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Heterobasidion species are the most important pathogens causing root and stem rot on conifers in northern hemisphere forests. The host list of this complex is very wide and includes over 200 species of trees and shrubs. Among the members of this complex, Heterobasidion annosum s. s. has the largest host range. In this study, young plants of Pinus sylvestris, Picea orientalis, Abies nordmanniana, Cedrus libani and Pinus brutia (three different origins) were inoculated on the lower stem with known genets of Heterobasidion annosum s.s. collected from Pinus brutia stands in south‐western Türkiye. Infection frequency, assessed as presence of the conidial stage in stem discs following incubation, in the inoculated seedlings was 100%. The Heterobasidion annosum s. s. isolates were re‐isolated from all inoculated host species. Control seedlings showed no symptoms of disease. Mortality in inoculated plants was 11.5% of the 735 inoculated plants, which died over an 8‐weeks incubation period. The isolates showed greater growth on Cedrus libani, Pinus sylvestris and Picea orientalis seedlings compared to other species tested. On the other hand, it was found that the least affected seedlings were Pinus brutia TB12 and Abies nordmanniana. This study proved that differences occur in aggressiveness of Heterobasidion annosum s. s. to host species. A striking point in the results is that, despite being the host species from which the isolates were obtained, Pinus brutia seedlings showed lower sensitivity to Heterobasidion annosum s. s. than the other conifer species tested. Inoculations of three different Pinus brutia provenances suggested there was no significant difference in mean lesion lengths and fungal growth values in Pinus brutia plants, except in Pinus brutia TB14, which was more susceptible to extension growth of the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue cheeses, including renowned mold-ripened varieties such as Roquefort (France), Gorgonzola (Italy), Stilton (UK), Danablue (Denmark), and Cabrales (Spain), owe their distinct blue-green color and unique flavor to the fungal species Penicillium roqueforti. In Turkey, traditional cheeses similar to blue cheeses, namely mold-ripened Tulum and Civil, employ production techniques distinct from their European counterparts. Notably, mold-ripening in Turkish cheeses is spontaneous and does not involve starter cultures. Despite P. roqueforti being recognized for its distinct genetic populations sourced from various blue cheeses and non-cheese origins globally, the characteristics of the P. roqueforti population within Turkish cheeses remain unexplored. This study aimed to unravel the genetic characteristics and population structure of P. roqueforti from Turkish mold-ripened cheeses. Analysis of mold-ripened Civil (n = 22) and Tulum (n = 8) samples revealed 66 P. roqueforti isolates (76.6 % of total fungal isolates). Subsequently, these isolates (n = 66) and those from previous studies (Tulum n = 53, Golot n = 1) were used to assess genetic characteristics and mating genotypes. All 120 isolates harbored horizontal transfer regions (Wallaby and CheesyTer) and predominantly possessed the MAT1-2 mating genotype, similar to global blue cheese populations. However, most lacked the mpaC deletion associated with such populations. Analysis of the population with three polymorphic microsatellite markers revealed 36 haplotypes (HTs). Some cheeses contained isolates with different HTs or opposite mating genotypes, aligning with spontaneous fungal growth. Tulum and Civil isolates exhibited similar population diversity without forming distinct subgroups. Phylogenetic analysis of 20 selected isolates showed 75 % aligning with global blue cheese isolates, while 25 % formed unique clades. Overall, Turkish P. roqueforti isolates share genetic similarities with global populations but exhibit unique characteristics, suggesting potential new clades deserving further investigation. This research illuminates the characteristics of P. roqueforti isolates from Turkish cheeses, contributing to the knowledge of the global intraspecific diversity of the P. roqueforti species. • All P. roqueforti isolates originating from Turkey harbor Wallaby and CheesyTer. • Some cheeses contain isolates with opposite mating types and multiple strains • Isolates from Tulum and Civil cheeses do not represent distinct sub-populations. • Phylogenetically, most isolates group with Non-Roquefort and Termignon isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the oomycetous pathogens causing root rot on sugar beet and test their control by seed treatment in Konya Province, Turkey. Oomycetous fungus-like pathogens of sugar beet were investigated using 866 plant samples collected at 2 growth stages, early seedling and late root, from fields in the Konya region of Turkey and 1 sample from the Thrace region. Herein, 10 oomycetous species belonging to 3 genera: Aphanomyces cochlioides, Phytophthora cryptogea, Ph. pseudocryptogea, Ph. megasperma, Ph. inundata, Pythium aphanidermatum, Py. helicoides, Py. heterothallicum, Py. sylvaticum, and Py. ultimum var. ultimum (Globisporangium ultimum var. ultimum) were discovered at various times with in the 2 growth periods, all of which were the first records for Turkey. A. cochlioides was the most serious pathogen, both in terms of its wide distribution and aggressiveness. The pathogen produced more than 90% disease severity when tested by soil infestation at the seedling stage, although it also occurred at the late root growth stage. Pythium species were also ascommon, such as A. cochlioides, the majority of which were very aggressive, producing more than 84% disease severity at the seedling stage, except for Py. aphanidermatum. Half-strength potato dextrose agar medium was found to be very useful for the isolation of all of the pathogens from the plant samples at both stages. Morphological features of all of the pathogens were abundantly