Neoscytalidium dimidiatum causes canker and dieback on grapevine in Turkey

In July 2018, a canker and dieback disease was observed with an incidence of up to 10% in five vineyards in Malatya province. The aim of this study was to characterise the causal organism by morphological and molecular characteristics. Based on macro- and micro-morphological features of the colonies and sequencing of the beta-tubulin gene, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene, the large subunit of rDNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA, the pathogen was identified Neoscytalidium dimidiatum. Koch's postulates confirmed N. dimidiatum as a causal agent of symptoms associated with canker and dieback on grapevine plants in Turkey.