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Phytophthora Species Causing Root and Collar Rot of Pomegranate in Turkey

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Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important fruit-tree at southwestern Turkey, as this region (Antalya and Muğla provinces) produces and exports the great majority of the pomegranate fruits of the country. Pomegranate orchards showing severe dieback and tree mortality in the region were surveyed to determine the role of Phytophthora spp. in symptom development. Root (from 51 trees) and soil (from 136 trees) samples were collected from symptomatic trees in 113 commercial pomegranate orchards, covering 170 ha. A total of 98 isolates were obtained from the roots of 19 trees and soil samples of 79 trees, using selective medium and soil baiting. Species isolated were identified by morphological characteristics and ITS sequencing. The most frequently isolated species were P. nicotianae (37 isolates) and P. palmivora (26 isolates), followed by P. parvispora (14 isolates), P. inundata (six isolates), P. cryptogea (four isolates), P. niederhauserii (four isolates), P. taxon walnut (two isolates) and P. rosacearum (one isolate), and four unidentified species. Twelve orchards were infected with more than one species. Disease incidence and prevalence were 4.59% and 69.91%, respectively. Pathogenicity tests by soil infestation, revealed that the isolates caused root and collar rot, reducing root weights of pomegranate seedlings. Phytophthora palmivora and P. nicotianae were the most virulent species. This is the first report of any species other than P. palmivora causing root and collar rot of pomegranate trees worldwide.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) “TAGEM-BS-15/08-09/02-16”, and we appreciate the help of the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. We are also thankful to Dr. Emrah Yıldırım for preparation of the map.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Health Department, Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute, Antalya, Turkey

    İlker Kurbetli, Mehmet Aydoğdu & Görkem Sülü

  2. Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Turkey

    Gürsel Karaca

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  1. İlker Kurbetli
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  2. Gürsel Karaca
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  3. Mehmet Aydoğdu
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  4. Görkem Sülü
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Correspondence to İlker Kurbetli.

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Kurbetli, İ., Karaca, G., Aydoğdu, M. et al. Phytophthora Species Causing Root and Collar Rot of Pomegranate in Turkey. Eur J Plant Pathol 157, 485–496 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-020-02007-8

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