A severe leaf blight epidemic caused by Stemphylium vesicarium was observed on cultivated leek (Allium porrum L.) in a commercial seed production field in T & uuml;rkiye. The disease occurred in early summer 2025 during the second year of a biennial seed production cycle, where incidence reached 50%-75%. The extended cultivation period characteristic of seed production (12-18 months) likely served as a key epidemiological driver, enabling pathogen overwintering and extensive inoculum accumulation, in contrast to the shorter cropping period of annual vegetable production systems. The pathogen was identified as S. vesicarium based on morphological features and confirmed by maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) gene sequences. Pathogenicity was verified through fulfilment of Koch's postulates using two representative isolates on healthy leek plants. This report constitutes the first confirmed occurrence of S. vesicarium on leek in T & uuml;rkiye and demonstrates a shift in its epidemiological importance from a minor foliar pathogen in annual systems to the causal agent of a severe epidemic under biennial seed production conditions, highlighting the need for targeted surveillance and management strategies to mitigate disease risk in both seed and commercial leek production.

As the global popularity of kumquat (Fortunella spp.; syn. Citrus japonica) continues to rise, knowledge of the pathogens responsible for postharvest losses remains limited. This study presents the first etiological investigation of postharvest fungal decay in kumquat, using a multi-regional survey and polyphasic characterization. A pathogenic complex responsible for postharvest decay was identified on this host for the first time, consisting of Alternaria alternata (n = 23), Geotrichum citri-aurantii (n =17), Penicillium digitatum (n = 30), P. italicum (n = 8), and P. expansum (n = 4). Identification combined morphological characterization with high-resolution molecular fingerprinting using start codon targeted (SCoT 32) and inter-primer binding site (iPBS 2395) markers, yielding polymorphic profiles that provided clear species-level discrimination consistent with multilocus phylogenetic analysis. In vitro assays identified distinct thermal optima for each pathogen. Geotrichum citri-aurantii growth was maximal at 30 degrees C, whereas P. expansum grew optimally at 20 degrees C. The remaining species-P. digitatum, P. italicum, and A. alternata-all achieved maximum growth at 25 degrees C, although P. italicum demonstrated a broad optimal range spanning from 20 to 25 degrees C. Aggressiveness varied among the pathogens, with P. digitatum and A. alternata being the most aggressive, followed by G. citri-aurantii and P. expansum, while P. italicum was the least aggressive. This study establishes the first pathogenic profile for kumquat decay, providing a framework for evidence-based postharvest management. The demonstrated efficiency of SCoT 32 and iPBS 2395 markers highlights their value as powerful, rapid, and cost-effective tools for pathogen surveillance and taxonomic resolution in postharvest pathology.

Fusarium species pose significant threats to wheat cultivation by inducing root rot, crown rot, and head blight. Understanding the genetic variations within these species is pivotal for effective disease management strategies. This investigation aimed to evaluate the genetic variation among isolates of Fusarium culmorum, F. graminearum, and F. pseudograminearum following their identification via cultural and species-specific PCR assays. The application of species-specific PCR facilitated the precise identification of these species by generating bands of distinct sizes (F. culmorum: 570 bp, F. pseudograminearum: 520 bp; F. graminearum: 420 bp), aligning with morphological classifications. A total of 36 Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers were employed to characterize the genetic variability among Fusarium isolates. Among the selected SCoT primers, 181 bands were amplified, with 131 exhibiting polymorphism (72.37%). The percentages of polymorphic bands in primers varied between 61.54 and 89.29. The highest polymorphism locus was observed in Fusarium culmorum with 12.71%, followed by F. pseudograminearum and F. graminearum. The average polymorphism information content and resolving power for the SCoT markers were calculated as 0.26 and 10.04, respectively. Utilizing the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering analysis employing Dice's method, the SCoT data delineated the Fusarium isolates into three distinct clusters corresponding to species. The study which focused on specifically evaluating the genetic diversity of Fusarium culmorum, F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum, recognized as primary threats to global wheat cultivation, with SCoT markers, substantial genetic variations were revealed among Fusarium isolates at both inter-and intra-species levels. This investigation represents the initial endeavor to elucidate the genetic diversity of Fusarium isolates obtained from wheat utilizing SCoT markers.

