Identification of Pythium species and their pathogenicity on cool season turfgrass in Tehran province

Abstract

Turfgrasses have been widely used in many residential areas and sport fields for many years. Pythium species can cause severe losses on cereals and other crops as well as ornamental plants such as turfgrass. To study the role of Pythium species in causing seed and root rot and damping-off, plant and soil samples were collected from different regions of Tehran province. Isolates were identified on the basis of morphological characters and cardinal temperature. Pathogenicity of the recovered species was determined on common cool season turfgrass (Loliumperenne, Poaparatensis and Festucaarundinaceae). Of the 48 recovered Pythium isolates, three species were identified include 66.7% P. aphanidermatum, 18.7% P. catenulatum and 14.6% P. okanoganense. Comparative pathogenicity of Pythium species (total diseases) on turfgrasses showed that P. aphanidermatum was the most aggressive species and P. catenulatum and P. okanoganense were in second and third levels respectively.