Molecular Identification and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Wood Canker, Root and Basal Rot in Turkish Grapevine Nurseries

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 7; p. 444
• Main Authors: Akgül, Davut Soner, Önder, Serkan, Savaş, Nurdan Güngör, Yıldız, Murat, Bülbül, İzzet, Özarslandan, Mümine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24-06-2024
• Subjects: Basal rot; Canker; diversity; DNA polymerase; DNA sequencing; Ecosystem components; Endophytes; Fungi; Fusarium; Fusarium annulatum; Fusarium curvatum; Fusarium nirenbergiae; Host plants; Host range; Morphology; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; phylogenetic analysis; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Population decline; Rhizosphere; RNA polymerase; Root rot; Seedlings; Species; Trees; vine decline; Virulence; Wineries & vineyards; Canada; China; United States > US; Turkey; vine decline; diversity; phylogenetic analysis; Vitis; Fusarium annulatum; Fusarium nirenbergiae; Fusarium curvatum
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof10070444

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
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
strains were identified by performing gene sequencing (
,
) 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
species were highly prevalent in Turkish grapevine nurseries (41 out of 43). Gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses unraveled that 12
species (
and
spp.) existed in the ready-to-sale plants. Some of these species (
and
) 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
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.