Department of Plant Diseases
In the years when Bornova Plant Protection Research Institute was first established, "Department of Plant Diseases" has continued to work as a "Phytopathology Laboratory". Then the " Department of Plant Diseases " has continued to work as. The department consists of five laboratories.
>Virology lab,
>Bacteriology lab,
>Fruit and vineyard diseases lab,
>Vegetables, Forage Crops, Industrial and Ornamental Plant Diseases Lab,
>Cereal diseases.
Duties of the Department of Plant Diseases are summarized below:
>To identify and diagnose fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens that cause diseases in crop plants, to determine the spreading and contolling methods of these pathogens,
>Conducting research projects, presenting the results with scientific publications and trainings,
>Participating in international organizations, preparing and conducting projects for plant health in the context of law of harmonization code of the European Union,
>Organizing international and national congresses, workshops and meetings and attend to them with publications,
>Being reporter in national and international journals,
>Preparing "Technical Instructions for Plant Protection", "Technical Instructions for Integrated Pest Management" and brochures for the farmers.
>To take part in various commissions of the Ministry such as Registration of Plant Protection Products and Plant Quarantine,
>Quarantine organisms related to the pest risk analysis and consultancy services to our Ministry in this regard, further develop rapid diagnostic method for detection of diseases subject to quarantine,
>Cooperating with especially universities and union of exporters and other organizations,
>Monitoring experimentations of biological efficiency of plant protection products,
>Preparing trainings to technical personnel, to prepare book, booklet, brochure of farmer etc.
>Giving practical training to the students of agricultural faculties,
>Giving service of consultancy to the farmers
>Preparing trainings and publications on phytopathology for farmers,
>Performing dose escalation or reduction studies for the pesticides,
>To check and analyze the organizations growing main breeding material in terms of plant diseases, which are subjected to the certification regulations.
>Evaluating the problems coming from application organizations and farmers, researching for solutions,
>To make analysis of the aspects of Quarantine organisms in the import and export of production materials.
Virology Lab
The Virology Laboratory has been conducting studies on virus diseases seen in cultivated plants in the Aegean region since the 1950s.
In the first years of the laboratory, development of the virus-free potato seed, obtaining the virus-free healthy American grapevine rootstocks and the establishment of the citrus breeding gardens.
Biological, serological (ELISA) and molecular test methods (Multipleks RT-PCR, Real Time RT-PCR) are used in the laboratory to detect and diagnose plant viruses. There are laboratory equipment and knowledge to carry out these studies.
In addition to the projects supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the laboratory staff was also actively involved in projects such as Twinning project carried out within the framework of EU harmonization, external projects such as TÜBİTAK and DPT. Some research topics that have been carried out in the laboratory in recent years are as follows:
>Determination of viruses that cause disease in stone fruit trees,
>Determination of some viral agents in corn production areas in second crop grown in Aegean region,
>Determination of viruses that cause greenhouse vegetables, identification of the first record of viruses in Türkiye and our region,
>Studies on potato virus diseases within the scope of project for development of national potato seed production system,
>Detection of virus diseases on cucurbit production areas in Aegean region, determination of both disease rates and also reactions of some cucurbit varieties to the virus diseases,
>Determination of grapevine virus diseases and detection by molecular methods,
>Determination of current state of Sharka disease in stone fruit trees in the Aegean region,
>Identification of olive virus diseases, determination of prevalence rates and effects on of fruit quality in the Aegean Region,
>Identification of Potato virus Y (PVY) strains in the potato growing areas and the determination of data for control management,
>Researches on virus-free pre-basic production material in some figs cultivars and production of certified seedlings Virology Laboratory.
Bacteriology
Lab
Founded
in 1960s, The Bacteriology Laboratory is a strong division with its
infrastructure and knowledge base. Laboratory equipment is sufficient for
detection and diagnosis of bacterial plant pathogens in any kind of plant
material. Classical, biological, serological (ELISA, IFAS), and molecular (PCR)
methods used in the countries developed in detection and diagnosis are used in
Bornova Plant Protection Research Station. The laboratory personnel have taken
training in several national and international laboratories in order to
accommodate to developing technology. First record of some plant pathogenic
bacteria in Türkiye was made by technical staff of the laboratory.
Laboratory
staff took active participation in the projects supported by the Ministry in
addition to such extraneously supported projects as Twining Projects conducted
in context of law of harmonization with the European Union, and those supported
by TUBITAK and World Bank. Some research subjects
which have been and still being conducted in recent years are as follows:
>Distribution, type reactions, chemical and integrated control, and Forecasting and Early Warning models suitable to Erwinia amylovora.
>Biological control of the root cancer (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)
>Type reactions of Crown Gall of grape (Agrobacterium vitis)
>Effects of environmental factors on tomato sap necrosis disease, etiology, type reactions and control methods of the disease.
>Detecting status of Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato and potato in the Aegean Region.