Pineapple is an increasingly important tropical fruit crop in T & uuml;rkiye; however, its quality is threatened by significant postharvest diseases. In June 2025, symptomatic pineapples were observed in central retail markets in Ordu Province, T & uuml;rkiye. To identify the causal agent of the observed fruit and crown decay, affected fruits displaying distinct crown necrosis, bract browning, and cottony white to cream mycelial growth were collected. A fungus was consistently isolated from these tissues, producing floccose white colonies and fusiform macroconidia typical of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). For molecular identification, partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (rpb2) genes were analysed. The results confirmed that the Turkish isolates clustered with Fusarium ananatum isolates with high bootstrap support. Pathogenicity was confirmed using the toothpick inoculation method on fruits and detached crown leaves. These assays successfully reproduced the characteristic symptoms of fruitlet core rot and crown rot, and the pathogen was re-isolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This study constitutes the first report of F. ananatum in T & uuml;rkiye. These findings highlight the emergence of this pathogen in the Mediterranean region and emphasise the urgent need for stringent phytosanitary monitoring to safeguard fruit quality and prevent postharvest losses in the domestic market.

hemibiotrophic fungus Zymoseptoria tritici (Desm.) Quaedvlieg & Crous, is a devastating foliar disease of wheat globally. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of SLB in some provinces of the Marmara Region of Türkiye and to evaluate the resistance levels of commercially grown bread wheat cultivars against local pathogen populations. Materials and Methods: Field surveys to determine disease prevalence were conducted during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons in the provinces of Bursa, Bilecik, Kocaeli, and Sakarya. To assess host resistance, 18 commercial bread wheat cultivars were screened against a highly virulent local isolate (Bursa-177) obtained from targeted samplings in 2016. Resistance assays were performed under both controlled greenhouse conditions at the seedling stage in 2017 and artificially inoculated field conditions at the adult plant stage in 2018. Disease severity was statistically analyzed to classify cultivar reactions.Results: Surveys revealed a heterogeneous disease distribution. SLB was widely prevalent in Bursa, recording the highest incidence rates in the Karacabey district, whereas disease incidence and prevalence remained lower in Bilecik across both the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Overall, the epidemic expanded across the region in 2015, with both the total number of infected fields and mean disease incidence more than doubling. Notably, while the disease was present in Sakarya in 2014, it was undetected in both Kocaeli and Sakarya during the 2015 season due to a severe yellow rust epidemic that masked SLB symptoms. In greenhouse assays, the positive controls and the vast majority of commercial cultivars (14 out of 18) were highly susceptible, with only a single genotype, 'Tahirova-2000', exhibiting a distinct resistant reaction at the seedling stage. However, field trials revealed a marked shift in host responses. This initial seedling resistance was rendered ineffective under high disease pressure in the field. In contrast, cultivars 'Nusrat' and 'Altuğ' displayed the lowest disease severity, indicating the presence of robust Adult Plant Resistance (APR).Conclusion: The study confirms the establishment of SLB in the Marmara region with significant spatial variation. The disparity between seedling and adult plant reactions, particularly in 'Tahirova-2000', suggests stage-specific resistance or pathogen adaptation. 'Nusrat' and 'Altuğ' were identified as promising sources of partial resistance. These findings highlight the necessity of integrating field-based screening to identify durable resistance sources for effective disease management.

Diaporthe eres is increasingly reported as a causal agent of canker, shoot dieback, and fruit rot of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in diverse production regions. In this study, multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using ITS, tef1, and tub2 gene sequences confirmed that two isolates, ED 5/4 (Edirne) and BUR 7/4 (Bursa), belong to D. eres sensu stricto, showing 99-100% sequence identity with ex-type strain AR5193 in BLASTn analysis and clustering with high bootstrap support in Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic trees. Pathogenicity assays conducted on green fruits, current-season shoots, and one-year-old dormant branches of seven cultivars revealed strong and statistically significant cultivar × isolate interactions, demonstrating that resistance responses were highly isolate-specific. Isolate BUR 7/4 displayed higher virulence overall than ED 5/4. Lesion development differed markedly among tissue types, with current-season shoots consistently exhibiting substantially greater necrosis than one-year-old dormant branches, indicating a pronounced influence of tissue ontogeny on host susceptibility. Cultivar performance varied among tissues: 'Chandler' showed the greatest resistance in woody tissues, whereas 'Fernor' and 'Orman 77' were consistently susceptible. Fruit assays demonstrated variable husk susceptibility but uniformly severe, cultivar-independent kernel decay, indicating the absence of internal resistance once the husk barrier was breached. D. eres was re-isolated from all symptomatic tissues while controls remained healthy, fulfilling Koch's postulates. These results establish D. eres as an important contributor to walnut canker and fruit rot in Türkiye and emphasize the roles of tissue-specific susceptibility, isolate diversity, and cultivar-dependent responses in shaping disease outcomes and informing resistance-based management strategies.

