Phylogenetic and Pathogenic Characterization of Cytospora Species Causing Apple Canker in Kazakhstan
Tulegenova Z. Nayekova S. Zhaxylykov A. Spanbayev A. Dyussembayev K. Mukiyanova G. Nariman T. Kiyan V. Sevindik E. Eken C.
December 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Agriculture (Switzerland)
2025#15Issue 23
Apple (Malus domestica) is a very important crop grown in Kazakhstan. Cytospora species are capable of causing destructive stem cankers on a wide range of woody plants, including apples, and can lead to twig and branch dieback. This study aimed to identify the Cytospora species responsible for canker disease of apple in Kazakhstan and to assess the susceptibility of major apple cultivars to these pathogens. Investigations were conducted in Almaty, Kazakhstan, during 2023 and 2024. Samples from symptomatic trees were collected, and nine Cytospora isolates were obtained from diseased apple trees. Multigene phylogenetic analysis based on combined sequence data of ITS, tef1-α, tub2, and LSU loci, together with morphological characteristics and pathogenicity assays, revealed two Cytospora species: C. leucostoma and C. sorbicola. The reactions of six apple cultivars (Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Jonaprince) to these species were evaluated, and statistically significant differences were found among cultivars (p < 0.05). The largest lesions occurred on Red Delicious and Fuji, indicating that these cultivars are the most susceptible. In contrast, lesion lengths on Jonaprince were significantly smaller than on all other cultivars, suggesting that Jonaprince is resistant to Cytospora species in Kazakhstan. This is the first report of C. leucostoma and C. sorbicola causing apple canker disease in Kazakhstan.
cultivar reaction , Cytospora , Genetic , ITS , LSU , Malus domestica , tef1-α , tub2
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Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, National Center for Biotechnology, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of General Biology and Genomics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Bioengineering Systems, Shakarim University, Semey, 071412, Kazakhstan
LLP “UniFruit”, Talgar-Almaty, 040400, Kazakhstan
Scientific Center for Biological Research, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, 09070, Turkey
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, 32260, Turkey
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology
Department of General Biology and Genomics
Department of Bioengineering Systems
LLP “UniFruit”
Scientific Center for Biological Research
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
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