 l and metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 20+320 g a.i./100 l significantly reduced the root rot severity on Mahaleb compared to fosetyl-Al at 140 and 160 g a.i./100 l, metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 12+192 and 16+256 g a.i./100 l, phosphorous acid treatments and control in 2012, providing the best control of the disease by 88.00-90.68%. Two/three phosphorous acid foliar applications at 200 g a.i./100 l suppressed symptom development when field applications were made on a curative basis in 2014 and 2015., Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of the Republic of Turkey [TAGEM-BS-11/04-01/02-10], Supported by Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Project No. TAGEM-BS-11/04-01/02-10.

[No abstract available]

[No abstract available]

Forty-four V. dahliae isolates were collected from symptomatic vascular tissues of okra plants each from a different field in eight provinces located in the eastern Mediterranean and western Anatolia regions of Turkey during 20062009. Nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants of V. dahliae from okra were used to determine heterokaryosis and genetic relatedness among isolates. All isolates from okra plants were grouped into two vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) (1 and 2) and three subgroups as 1A (13.6%, 6/44), 2A (20.5%, 9/44) and 2B (65.9%, 29/44) according to international criteria. Pathogenicity tests were performed on a susceptible local okra (A. esculentus) landrace in greenhouse conditions. All isolates from VCG1A and VCG2B induced defoliation (D) and partial defoliation (PD) symptoms, respectively. Other isolates from VCG2A gave rise to typical leaf chlorosis symptoms without defoliation. The obtained data showed that the virulence level of V. dahliae isolates from okra was related to their VCG belongings. Eighteen okra landraces from diverse geographical origins were screened for resistance to VCG2B and VCG1A of V. dahliae. The results indicated that all landraces were more susceptible to highly virulent VCG1A-D pathotype displaying D or PD symptoms depending on their susceptibility levels with a mean disease severity index of 3.52 than to less virulent VCG2B-PD pathotype of V dahliae displaying PD and ND symptoms with a mean disease severity index of 2.52. Significant differences were observed among the landraces; however, none of them exhibited a level of resistance. Okra landraces; corum, Hatay Has and Sanhurfa displayed the lowest level of susceptibility or little tolerance to both D and PD pathotypes. VCG2B of PD was prevailing in the surveyed areas and VCG1A of D was the most virulent of the VCGs identified. Introduction of resistant genotypes to Turkish okra germplasm from different sources and breeding new resistant okra cultivars are critical for the sustainability of okra production.

Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC., is a woody, twining vine and is commonly cultivated as an ornamental for its foliage and striking, drooping racemes of white, pink, or lavender sweet pea-like flower. Distinct leaf spots were observed in several gardens, retail nurseries, and parks located in Hatay Province since May 2009. The primary infection zones are frequently observed on the leaf margins and apices, brown, up to 2 mm in diameter, and often surrounded by a yellow zone. Foliar symptoms are characterized by grayish, round, semicircular or irregular-shaped, numerous spots (up to 9 mm in diameter) with dark brown borders and the appearance of black, granular structure within the dead leaf tissues. A fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal colonies were initially white, becoming light to dark gray with the onset of sporulation with black, spherical to subspherical single-celled conidia (15 to 18 × 12 to 15 μm), which were borne on a hyaline vesicle at the tip of the conidiophore. These characteristics agree with published descriptions of Nigrospora sphaerica (Sacc.) E.W. Mason 1927 (1,3). To fulfill Koch's postulates, a conidial suspension (106 conidia per ml) collected from PDA cultures was used to spray inoculate leaves of potted 3-year-old Chinese wisteria plants. Inoculated plants were kept for 48 h in polyethylene bags and maintained in a controlled environment chamber at 20°C with a 12-h photoperiod. The bags were removed after 3 days. In addition, five 3-year-old plants were sprayed with sterile water to serve as controls. After 14 to 20 days, inoculated leaves showed infection symptoms similar to those observed on naturally infected leaves with N. sphaerica. The pathogen was reisolated from the margins of necrotic tissues, but not from the controls. Although N. sphaerica is frequently encountered as a secondary invader or as a saprophyte on many plant species, this fungal agent is also known as a leaf pathogen on several hosts worldwide (2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. sphaerica as a leaf pathogen of Chinese wisteria in Turkey or worldwide. References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1971. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory. Online publication. ARS, USDA. Retrieved 28 October from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , 2010. (3) P. M. Kirk. IMI Descr. Fungi Bact. 106:1056, 1991. (4) E. R. Wright et al. Plant Dis. 92:171, 2008.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) has been considered an alternative crop to tobacco in Hatay Province of Turkey because of its great production potential. As a new, nonnative crop, diseases and pests of lavender are not well known in the region. In summer 2010, root rot symptoms were observed with an average incidence of 45% in a 2-year-old lavender nursery in Hatay. Initial symptoms of chlorosis and wilting were followed by progressive death of the plants starting at the shoot tips. An oomycetous species was isolated consistently from the stems and roots of diseased plants on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with several fungicides and antibiotics. The culture of the single-zoospore isolate produced arachnoid growth on PDA. Chlamydospores of the isolate were approximately 35.0 μm in diameter. The isolate produced papillate, caduceus, hyaline sporangia in different shapes ranging from spherical to ellipsoidal. Sporangia with short pedicels (5 μm) were 35.0 to 57.5 × 27.5 to 42.5 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.2 to 1.8. On the basis of symptoms and morphology of the organism, the pathogen was identified as Phytophthora palmivora (E.J. Butler) E.J. Butler (3). Identification of the isolate was also confirmed by comparison of the sequence of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with reference isolates. The ITS region of rDNA was amplified by PCR with primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF777117). BLAST analysis of the sequence obtained showed a 99 to 100% homology with P. palmivora. Pathogenicity tests were performed on 12 greenhouse-grown 2-year-old lavender plants in 2-liter pots containing a steamed sand/peat/soil mixture. After rooting, the plants were inoculated by placing mycelial plugs from a 1-week-old culture of the isolate into an incision made at the base of each plant. Control plants were treated with plugs of sterile PDA. Inoculated plants were kept at 27°C for 5 weeks. Similar symptoms developed on the inoculated plants within 4 weeks after inoculation. P. palmivora was consistently reisolated from symptomatic plants. No symptoms developed on control plants. P. palmivora attacks a wide range of crop species including lavenders (1,2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a root rot caused by P. palmivora, a new pathogen of lavender in Turkey. References: (1) S. Davino et al. Plant Dis. 86:561, 2002. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, MN, 1996. (3) D. J. Stamps. C.M.I. Descr. Fungi Bact. 831:1, 1985. (4) G. A. Torres et al. Plant Dis. 94:1163, 2010.

WOS: 000463126100004, A novel disease of tomato (Solarium lycopersicum L.) was observed in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Symptoms were blight of all aerial parts of the plant, including stems, branches, leaves, petioles, flowers and fruits, defoliation, root rot, inner stem necrosis, and plant death. The disease was found in 13.9% of surveyed fields, with an incidence varying from 3% to nearly 75% (average 21.2%) of the plants in symptomatic fields. The average severity of blight on stem in fields with the symptomatic plant surveyed was 1.4%. A Botryosphaeriaceae species, identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Penz.) Crous & Slippers using morphological and cultural features, was consistently isolated from symptomatic roots, inner stems, and blighted leaves, shoots, stems, fruits and flowers. The partial nucleotide sequence data for three gene loci, including nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU) genes and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1 alpha), confirmed the morphological identification. Furthermore, sequence data of actin genes from N. dimidiatwn was, for the first time, deposited to the GenBank. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by testing the susceptibility of different tomato tissues (leaves, stems, inner stems and roots of tomato seedlings, and detached tomato fruits and flowers) to N. dimidiatum inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. dimidiatum on tomato.