Black mould rot is a common postharvest disease of pome fruits, but the species identity of black aspergilli associated with these symptoms is not always resolved. In this study, two representative isolates obtained from symptomatic apple (Malus domestica) fruits in T & uuml;rkiye were identified as Aspergillus tubingensis based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenetic analyses of beta-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. Pathogenicity assays produced lesions on wounded pome fruits, whereas non-wounded fruits remained symptomless, indicating a wound-dependent infection pattern under the tested conditions. Cross-host inoculation assays on pear (Pyrus communis) and quince (Cydonia oblonga) revealed significant variation in susceptibility among cultivars, with 'Deveci' pear exhibiting the highest disease severity. For the two isolates examined, temperature assays indicated optimal mycelial growth at 31.0 degrees C-32.7 degrees C, while conidial germination peaked at approximately 35.4 degrees C and remained high at 40 degrees C, suggesting isolate-level differences between mycelial growth and conidial germination responses to elevated temperature. To our knowledge, this is the first multilocus-supported record of A. tubingensis causing postharvest black mould rot of apple in T & uuml;rkiye, highlighting the importance of multilocus identification for resolving black aspergilli associated with pome fruit decay.

This study evaluated the resistance of 54 wheat and 14 barley cultivars in Bolu, and 6 wheat cultivars and 89 barley lines in Eski & scedil;ehir, to common root rot caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana under controlled conditions. Location-specific B. sorokiniana isolates (wheat-derived in Bolu, barley-derived in Eski & scedil;ehir) were employed for evaluation. In Bolu, wheat cultivars demonstrated tolerance with variable disease severity, while barley cultivars showed moderate susceptibility with significantly greater disease severity than wheat. Conversely, wheat cultivars in Eski & scedil;ehir exhibited complete resistance with no symptoms, whereas barley lines displayed responses ranging from complete resistance to high susceptibility. Eight wheat cultivars and two barley lines achieved complete resistance across both locations. Neither growth habit (spring vs. winter) in wheat nor row-type (two-row vs. six-row) in barley significantly influenced disease severity. The consistent difference in disease severity between barley and wheat, with barley exhibiting greater susceptibility, highlights the importance of targeted breeding efforts for each crop. Field evaluations are crucial to validate the findings under natural conditions and refine disease management strategies.

Plants coexist with diverse fungal communities inhabiting both the rhizosphere and endosphere, forming dynamic interactions, which shape plant health and resilience. Recent studies reveal that these two fungal compartments are not functionally isolated but interconnected through complex signaling, metabolite exchange, and cooperative defense responses. Emerging evidence reveals that rhizospheric and endophytic fungi engage in dynamic crosstalk mediated by chemical signals and root exudates in the rhizosphere together with molecular exchanges which are involved in priming plant defense responses and secondary metabolism adjustments. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the effects of rhizosphere dynamics on rhizospheric-endophytic fungal crosstalk and their collective roles in mediating plant tolerance or resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ecological and molecular processes driving fungal recruitment, colonization, and communication, emphasizing their influence on plant immunity priming, hormonal modulation, and antioxidative systems are discussed. Advances in omics technologies have deepened understanding of the rhizosphere-endosphere continuum, revealing integrated networks which shape plant health under environmental constraints. The present review identifiees research gaps and proposes future directions for harnessing beneficial fungal networks in association with rhizosphere as sustainable tools for crop protection under changing climate conditions.

