Molecular Identification of Fusarium Isolates from Bozcaada Çavuş and Karalahna Grapes in Türkiye

Contamination of agricultural products by <i>Fusarium</i> species is a significant concern and is commonly found in various agricultural products. They cause severe economic losses in the products, and contaminate and threaten human and animal health due to the toxins they produce. Therefore, determining species diversity in various agricultural products is crucial. Bozcaada is well suited for cultivating the highest quality Çavuş grape due to its unique location and climate. Therefore, in this study, the sequencing of the <i>tef1</i> and <i>tub2</i> genes in <i>Fusarium</i> isolates from table Çavuş and wine grapes Karalahna, which are specific to Bozcaada, was performed, and their phylogenetic relationships were examined. As a result, it was determined that 11 of the 17 isolates were <i>Fusarium annulatum</i> from the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex (FFSC), 2 were <i>Fusarium nirenbergiae</i> from the <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> species complex (FOSC), 2 were <i>Fusarium fabacearum</i> from the FOSC, and the last 2 isolates were <i>Fusarium makinsoniae</i> and <i>Fusarium clavus</i> (as '<i>clavum'</i>) from the <i>F. incarnatum-equiseti</i> species complex (FIESC). The <i>F. makinsoniae</i> and <i>F. fabacearum</i> species obtained in the study are the first recorded for Türkiye. This research highlights the variety of <i>Fusarium</i> species identified in Bozcaada vineyards in Türkiye.