The occurrence and pathogenicity of fungi associated with Orthotomicus erosus on Pinus brutia in the Southern Marmara, Türkiye

Fungal pathogens associated with bark beetles constitute one of the most significant problems to forest health. The Turkish pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) is a native species in forests Türkiye and occurs Mediterranean-type climate. Southern Marmara natural occurrence area Region. In present study, trap logs were set up pure Pinus investigate fungi Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston) (Mediterranean beetle) throughout Marmara. adults, larvae, their galleries sampled individually cultured on 1% CSMA (cycloheximide–streptomycin malt agar) medium. Three ophiostomatoid identified using morphological characteristics molecular genetic analyses: Ceratocystis (syn. Ophiostoma) ips (Rumbold) C. Moreau, Graphilbum sp. H.P. Upadhyay & W.B. Kendr., Leptographium wingfieldii M. Morelet. All three new records fungal flora Türkiye. dominant these species, was isolated 69%. Unexpectedly, L. had high-frequency association O. (27%). pathogenicity tests showed that all could cause lesions branches but non-pathogenic or weak pathogenic.