Prevalence, isolation and identification of bacterial canker pathogens on sweet cherry trees in Tekirdag

Abstract

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is one of the most important fruit trees grown in Tekirdag. Bacterial canker which reduces the yield and quality of sweet cherry fruit and causes death of trees was investigated. For this purpose, a survey study was conducted in 2012-2013, and 129 plant tissue samples were collected from symptomatic trees. As a result of survey studies, bacterial canker was determined in all orchards, and the disease prevalence rate was determined as 17 to 57%. Severity of disease was measured as 20 to 85% in Tekirdag province depending on orchards. Totally, 41 bacterial strains of Pseudomonas syringae were determined by using classical and molecular identification tests, 23 out of 41 yielding. The identity of the 23 strains Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum and 18 strain Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae were confirmed by applicans of the expected size 650 bp and 752 bp, respectively.