Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Plant Pathology, cilt.103, sa.3, ss.955-959, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), is a commercially important, widely grown and consumed vegetable in Turkey. In October 2020, typical symptoms resembling powdery mildew were observed on spinach plants in two inspected fields in Hatay province of Turkey. Circular discolorations patches accompanied with dull whitish fluffy sporulation were observed on both upper and lower leaf surfaces of plants. Conidiophores are typically formed from internal mycelium emerging through stomatal openings, either singly or in groups. Morphologically distinguished dimorphic conidia without distinct fibrosin bodies, are formed singly at the apex of conidiophores. No chasmothecia were found on heavily infected leaves over the course of the season. The identity of the disease agent was further confirmed sequencing of the ITS rDNA region of representative isolates by using ITS5/P3 and ITS1/ITS4 primers. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by touching freshly sporulating plant leaves onto the leaves of potted healthy spinach plants. Based on morphological characteristics of asexual fungal structures, molecular sequencing and pathogenicity test, the causal disease agent responsible for the spinach powdery mildew was identified as Leveillula taurica (Lév.) G. Arnaud (syn. = Oidiopsis haplophylli). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by L. taurica on S. oleracea in Turkey.