Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Volume LXI
Written by Fatih Mehmet TOK, Sibel DERVIŞ
In mid-autumn 2013, a disease of Vitis rupestris affecting 30 to 50% of the plants was observed in an orchard of the Kırıkhan district of Hatay province in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey. Symptoms included presence of initially tiny and angular chlorotic halos but latterly large black spots. On the spots, cercosporoid structures were present. Based on cultural and morphological characteristics of the consistently isolated fungus and pathogenicity tests, the causal agent of this leaf spot or blight was identified as Pseudocercospora vitis. This appears to be the first report of P. vitis on V. rupestris in Turkey. Since Isariopsis leaf spot caused by P. vitis can also affect grapevines (V. vinifera), it might negatively impact orchards and vineyards in the future and might be considered a potential threat to Turkish grapevine production.
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