Characterization of Cryphonectria parasitica From Native Chestnut Trees in Kaz Mountain (Mount Ida)

Cryphonectria parasitica is a causal agent of chestnut blight worldwide and it dramatically affectsnatural chestnut trees in Kaz Mountain (Mount Ida). Different biological control approaches have been proposed toconstrain the disease. The pathogen has mating system with two alternate idiomorphs which may increasepathogen genetic variability due the recombination events. In this study, C. parasitica isolates were diagnosed withpartial sequencing of Translation Elongation Factor-1? (Ef-1?) gene, tested for their pathogenicity, evaluated fortheir mating types, and the isolates of Trichoderma sp. which were isolated from the same lesion where someisolates of C. parasitica were obtained were investigated for antagonistic effect on C. parasitica. It was notdetected any mutation in sequenced part of Ef-1? gene. All the isolates were confirmed as pathogen in in vitroassays by inoculation to apple fruit. Only one mating type (Mat1-1) was detected for some of the isolates.Trichoderma sp. isolates were suppressed in vitro growth rate of C. parasitica. Both C. parasitica andTrichoderma sp. caused necrotic symptoms on the fruits once they were inoculated on apple, but, Trichoderma sp.did not affect lesion development caused by C. parasitica. Overall results present that wild chestnut trees in KazMountain are under threat of chestnut blight pathogens having similar aggressiveness and genetic identity and,isolates of Trichoderma sp. obtained in this study should be assessed by in vivo experiments for their biocontrolability against to C. parasitica.