produced when the pathogens were grown on amended grated carrot agar medium and culture disks of fungal growth of this medium were submerged in sterile and nonsterile soil extracts. Out of the 15 fungicide mixes tested, 2 mixes, thiram+metalaxyl+hymexazole and thiram+metalaxyl+hymexazole+ pyraclostrobin reduced seedling root rot caused by both A. cochlioides and Pythium ultimum var. ultimum, while the standard seed treatment fungicide mix of thiram+hymexazole was not effective against either of the pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrolepiota procera, commonly called the Parasol Mushroom, is a delicious mushroom collected from the nature and commonly consumed by the public in many regions of Turkey. This study was conducted to determine the optimum culture conditions (pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen sources) for mycelial growth of M. procera. Three pH values (pH 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0), four incubation temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30°C), seven carbon (C) sources (dextrose, glucose, lactose, maltose, mannitol, sucrose and xylose) and six nitrogen (N) sources ((NH4)2HPO4, NH4NO3 and Ca(NO3)2, malt extract, peptone and yeast extract) were investigated. In the second step of the study, the effect of seven pH values (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0) on the mycelial colony diameter was examined at 20 and 25°C since these temperatures gave the best mycelial growth in the previously conducted temperature experiment. The best mycelial growth was determined at pH 6.0. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth of M. procera was found as 25°C. The use of glucose as carbon source and yeast extract and peptone as nitrogen source in the culture medium gave the best results for mycelial growth. Determining of optimum culture conditions for mycelial growth of M. procera will provide important contributions to the fortcoming studies on it's commercially cultivation in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polyextremotolerant black yeast-like fungi thrive in moderately hostile environments where they are concomitantly subjected to several types of stress, such as toxicity, scarce nutrient availability, and high or low temperature extremes. Their ability to assimilate alkylbenzenes (toxic environmental pollutants) enhances their growth in harsh conditions, including on railway ties. Samples were collected using cotton swabs, premoistened with physiological saline, from 658 oak and concrete railway ties at six train stations in Turkey at altitudes ranging between 1026 and 1427 m. The samples were inoculated on malt extract agar supplemented with chloramphenicol, and incubated at 26 °C for 4 weeks. Twenty-four samples (3.6 %), 17 from oak and 7 from concrete (5.6 % vs. 2 %; P = 0.02), tested positive for fungi. Exophiala crusticola was found to be the most common species (n = 13), followed by Exophiala phaeomuriformis (n = 7) and Exophiala heteromorpha (n = 4). These results suggest that hydrocarbons, particularly creosote-treated oak woods, support the growth of black yeasts, some of which are opportunists in humans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article mentions several plant diseases caused by bacteria and phytoplasmas including fire blight disease on blackberry observed in Turkey, bacterial foot rot disease in rice found in China and bacterial soft rot disease in potato found in China. Also mentioned is diseases caused by fungi and fungus-like organisms including vascular wilt disease of cumin found in India, brown ring patch disease in turf grass found in China and sclerotinia rot disease of Chinese atractylodes found in China.

Brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa can result in considerable losses in peach production worldwide. Respiratory Inhibitors (RIs) have been used to control the disease in Turkey and worldwide. However, resistance against RIs may have been developing in Monilinia populations in Turkey. The sensitivity level of the total of 128 isolates of Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa from peach fruits in Turkey were tested against certain RIs: azoxystrobin, boscalid, and commercially used signum (26,7% boscalid, 6,7% pyraclostrobin). Fungal growth from both mycelia and conidia was evaluated as fungicide response phenotypes. A new approach was developed to define the sensitivity levels of the isolates. The mean IC 50 values of each fungicide on representative collection from each species were used as discriminatory doses in view of both phenotypes. The whole collection was scanned at discriminatory doses and the relative growth (RG) of each isolate was obtained. The distribution of RG data sets in the quantile ranges was considered to define sensitivity levels of the isolates against each fungicide. Resistance levels for mycelial and conidial growth assays varied within and between the species against the three RIs. According to the pairwise correlation analyses between responses of the species to the fungicides, the significant correlation indicating a cross-resistance was only found between boscalid and signum on conidial growth assays for M. fructicola. This study represents in vitro fungicide responses of a large population of Monilinia pathogens from peach in Turkey for the first time which will help to reconsider disease control strategies and suggests a fungicide sensitivity definition be used in all in vitro fungicide assays as a common and comparable strategy at the global stage. [Display omitted] • Sensitivity of Monilinia populations from peach fruits in Turkey to respiratory inhibitors (RIs) by considering mycelial and conidial growth. • A mixed population structure with highly resistant, resistant, sensitive, highly sensitive isolates was found for each RI. • A new approach that can be used as a standard method for in vitro assays was applied to define the sensitivity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]