@article{article_1700023, title={Is Macrophomina phaseolina an emerging threat in Turkish forest nurseries?}, journal={Anadolu Orman Araştırmaları Dergisi}, volume={11}, pages={234–242}, year={2025}, DOI={10.53516/ajfr.1700023}, author={Çelik, Aleyna and Oskay, Funda}, keywords={Kömür çürüklüğü, iklim değişikliği, yeni ortaya çıkan orman patojenleri, toprak kökenli patojenler, orman fidanlığı hastalıkları}, abstract={Background and Aims Macrophomina phaseolina is a globally significant soil-borne pathogen known for its wide host range and persistence under adverse conditions. This study reports a notable outbreak of M. phaseolina in a forest nursery in Osmaniye, southeastern Türkiye, with implications not only for seedling health and nursery management but also for field plantations, as the pathogen can be carried from nursery stock to planting sites. Methods Healthy-looking, symptomatic and dead Pinus brutia and Pinus pinea seedlings were sampled from the nursery. Fungi were isolated from roots and stems of the seedlings. Isolates were identified morphologically and confirmed by ITS sequencing. Results M. phaseolina was isolated from 50.4% of the seedlings, with higher frequencies in P. pinea (65.0%) compared to P. brutia (40.5%). Isolation rates were highest in dead seedlings (61.8%), followed by symptomatic ones (56.0%). Notably, the fungus was isolated from 62.9% of healthy-looking P. pinea seedlings, indicating widespread latent infections and a risk of undetected pathogen presence in asymptomatic nursery stock. Conclusion The high isolation frequency and detection in asymptomatic seedlings signal M. phaseolina as an emerging threat to Turkish forest nurseries and raise concerns about nursery-to-field carryover and long-term impacts on plantation success. This aligns with recent global observations linking climate change to the rising prevalence of thermotolerant pathogens such as M. phaseolina. Considering its broad host range, persistence in soil and climate adaptability, M. phaseolina warrants increased attention in forest nurseries. To reduce potential losses in forest nurseries and mitigate nursery-to-field carryover risks, integrated disease monitoring and adaptive nursery practices are essential.}, number={1}, publisher={Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi}