Identification of Soil-Borne Fungal and Bacterial Pathogens in Cabbage Production Areas of Niğde Province

Abstract

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) is an important vegetable species on a global scale, and Türkiye, particularly the Niğde province, ranks among the top regions in white cabbage production. However, soil-borne fungal and bacterial pathogens cause significant yield and quality losses in cabbage production. The aim of this study is the isolation, morphological, and molecular identification of disease-causing soil-borne pathogens in the cabbage production areas of Niğde province. In this context, soil and infected plant samples were collected from cabbage production fields in Kaynarca village of the Bor district. Bacterial isolates were cultured on Nutrient Agar and subjected to pathogenicity tests, and molecular identification was carried out via PCR amplification targeting the 16S rRNA gene region. Fungal isolates were purified on Potato Dextrose Agar, morphologically characterized, and molecular studies targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA were initiated. As a result of the morphological, pathogenicity, and molecular analyses of the bacterial isolates, the agent was identified as Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. The morphological characterization of fungal isolates obtained from diseased plant tissues has been completed, and molecular identification studies based on the ITS region are ongoing. This study revealed the presence of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in the cabbage production soils of Niğde province and highlighted the importance of systematic investigations for the determination of soil-borne pathogens in the region.