[No abstract available]

Developing alternative control methods such as using beneficial microorganisms and their metabolites to control the plant diseases has gained so much importance along recent years and research on this area are increasing day by day. In this study the possibilities of using microorganisms which have antimicrobial effects on controlling soil-borne fungi at strawberry production were investigated. Effects of different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were studied in vitro and in vivo against the development of several soil-borne fungi. LAB were screened for antifungal activity by using cell free supernatant against Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Macrophomina sp., Botrytis sp., Phtopythium sp., Cylindrocarpon sp. and Pestalotiopsis sp. Cell free supernatant of LAB isolates showed antifungal activity against fungi. In vitro effective strains of LAB were used in pot experiments to search their effects on fungal development and the development of the plant. While the antifungal effects of all LAB strains tested in vitro experiments exhibited promising results, in vivo experiments revealed similar effects on different fungi genera.

Turkey is the world's third-largest producer of pepper (Capsicum annuum), annually cultivating over 90,000 ha and producing over half a million tonnes of fruit. In 2019, wilting and death of c. 20% of plants were observed in pepper fields in Şanlıurfa province, Turkey (Fig. 1). Severe root and crown rot symptoms with discoloration were observed on affected plants, and necrotic lesions expanded rapidly into the stems which killed the plant (Fig. 2).

WOS: 000353485400008, Forty-nine Phytophthora isolates were obtained from roots and crown of apricot trees with symptoms of decline grown in commercial orchards in Malatya, Elaz and Diyarbakr provinces, Turkey, in 2011 and 2013. All of the recovered isolates were identified as Phytophthora palmivora on the basis of morphological characteristics. Blast analysis of ITS region sequences of rDNA of 5 isolates revealed 100% identity with a reference isolates of P.palmivora from GenBank. Isolates of P.palmivora were pathogenic on 12-month-old wild apricot rootstock Zerdali' plants that were wound inoculated on the roots and on the crown. This study demonstrated that P.palmivora is the cause of the crown and root rot found on apricot in Turkey. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P.palmivora on this host plant., Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of Republic of Turkey [TAGEM-BS-11/04-01/02-10], This study is a part of the project supported by Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of Republic of Turkey (Project Number: TAGEM-BS-11/04-01/02-10).

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a commercially important crop with about 87,670 ha grown in Turkey, the fourth largest producer worldwide. During summer 2018, unfamiliar and serious decline symptoms associated with stem and branch cankers were observed in walnut trees in two orchards in Sanliurfa Province, Southeastern Anatolia Region. In a 3-year-old orchard of 450 trees (cv. Chandler) in Kayseri, Siverek District, about 62% of trees had deep, large, and black cankers in the trunks and on main branches, drastically reduced tree vigor, and yellowing, wilting, and browning of the leaves, followed by leaf drop. In a 12-year-old orchard with 30 trees (cv. Kaman), in Yaylak, Bozova District, 40% of trees had similar symptoms. Symptoms were first noticed in trunks. Bark cracks, cankers in trunks, and dark discoloration or a black sooty, dusty mass of fungal spores under peeling bark on the trunk and main branches were the most striking symptoms. Deep cankers expanded longitudinally, extending along trunks and into the phloem of the trees, which consequently died, and occasionally laterally extending into the sapwood. Declining trees had dry root rot symptoms, with black necrosis on the surface, and under the cracked and coarse bark extending from the taproot and some large roots to the crown, and black rot and loss of fine roots. Samples were taken from under the bark of trunk cankers, crown tissues, and root tissues of five trees per orchard. The sections of samples were surface sterilized in 2% NaOCl for 2 min and rinsed twice in sterile distilled water, blotted dry with sterilized filter paper, placed on PDA, and incubated at 28°C. A fungus with identical cultural characteristics was consistently isolated. On PDA, the mycelium growth was white and then turned black with age. Rapidly growing colonies (average, 40 mm/day) produced mycelia that disarticulated into 0- to 1-septate, cylindrical-truncate or rod-shaped, thick-walled, hyaline to brown arthroconidia occurring singly or in arthric chains and averaged 9.6 ± 3.7 × 5.5 ± 1.6 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.79. These characteristics were consistent with the description of the arthric synanamorph of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Penz.) Crous & Slippers (Crous et al. 2006). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) genes of two single conidial isolates (one from under bark tissues; one from root tissues) were amplified with ITS6/ITS4 and NL1/NL4 primer pairs, respectively, and the amplicons sequenced. The ITS and LSU sequences deposited in GenBank (ITS, MK430050 and MK430051; LSU, MK430056 and MK430057) had 100% identity with many sequences of N. dimidiatum, including recently available ones (Turkolmez et al. 2019; ITS, MH114591; LSU, MH114592), in line with the morphological features. Pathogenicity tests were performed on 20 replicates of 1-year-old container-grown J. regia ‘Chandler’ seedlings with a N. dimidiatum isolate by removing a 5-mm-diameter bark plug from the stem with a cork borer and placing an equivalent-sized 7-day-old culture disc of N. dimidiatum onto the exposed vascular cambium. The wound was covered with wet, autoclaved cotton wool and sealed with Parafilm. Treated plants were maintained in a growth chamber with a 16/8-h light/dark photoperiod at 26°C and 55% RH and watered on demand. Within 3 weeks, average lesion lengths under the bark of all inoculated stems were >150 mm, and the lesions were covered with a black sooty layer. Leaf blight was also observed, similar to naturally affected trees. Control plants remained healthy. N. dimidiatum was reisolated only from lesions of inoculated stems, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. In Turkey, N. dimidiatum has been reported as a destructive new blight of tomato (Turkolmez et al. 2019) and canker, shoot blight, and root rot of pistachio (Dervis et al. 2019). This is the first report of N. dimidiatum infection of walnuts in Turkey. By the end of 2018, all symptomatic trees had died. Recent occurrence of this severe disease suggests it could have a significant potential for limiting walnut production.

