Determination of fungal pathogens on weed species in sunflower fields in Tekirdağ and Kırklareli provinces

In this study, fungal species on weeds, which were present in sunflower cultivation areas of Tekirdağ and Kırklareli, the prevalence and incidence of species were determined. Surveys were carried out in 50 fields totally in the districts of Tekirdağ and Kırklareli provinces in July and August of 2021. Albugo amaranthi, Peronospora variabilis, Alternaria alternata, Dichotomophtora lutea and Erysiphe sp. on the leaves of Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Lactuca serriola, Portulaca oleracea and Sonchus sp., respectively, were detected in this research. Identifications were made by considering the cultural, morphological characteristics and molecular characterizations of the species. The prevalence and incidence of fungal species differed in the provinces and districts. Downy mildew agent, Peronospora variabilis was the species with the highest rate of prevalence (33.33% and 31.25% in Kırklareli and Tekirdağ, respectively) and incidence (5.67% and 4.37% in Kırklareli and Tekirdağ, respectively) in both provinces, followed by the white rust agent, A. amaranthi. The presence of A. amaranthi on A. retroflexus is the first record for our country, and L. serriola is a new host for A. alternata, which is known to exist in our country.