Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF FUNGI, cilt.10, sa.444, ss.1-20, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Fusarium species are agriculturally important fungi with a broad host range and can be
found as endophytic, pathogenic, or opportunistic parasites in many crop plants. This study aimed
to identify Fusarium species in bare-rooted, dormant plants in Turkish grapevine nurseries using
molecular identification methods and assess their pathogenicity. Asymptomatic dormant plants were
sampled from grapevine nurseries (43) in different regions of the country, and fungi were isolated
from plant roots and internal basal tissues. The Fusarium strains were identified by performing
gene sequencing (TEF1-α, RPB2) and phylogenetic analyses. Pathogenicity tests were carried out by
inoculating mycelial agar pieces of strains onto the stem or conidial suspensions into the rhizosphere
of vines (1103 Paulsen rootstock). Laboratory tests revealed that Fusarium species were highly
prevalent in Turkish grapevine nurseries (41 out of 43). Gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses
unraveled that 12 Fusarium species (F. annulatum, F. brachygibbosum, F. clavum, F. curvatum, F. falciforme,
F. fredkrugeri, F. glycines, F. nanum, F. nematophilum, F. nirenbergiae, F. solani, and Fusarium spp.) existed
in the ready-to-sale plants. Some of these species (F. annulatum, F. curvatum and F. nirenbergiae)
consistently caused wood necrosis of seedling stems, rotting of the basal zone and roots, and reduced
root biomass. Although the other nine species also caused some root rot and root reduction, their
virulence was not as severe as the pathogenic ones, and they were considered opportunistic parasites
or endophytic species. This study suggests that Fusarium species might play an important role in
root-basal rot, wood canker symptoms, and young vine decline in Turkish grapevine nurseries and
that these species need to be considered for healthy seedling production.