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a cornerstone of T & uuml;rkiye's agricultural economy, accounting for over 60% of global production. In 2022, a wood decay disease was observed in orchards of Samsun Province, affecting 3% (15 of 500) of surveyed trees. Symptoms included branch dieback and canopy chlorosis, while internal inspection revealed extensive brown rot of the xylem. Fungal isolates consistently produced white, fast-growing colonies with clamp connections. Multilocus sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU) and small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA regions, and the partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) gene identified the pathogen as Fomitopsis marianiae. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS + tef1 datasets placed the Turkish isolate within the F. marianiae clade. Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating 1-year-old hazelnut seedlings, which developed necrotic lesions averaging 3.88 +/- 0.22 cm within 3.5 months; the fungus was successfully reisolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This study represents the first report of F. marianiae as a pathogen of hazelnut and, more broadly, its first documentation in any agricultural system. These findings identify F. marianiae as an emerging threat to a globally important nut crop and highlight the need for targeted disease surveillance and management strategies.

Fusarium dry rot is a significant fungal disease impacting postharvest potato tubers worldwide, leading to substantial losses in tuber quality, nutritional value, and seed viability. In Kyrgyzstan, where potato is a staple crop, the disease poses a critical threat to food security. This study aimed to identify and characterize Fusarium species associated with dry rot in stored potatoes from the Osh region, a major potato production area facing severe postharvest challenges. Surveys were conducted in 34 potato storage facilities across four districts, and symptomatic tubers were collected. Fifty-four Fusarium isolates were obtained and subjected to a comprehensive characterization approach, including morphological assessments, molecular analyses using iPBS markers based on retrotransposons, DNA sequencing of the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1) locus, and pathogenicity tests on the ‘Soraya’ potato cultivar. Fusarium sambucinum was the most prevalent species (50

Neoscytalidium dimidiatum is an emerging fungal pathogen of increasing phytosanitary concern due to its wide host range, aggressive postharvest behavior, and expanding geographical distribution, yet comprehensive evaluations of safe, effective control measures such as potassium salts remain limited. This study investigated eight potassium salts—acetate, benzoate, bicarbonate, carbonate, citrate, metabisulfite, phosphate, and sorbate—compared to three commercial fungicides (imazalil, thiophanate‑M, and tebuconazole + fluopyram) for their antifungal efficacy against N. dimidiatum in vitro (culture assays) and in vivo (postharvest apple fruit trials). In vitro assessments revealed potassium metabisulfite (EC50 = 4.4 × 10−5 g mL−1) and potassium sorbate (EC50 = 9.0 × 10−5 g mL−1) as the most effective salts, demonstrating antifungal activity comparable to commercial fungicides imazalil, tebuconazole + fluopyram, and thiophanate‑M. These two potassium salts consistently inhibited mycelial growth, arthrospore germination, and germ tube elongation even at the lowest tested concentrations, while other potassium salts showed variable and generally lower efficacy. In vivo experiments on apple fruits further confirmed these findings, with potassium metabisulfite providing up to 92.48

Objective: The purpose of this research is to identify the most suitable mathematical model for characterizing the thermal biology of economically important oomycetes (Pythium dissotocum, Globisporangium heterothallicum, G. intermedium, G. sylvaticum, and Phytopythium vexans) and to use these models to define the thermal niches of these pathogens. The goal is to establish a fundamental understanding for disease epidemiology and climate-driven management strategies. Materials and Methods: In this study, 18 isolates belonging to Pythium dissotocum, Globisporangium heterothallicum, G. intermedium, G. sylvaticum, and Phytopythium vexans were used as material. Empirical data on the mycelial growth of these isolates were collected. The collected data were analyzed using fourteen different nonlinear models. The performance of the models was subjected to a multi-criteria evaluation and compared using an information-theoretic approach. Results: The comparisons unequivocally demonstrated the superiority of asymmetric functions, most notably the Briere2 model, in describing the nonlinear thermal responses of the oomycetes. The Briere2 model was identified as the optimal model for 12 of the 18 isolates studied. This modeling revealed a distinct partitioning of thermal niches: P. vexans (Topt: 26.46–26.98°C) and G. sylvaticum (Topt: 25.58–27.16°C) isolates showed clear adaptations to warmer climates, in contrast to the cooler thermal optima of G. heterothallicum (Topt: 20.65–22.06°C). Conclusion: This work establishes a definitive methodological precedent for modeling the thermal biology of oomycetes and provides critical empirical parameterization for these pathogens. The findings offer an essential foundation for advancing predictive disease forecasting and for formulating robust, climate-driven management strategies in agricultural environments.