Sunn pests, which can cause significant yield losses on wheat and barley, are one of the pests whose population levels should be followed. Overwintering areas, which have an important place in the biology of the insect, provide an advantage in the development of biological or integrated control with entomopathogenic fungi. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the most important control agents in reducing the population in overwintering areas. In this study, one Lecanicillium psalliotae (KK8) isolate and one Akanthomyces muscarium (DIKA11/1) isolate were identified according to morphologic and molecular data. Pathogenicity test was carried out with DIKA11/1 A. muscarium isolate. Adult insects were inoculated with a 1×107 conidia/ml suspension. With this current study, A. muscarium was reported for the first time on sunn pests with 87.7% mortality rate. The L. psalliotae species, which is a pathogen on other insects and sunn pests, was isolated from the sunn pests and identified from Turkey. It is thought that DIKA11/1 A. muscarium isolate can be used in the biological control of this insect and commercial formulation development studies.

The sunn pests (Eurygaster spp.) which are important pests of wheat and barley, can lead to 100% yield loss in the case of an epidemic. This study was conducted to characterize the entomopathogenic fungi, obtained from the sunn pests collected from different overwintering areas of Turkey and determine their pathogenicity. Seventeen Beauveria pseudobassiana, 12 Beauveria bassiana, 16 Cordyceps farinosa, 1 Purpureocillium lilacinum, and 2 Clonostachys rosea species were identified. Pathogenicity tests were performed with three B. pseudobassiana, two B. bassiana, four C. farinosa, and one P. lilacinum isolates. B. pseudobassiana isolates BB34 and AF4 caused 100% death on the 9th day, and another B. pseudobassiana isolate E512 caused 100% death on the 12th day. C. farinosa isolate KOKA2 caused 95.8% death on the 15th day. Ultimately, B. pseudobassiana was determined to be the most prevalent and virulent species on sunn pests.

Dieback and trunk canker symptoms were observed on centenarian plane trees (Platanus orientalis) in Gezi Park and Dolmabahce Avenue in Istanbul province of Turkey in August 2015. Reddish-brown canker lesions covered approximately half of the tree trunk, from roots to top of the trees. The external symptoms were chlorosis, defoliation and dieback, and most of the affected trees were leafless. Three fungal species were isolated from necrotic root and stem tissues and identified as Botryosphaeria parva (Anamorph Neofusicoccum parvum), Neopestalotiopsis clavispora and Diaporthe foeniculina (Anamorph Phomopsis theicola) by morphological characteristics and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the beta-tubulin (beta-tub) gene regions. Inoculations on two-year-old P. orientalis seedlings demonstrated that all three species were pathogenic, but B. parva caused the largest lesions on stems of plane seedlings. Dual inoculations did not show any synergism in pathogenicity. This paper is the first report of B. parva, N. clavispora and D. foeniculina causing root rot and stem canker of plane trees in Turkey, and probably worldwide.

Sugar beet is extensively grown in Konya province of Turkey and about one third of production of Turkey is obtained from this region. Recently root rots have been observed at all the growth stages of sugar beet especially at later stages near the harvest. During 2015–2017 growing years, 866 fields were visited and diseased samples having root rot symptoms were collected. Various root rot pathogens were isolated from 691 fields; Rhizoctonia solani being the most common (15% of the fields) followed by Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Phoma betae, Aphanomyces cochlioides and Pythium spp. Apart from these pathogens, Fusarium culmorum, F. equiseti, F. sambucinum, F. verticillatum, unidentified Fusarium spp., Macrophomina phaseolina and Phytophthora spp. were also determined. All the fungal pathogens were isolated from both of the sugar beet growing stages of 0–12 BBCH and 31–49 BBCH, some of them being high ratios at the late stages. Some isolates of A. cochlioides, P. betae, Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., and R. solani were highly aggressive when tested by a soil inoculum layer technique. Effects of twelve fungicides, in sixteen different combination and rate, on the most virulant and common four pathogens, A. cochlioides P. betae, Py. ultimum var. ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani, were investigated by the same technique. None of the fungicide mixes inhibited all four pathogens. Thiram + metalaxyl + hymexazol + pyraclastrobin mix sufficiently prevented disease development of the first three pathogens but not R. solani.

