DISTRIBUTION OF OAT STEM RUST IN SOME PROVINCES OF TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Oat stem rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. avenae, is one of the most damaging diseases affecting oats. It is particularly problematic in regions with relatively low temperatures and high humidity, where oats are cultivated. This disease significantly reduces both the yield and quality of oat crops by diminishing the photosynthetic area of the plants. In 2023, surveys were conducted in various oat-growing areas across several provinces in Türkiye, including Bolu, Afyonkarahisar, Kastamonu, Çankırı, Edirne, Osmaniye, Adana, Mersin, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Hatay during May, June, and July. The findings indicated that the prevalence of oat stem rust was 25% in Bolu and Afyonkarahisar, 50% in Edirne, 48% in Kastamonu, and 17% in Çankırı. No cases of oat stem rust were found in the surveys conducted in Osmaniye, Adana, Mersin, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Hatay provinces. To combat this pathogen, effective control measures should be implemented.