PCR detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici and races of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici of tomato in protected tomato-growing areas of the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Fusarium crown and root rot (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, FORL) and Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, FOL) are the most important diseases to affect tomatoes in protected growing conditions in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. These diseases cause significant yield losses in this region. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were used to characterize 87 isolates from Adana and Mersin provinces, representative of different locations. Among them, 60% and 40% of the plants were determined to have FORL and FOL, respectively. FORL and FOL race 3 are the dominant pathogens in this region. Some differences between morphological identification and molecular detection (PCR) were observed.