Determination of fungal pathogens in cherry ((Prunus avium L.) orchards in Usak province

This study was conducted to determine the fungal factors causing problems in the cherry orchards of Uşak province, identify them by morphological and molecular methods, and determine their prevalence and incidence rates in the orchards. Also, a survey study was conducted for farmers to determine the phytopathological problems experienced by the producers in stone fruits (mostly cherry and sour cherry) cultivation in Uşak Province and the tendencies of the producers about the use of agricultural pesticide. A survey study was conducted in Uşak province, including the districts, during flowering and fruiting periods in 2018 and 2019, in a total of 1657 decares of cherry orchards. As a result of survey studies, Monilinia spp. and Alternaria spp. agents were identified intensely. 52 of the Monilinia spp. isolates in the first year and 50 in the second year and 33 of the Alternaria spp. isolates in the first year and 38 in the second year were found to be pathogenic. The single spores of the pathogenic Monilinia spp. and Alternaria spp. isolates were obtained, their microscopic and cultural characteristics were examined and their morphological diagnosis was made. The PCR products of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) regions of the 20 pathogenic Monilinia spp. and 15 pathogenic Alternaria spp. isolates were obtained using universal and species-specific primers and their sequence analysis was performed. The obtained sequence results were compared with the data in the database of genbank and the BLAST analysis was performed and the isolates were determined to be Monilinia laxa and Alternaria alternata with 100% max similarity. A. alternata caused leaf spot disease in cherry orchards and it was firstly identified in morphological and molecular terms in our country. In the literature reviews, this result has become the first record for Turkey. The survey study was conducted with 100 producers through face-to-face interview, 33 questions were asked, the answers were assessed and solution suggestions were presented.