The pathogenic effects of Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) (Luangsaard, Houbraken, Hywel-Jones & Samson) and Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales) Fries on the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) were investigated under laboratory conditions. The effects of the fungi on Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), an important predatory mite of T. urticae, were also determined. It was found that the entomopathogenic fungi can cause high mortality rates in both phytophagous and predatory mites. While entomopathogens caused 90% and more mortality in T urticae under 85% and 95% r.h. the mortality percentages caused by P. lilacinum and I. farinosa decreased to 84.72% and 68.71% respectively. I. farinosa caused 100% mortality in N. californicus on day 4 after inoculation. The mortality rate of the predatory mite inoculated with P lilacinum could reach 88% on day 4 after inoculation. It was found that I. farinosa showed a higher mortality on the predatory mite than P lilacinum.

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is one of the main pests in vineyards. At present biological control of the pest is based on the release of hymenopterous parasitoids and coccinellid predators. The effectiveness of an entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria farinosa, as an alternative biological control agent on vine mealybug P. ficus was investigated by using different inoculum densities and different relative humidity levels. The fungus caused more than 80% mortality at 95% relative humidity and at 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 inoculum density. The mortality effects of the fungus decreased in lower humidity levels and lower spore densities. The inhibitory effects of common fungicides, used in vineyards, on I. farinosa were also investigated. Sulphur, copper oxychloride, fosetyl-Al and chlorothalonil did not decrease the effectiveness of I. farinosa as a pathogen of vine mealybug. With the application of tebuconazole, penconazole and mancozeb, the most inhibitory fungicides on the entomopathogen, the mortality rates of mealybugs, inoculated with I. farinosa, decreased from 86% to 42%, 34% and 45%, respectively, in the adult females; from 94% to 51%, 45% and 45%, respectively, in the first nymphal stages; and from 86% to 56%, 49% and 63%, respectively, in ovisacs.

The effects of Isaria farinosa (Holm.) and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) on adult stages of sunn pests Eurygaster integriceps Puton and Eurygaster austriaca (Schrk.) were investigated at 27±1°C, 95% r.h. and 16L:8D in the laboratory. Two concentrations, 1×106 and 1×108 conidia ml-1, were used. Mortality of inoculated and non-inoculated adults was counted at 6, 9 and 12 days after treatment. Beauveria bassiana caused higher mortality of both species than I. farinosa. Neither caused significantly high mortality at 1×106 conidia ml-1. Both were more pathogenic at 1×108 conidia ml-1 and caused more than 85% mortality 12 days post treatment. Both were more pathogenic to E. austriaca.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important agricultural crop in Turkey, with 150,000 ha and a production of about 4 million tons per year. There are numerous pathogens that limit potato production. In 2011, a new disease was observed on the potato cultivar Ramos in Erzincan Province in Turkey. Disease symptoms were similar to pink rot. Infected tubers had a rubbery texture and when cut, infected areas were cream colored. When the infected area was exposed to air for 10 min, the color turned to salmon pink and after 15 to 20 min it turned black. A funguslike organism was isolated from diseased tubers on carrot agar. The colonies were uniform and there were no petaloid patterns. Soil extract solution was prepared using 1,000 ml of distilled water and 15 g of field soil according to Jeffers and Aldwinckle (2) and used for sporangia production. Agar discs from 5-day-old colonies were placed in soil extract solution and incubated under continuous fluorescent light at room temperature. Sporangia began forming after 24 h and were abundant after 48 h. Oogonia were not observed on corn meal agar plates supplemented by beta-cytosterol. Sporangia were nonpapillate and noncaducous, mostly ovoid, but some were obpyriform. The mean size of the sporangia was 43 ± 4 × 30 ± 2 μm. The Oomycete was identified as Phytophthora cryptogea Pethybr. & Laff., according to its morphological characters (1). Isolate identity was confirmed by sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer using primers ITS1 and ITS4. The ITS sequence was a 99% match to P. cryptogea strains (GenBank Accession Nos. AF087475.1, AF228101.1, GU111626.1, AY995400.1, GU111624.1, AY995400.1, and GU111624.1). The isolate from Turkey was deposited in GenBank as Accession No. JQ071495. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on potato tubers (cv. Ramos). Tubers were surface disinfected with 0.5% NaOCl for 5 min., then washed twice with sterile water. When dried, 20 tubers were wounded with a shallow cut made parallel to the surface by a sterile knife. An agar disc from a 1-week-old colony was placed on the artificial wound on each of 10 potatoes. For controls, agar discs without fungal mycelia were placed on the wounds of the other 10 potatoes. Each inoculated and uninoculated potato was incubated for 5 days at 24°C in the dark and in separate plastic cups containing moistened filter paper at the bottom. Tubers were then cut open and examined for disease. Cream colored lesions were first observed; after 10 min lesions turned salmon pink and after 20 min they turned black. Cream colored lesions were not observed inside uninoculated potatoes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cryptogea causing pink rot of potato in Turkey. Pink rot disease of potato is commonly caused by P. erytroseptica, but P. cryptogea can cause similar symptoms (3) and severe tuber rot. This pathogen could cause important losses of potato in Turkey, especially during storage of tubers. References: (1) M. E. Gallegly and C. Hong, Phytophthora: Identifying Species by Morphology and DNA Fingerprints. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 2008. (2) S. N. Jeffers and H. S. Aldwinckle, Phytopathology 77:1475, 1987. (3) E. C. Rowe and A. F. Schimitthenner, Plant Dis. Rep. 61:807, 1977.

Citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is one of the main pests on citrus trees. Biological control of the pest is based on the release of hymenopterous parasitoids and coccinellid predators at present. The effectiveness of entomopathogen fungus Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries ([Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales] (Syn: Paecilomyces farinosus), as an alternative biological control agent on citrus mealybug, was investigated using four different inoculum densities and different relative humidities (RH). The entomopathogen caused 89.39% mortality in ovisacs, 84.07% mortality in second larval stage, 84.53% mortality in adult females, and 78.71% mortality in first larval stage at 95% RH and at 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 inoculum concentration. Percent mortalities were between 50 and 60 in ovisac, first and second larval stage at 95% RH and at 1 × 107 conidia ml−1. Percent mortality was decreased parallel to the decrease in humidity level and inoculum densities; however, the fungus caused significant infection in 70% and 80% RH. These results demonstrated that the effectiveness of the entomopathogen is promising for biocontrol of citrus mealybug.

Blue mould caused by Penicillium italicum is an important and devastating storage disease of citrus fruits. Control of the pathogen is based on primarily fungicide applications. In present times, biological controlling method of storage diseases is getting more prevalent due to the hazardous effects of fungicide residues on fruits. In this study, 176 Pseudomonas fluorescens and 24 yeast isolates were obtained from healthy orange surface. From the total 200 isolates, 40 P. fluorescens and 16 yeast isolates were inhibited blue mould development on orange surface. The antagonistic effects of these isolates were tested on PDA. All the P. fluorescens isolates that prevented lesion development on orange surface, inhibited the P. italicum growth by antibiosis on PDA. On the other hand, the yeast isolates did not produce any inhibition zone, with had not having any antibiosis effect. A P. fluorescens isolate (Pf8a) which produced the widest inhibition zone and one isolate from the yeasts were selected for further studies. The yeast isolate was identified as Candida famata. The antagonistic isolates were inoculated simultaneously, after 2, 6 and 24 h and before 2, 6 and 24 h the inoculation of P. italicum. The research was conducted under the temperature conditions of 10 degrees C and 24 degrees C. The results revealed that P. fluorescens isolate gradually lost its efficiency and could not inhibit the blue mould development. The yeast, C. famata could inhibit the blue mould effectively, but it required a minimum of 6h and minimum of 24h at 24 degrees C for sufficient colonization to prevent the infection of P. italicum.

The effects of entomopathogenic isolates, Isaria farinosa (Holm.) and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales), were investigated on the adult stages of Aelia rostrata Boh. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) under of 70% and 95% relative humidity and with 1x10(6) and 1x10(8) conidial concentration (ml(-1)). These experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber with 27 +/- 1 degrees C and 16 h. light and 8 h. dark photoperiod, and the mortality percentages were determined in the 6th, 9th and 12th days of incubation. The result of experiments showed that both of the entomopathogens were more effective in 95% R.H. and 1x10(8) conidial concentrations (ml(-1)). At 70% R. H. and 1x10(8) conidial concentrations (ml(-1)), while I. farinosa caused 70% mortality in the 12th day of incubation, B. bassiana caused 100% mortality in the 9th day of incubation. It was concluded that B. bassiana isolate was more effective than I. farinosa isolate on wheat stink bug, A. rostrata.

