MYCOBİOTİC DİVERSİTY AND PHYTOPATHOGENİC FUNGİ OF APPLE TREES İN THE GREATER CAUCASUS

Abstract This study is devoted to the study of fungal diseases of apple trees grown on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Within the framework of the study, samples were collected from apple orchards and their mycobiotic composition was analyzed. The identified fungal species include Sphaerotheca mali Burr, Gymnosporangium tremelloides R. Harting, Sclerotinia fructigena Aderh and Monilinia fructigena Aderk, Venturia inaequalis Aderh, as well as Septoria sp. The genus Malus includes more than 60 species. Two wild species of this genus are naturally distributed in the flora of the Caucasus and Azerbaijan. Other species and varieties are mainly cultivated in private farms. In general, plants belonging to the genus Malus develop in the form of trees or shrubs. All species and varieties of apple shed their leaves in the winter months, and these plants usually reach a height of 5–10 meters. Apple fruits are used in fresh, dried form, as well as in the preparation of jam, jam, vinegar, kvass, preserves, puree and wine. Edible oil is obtained from its seeds. Its fruits are rich in vitamins A, B and C, sugar and iron. Vaccines are obtained from its peel and stem. Various apple varieties, widespread on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, are affected by a number of fungal diseases. Therefore, the study of the mycobiota of this economically and biologically important plant was identified as the main goal of the research.