The mycological study of conifers in Tbilisi and its surroundings

Extensive microbiological research was carried out in Tbilisi (capital of Georgia) and its surroundings to determine the causes massive disease dieback urban coniferous plantations. The biological material picked up June–July 2020 from trees with various degrees 42 different localities. 247 conifers (15 species) were examined microbiologically. 1 169 samples microscopic fungi isolated. Based on cultural-morphological molecular-genetic (PCR) studies, 34 strains identified species level, 17 genus strain family level. Ascomycota represented by 15 families 33 species, Basidiomycota 2 Zygomycota species. Among isolated strains, 9 clearly dominant found all studied species: Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl, Sphaeropsis sapinea Dyko & B. Button, Epicoccum nigrum Link., Sordaria lappae Potebnia, Curvularia spp., Dothiorella spp, Nothophoma quercina (Sydow P. Sydow) Q. Chen L. Cai, Phoma odoratissimi Chen, Didymella aliena (Fries) Cai. It may be supposed that activation pathogenic is result weakening plant immunity background increasing abiotic stresses over years; which led an imbalance between latent pathogens host plants eventually depressing consequences dieback.