Hazel fruit rot: Identification of causes and control

In recent years, hazelnut cultivation in the Republic of Serbia has gained increasing importance as evidenced by the growing acreage dedicated to this species. Globally, Republic of Serbia ranks as the thirteenth-largest producer, with hazelnuts grown on approximately 4,500 hectares and an annual production of about 5,000 tons. The world’s leading producer of hazelnuts is Turkey, followed by Italy. Understanding the mycopopulation associated with hazelnuts is vital for the rational application of biological and chemical protection measures. Simultaneously, monitoring and forecasting the emergence of pests, especially damaging insects that may serve as potential vectors of various disease-causing agents is highly beneficial. A significant number of phytopathogenic fungal species, including those from the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Fusarium, Penicillium, Phoma, and Monilia, have been identified as the causative agents of hazelnut fruit rot. This study aims to emphasize the importance of phytopathogenic fungi as key contributors to hazelnut fruit rot and to provide a comprehensive review of the species reported in the literature as dominant hazelnut pathogens causing quantitative and qualitative damage.