As a
consequence of the studies, important findings have been obtained and
implemented in control efforts for bacterial plant diseases.
EPPO's 2009 Panel of
Bacterial Diseases and 2009 Annual Meeting of Association of European Phytopathologists
were held in the institution under the leadership of the Laboratory.
Fruit
and Vineyard Diseases Lab
In
regard to fruit and grapevine diseases, research projects have been conducted
since 1931 for detecting and solving problems on the area. However, the
Laboratory of Fruit and Grapevine Diseases was founded in 1940. Since 1970s,
the labs acted as Fruit Diseases and Grapevine Diseases, separately. It runs as
Laboratory of Fruit and Grapevine Diseases since 2003.
The
laboratory has adequate level of equipment and knowledge base at the same level
of developed countries. Fungal pathogens are diagnosed by classical methods.
Efforts are being made to provide molecular diagnosis for some fungal
pathogens.
Forecasting
and Early Warning System to be used in control of Apple Scab (Venturia
inaequalis), the most significant disease of apple, and Downy mildew
(Plasmopara viticola) has been investigated by researchers in the laboratory.
The results have been implemented. Chemical controls of the diseases are being
made using Forecasting and Early Warning System since 1980s.
Investigating
and spreading the Forecasting and Early Warning System to be used in control of
Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis), the most significant disease of apple, and
Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and implementing its results.
First
record of some fungal pathogens for Türkiye was made by technical staff of the
laboratory.
The personnel of
laboratory participated actively in TUBITAK projects in addition to those
supported by the Ministry.Some research subjects which have been and still being conducted in
recent years are as follows:
>Detecting hypovirulent strains used in biological control of Chestnut cancer (Cryphonectria parasitica) and their performance in control of disease and biological control of the disease under natural conditions
>A Study On The Determınatıon Of Causal Fungal Agents Of Petrı And Esca Dıseases In Vıneyards Of Aegean Regıon By Molecular Methods And Theır Control.
>Identification of Causal Agent of Strawberry Powdery Mildew Disease with Molecular Techniques and Research for Control Possibilities Using Alternative Chemicals
>Researches on Control of the Petri Disease (Phaeoacremonium oleophilum, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora) in Vineyards.
>Determining Efficieng of Different Sprays Programs Used in Vineyard Against Powdery Mildew
>Investigation on Effectiveness of Different Fungicide Application Times
And A Forecasting Model For The Control of Olive Leaf Spot Spilocaea oleaginea Cast. Diseases In Manisa Province
>Investigations
On Determination Of Fungal Pathogens Caused Postharvest Cherry Fruit-Rot,
İts Prevalance And Control İn İzmir And Manisa Provinces
>Molecular
Identification, Etiology and Management of Alternaria Species Causing
Postharvest Fruit Rot on Pomegranate "Punica granatum L."
Vegetables, Forage Crops, Industrial and Ornamental Plant Diseases Lab
Bornova Plant Protection Research Station has been conducting research activities on vegetable and forage crops since its establishment.
Basic studies conducted by the Laboratory of Vegetable and Forage Crops may be summarized as follows:
>Experimental studies on Forecasting and Early warning models against some fungal diseases.
>Conducting studies on biological control methods alternative to chemical control for the diseases.
This laboratory carried out research projects on industrial and ornamental plants, especially on cotton.
>In pathotype detection study on Verticillium dahlia in Türkiye, two pathotypes were found and they were diagnosed as shedding and non-shedding isolates based on international reference strains. 93% of the shedding isolates was from the Aegean Region and 77% of non-shedding isolates was from Cukurova and Southeast Anatolian Regions. Isolates from the Aegean Region were found to be more virulent then those from other regions. This was the first study to demonstrate that there was regional difference in virulence among the same pathotype in Türkiye.
>First record of some pathogenic fungi of ornamental plants in Türkiye was done by the lab.
Cereal Diseases Lab
Studies have been made in the Laboratory of Cereal Diseases on biology, determination, prevalance, cultivar reactions and control methods for the diseases caused by fungal pathogens on wheat, rice, maize, rye, oat, turfgrass and barley. Researchers of cereal laboratory have participated actively in TUBITAK projects in addition to those supported by the Ministry.
Conducting some research projects in cereal laboratory are followings:
>Research project was conducted in South Marmara Region on the status of mycotoxins occurring as a result of stem and corn cob rot diseases caused by Fusarium species in order to establish the sources of resistance in control of these species.
>First record of some fungal pathogens in our country was made by technical staff of the laboratory.
>Investigations on the determination of Fusarium spp. caused rice foot-rot, its prevalance and control in Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces
>Investigations on the determination of fungal pathogens caused wheat root-rot control in Aegean Region
>Determination of the prevalence, pathotypes and variety reactions of Septoria Leaf Blotch in wheat production areas in Aegean Region
>Determination and management of fungal diseases of barley
>Investigation of Fungal Diseases, Detection, Prevalence and Control Possibilities in Turfgrass Areas.