Damages on hazelnut kernels caused by Penicillium spp.

Abstract

The presence of Penicillium spp. was observed during a laboratory examination of nuts (Corylus avellana L.) collected from April 2019 to April 2023 from hazelnut trees, grown in different regions of Bulgaria. The obtained isolates were identified following the Koch’s postulates and their cultural and morphological characteristics were studied. Three-hundred ninety seven (397) samples, with suspected presence of pathogen, were taken from nuts. Penicillium spp. strains were identified as a cause for damages in approximately 2% of all examined kernels. Keywords: Penicillium spp., hazelnut, pathogenicity