The objective of this research was to study the levels of antioxidant and oxidant metabolites such as total protein, total soluble sugars, proline, peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde, anthocyanin and phenol contents in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ailsa Craig) inoculated with Verticillium dahliae under various NaCl concentrations (50, 100, 200 and 250 mmol l−1). V. dahliae alone resulted in increases in oxidant (malondialdehyde and phenol) and antioxidant metabolites (proline, anthocyanin and sugar) as well as in antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase). However, the pathogenic effect of V. dahliae increased with the increase of NaCl stress and resulted in depletion of antioxidant metabolites and enzymes after 150 mmol l−1 NaCl level, while oxidant levels showed an increased trend. Results suggest that V. dahliae could be able to survive under high salt stress conditions and cause combined stress that affect the resistance of the resistant cultivars and reduce crop yield.

The genetic diversity and pathogenicity/virulence among 60 eggplant Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates collected from six different geographic regions of Turkey were analysed using mycelial compatibility groupings (MCGs), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphism. By MCG tests, the isolates were classified into 22 groups. Out of 22 MCGs, 36% were represented each by a single isolate. The isolates showed great variability for virulence regardless of MCG and geographic origin. Based on the results of RAPD and SSR analyses, 60 S. sclerotiorum isolates representing 22 MCGs were grouped in 2 and 3 distinct clusters, respectively. Analyses using RAPD and SSR markers illustrated that cluster groupings or genetic distance of S. sclerotiorum populations from eggplant were not distinctly relative to the MCG, geographical origin and virulence diversity. The patterns obtained revealed a high heterogeneity of genetic composition and suggested the occurrence of clonal and sexual reproduction of S. sclerotiorum on eggplant in the areas surveyed.

Three hawthorn and related rust diseases caused by Gymnosporangium confusum on Crataegus monogyna, Gymnosporangium clavariiforme on Crataegus orientalis and Gymnosporangium sabinae on Pyrus communis were detected in Hatay province, Turkey. G. confusum was also found causing telial galls on Juniperus communis. G. confusum and G. clavariiforme produced aecial horns on overwintered galls on hawthorn twigs from May to June. The production of galls caused by Gymnosporangium on the secondary host is unusual. Portions of the nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA were sequenced for all three species of Gymnosporangium for use as a species barcode; sequences were deposited in GenBank. Sequence data from G. clavariiforme and G. sabinae matched those in GenBank; however, this is the first study to deposit sequence data from G. confusum to GenBank. The life cycles of G. confusum and G. clavariiforme are discussed along with implications for disease control.