. Characterization of Pyrenophora, Bipolaris, Curvularia and Exserohilum species associated with leaf spot diseases on barley in East Azerbaijan province, using morphological and molecular data

 Foliar diseases are considered among important barely diseases worldwide, causing economic crop losses in barely industry worldwide, including Iran. Present study was aimed to characterize Pyrenophora, Bipolaris, Curvularia and Exserohilum species associated with leaf spot diseases of barley in East Azerbaijan province, using consolidated species concept. Totally 462 fungal isolates were isolated and purified from barley plants representing leaf spot symptoms during 2016-2017. Based on morphological and sequence data of ITS-rDNA and Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydogenase gene (gpdh) regions. A considerable diversity was observed among the fungal species associated with leaf spot diseases on barley. In this study, Pyrenophora graminea, P. teres, Bipolaris sorokinana, B. salkadehensis, Curvularia inaequalis, C. spicifera, C. nicotiae and Exserohilum rostratum were identified. Pyrenophora graminea and P. teres were dominant species associated with brown leaf spot symptoms, with isolation frequencies of 68.4 and 25.54 percent, respectively. With the identification of fungal species associated with leaf spot diseases on barley, it will be possible to practice suitable management strategies for these diseases.