Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
7th International Congress on Food, Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Antalya, Türkiye, 13 - 16 Kasım 2025, ss.48-58, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important crop grown in Turkey for both oil and confectionery purposes. In recent years, changes in climatic conditions and variations in planting patterns have increased the incidence of diseases in sunflower crops in Erzurum, leading to significant economic losses. Among these diseases, white rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary results in decay of the roots, stems, and capitulum tissues, causing reductions in both yield and quality. The pathogen can survive in the soil for extended periods through its resilient structures, called sclerotia, and can initiate infection again under favorable environmental conditions. In this study, the prevalence of the white rot pathogen in sunflower fields in Erzurum was investigated. Field surveys were conducted in the districts of Pasinler, Horasan, Yakutiye, Aziziye, Aşkale, and Palandöken. Samples were collected from symptomatic sunflower plants, transported to the laboratory, and cultured in vitro on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Pure cultures were obtained from the developing colonies. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the isolates confirmed their identity as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results indicated that white rot disease occurred at varying intensities across all surveyed districts of Erzurum Province. However, the disease was observed to be more severe in Aziziye and Pasinler, while lower levels were recorded in Horasan, Yakutiye, Aşkale, and Palandöken. This study provides an upto-date and region-specific assessment of the prevalence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in sunflower cultivation areas of Erzurum and establishes a solid scientific foundation for future research on the pathogenicity, epidemiology, and molecular characterization of the pathogen. Keywords: Sunflower, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Erzurum, Morphological Identification