The effects of some fungicides used against citrus diseases, on mycelial growth and conidial germination of Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries [Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales] and also on the pathogenicity of the fungus on citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), were determined. Systemic fungicides such as tebuconazole, penconazole and nuarimol were the most effective as regards both conidial germination and mycelial growth. Protective fungicides such as captan, chlorothalonil, mancozeb and propineb inhibited conidial germination at between 1 and 5 μg ml−1 concentration, but captan, chlorothalonil and propineb did not inhibit the mycelial growth at 5,000 μg ml−1. Mancozeb inhibited mycelial growth between 2,500 and 5,000 μg ml−1. Sulphur and copper oxychloride did not inhibit the fungus even at very high concentrations. Sulphur, copper oxychloride, fosetyl-al, chlorothalonil and carbendazim did not decrease the mortality percentage caused by I. farinosa. Tebuconazole, penconazole and mancozeb were the most effective and respectively reduced the mortality from 83% to 33%, 28% and 30% in the ovisacs, from 81% to 29%, 27% and 29% in the 1st instar larvae, and from 84% to 34% in the adult females.

The apple rust mite Aculus schlechtendali (Nal.) (Acari: Eriophyidae), is a main pest in apple-growing areas in Ankara, Turkey, and chemical control applications have some limitations. Entomopathogenic fungi have a potential for biological control of mites. In this study, an entomopathogenic fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson (Deuteromycota: Hyphomycetes), was first isolated from the mite cadavers on Japanese crab apple leaves and pathogenicity of the fungus was observed in different inoculum densities and relative humidities. The pathogen caused up to 98.22% mortality of the mite population. The effects of some fungicides on the entomopathogenic fungus were determined in in vitro studies. Carbendazim, penconazole and tebuconazole were the most effective fungicides on mycelial growth of P. lilacinus, with EC50 values under 3 µg ml−1. In spore germination tests, captan, mancozeb, propineb were the most effective fungicides, followed by tebuconazole, penconazole, nuarimol and chlorothalonil. Sulphur could not inhibit the conidia germination totally at 5,000 µg ml−1. Copper oxychloride and fosetyl-al prevented conidia formation at concentrations above 1,000 µg ml−1.

Effects of dried garlic, peppermint, cabbage, lentil, alfalfa, onion, radish, and garden cress plant materials on Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici Leon.) of pepper were determined, in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Extracts of the plant materials were used in vitro. The plant materials were extracted in ethanol and were added to corn meal agar (CMA) at 5 and 10 µg ml-1. The extracts of alfalfa, garlic, cabbage, and peppermint reduced colony diameter of P. capsici on corn meal agar between 3.46% and 13.73%, whereas mycelial growth of P. capsici was increased by onion, radish, garden cress, and lentil extracts. The plant materials inhibitory to mycelial growth of P. capsici were incorporated into soil inoculated with P. capsici, in pots and also in the field, in order to determine their effects on Phytophthora blight severity. The severity of Phytophthora blight of pepper was markedly reduced by cabbage, garlic, and alfalfa materials by 15.3%, 39.8% and 46.9%, respectively, in pot trials. No significant effect of peppermint on disease severity was found. In the field infested with P. capsici, disease severity decreased with cabbage, garlic, and alfalfa by 89.5%, 40%, and 10.7%, respectively. Peppermint slightly increased the disease severity (3.4%). In this study, dry cabbage, garlic, and alfalfa materials were effective in reducing the severity of disease caused by P. capsici, in both in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Tohuma uygulanan triazole grubu fungisitlerin buğday tohumlarının çimlenmesine olan etkileri özel çimlendirme kaplarında, çıkışa olan etkileri ise steril kumda yapılan denemelerde belirlenmiştir. Ele alınan fungisitlerden bromucolazole, cyproconazole çimlenme sırasında %95’ in üzerinde, hexaconazolün 1. dozunda %28.25 ve 2. dozunda ise %95,5 oranında anormal çim gelişmesine neden olmuş, bu fungisitler çıkan bitki boylarında önemli oranda azalmaya neden olduğu belirlenmiştir

Bu çalışma, Ankara ili Ayaş ve Nallıhan ilçeleri domates ekiliş alanlarında üreticilerin yürütmekte olduğu zirai mücadele çalışmalarının yerinde izlenmesi, uygulama hatalarının belirlenmesi amacı ile 2000 ve 2001 yıllarında yürütülmüştür. Gerek yapılan gözlemler, gerekse yapılan anket çalışmaları ile çiftçilerin domates fideliklerinde ve tarla koşullarında karşılaştıkları problemler belirlenmiştir. Yapılan zirai mücadele uygulamalarına rağmen, Ayaş ilçesinde toplam %25.92, Nallıhan ilçesinde ise toplam %27.51 oranında ürün kaybı olduğu, ve bu kayıpların büyük bir çoğunluğunun fide döneminde meydana geldiği belirlenmiştir. Çiftçilerin hatalı zirai mücadele uygulamaları üzerinde durulmuş olup, bunlara ait çözüm önerilerine yer verilmiştir