MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BOTRYOSPHAERIACEAE SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH DIEBACK AND GUMMOSIS ON PLUM TREES IN TURKEY

Plum (Prunus salicina) is among the most important and common fruit species in Turkey. Worldwide, Botryosphaeriaceae family, including significant plant pathogens causes disease in several woody plants including plums. Botryosphaeriaceae-induced dieback and gummosis symptoms have recently been encountered in plum orchards in Adana and Mersin provinces of Turkey. In the present study, morphological and molecular characterization of Botryosphaeriaceae isolates were performed and the obtained isolates were identified as Diplodia seriata, Neofusicoccum parvum and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae. Pathogenicity tests revealed the virulence of all three species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of D. seriata, N. parvum and L. pseudotheobromae causing disease on plums in Turkey.