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The study of alkali-resistant fungi was carried out for the first time on the coast of saline lakes in the south of the Trans-Baikal region on the territory of the Daursky Biosphere Reserve (lakes Zun-Torey, Khangei). Indicated changes in the structure of the community of alkali-resistant ascomycetes depended on local conditions. The coast of Khangei was devoid of halophites, but with a high content of Artemia eggs and was characterized by the absolute dominance of the alkaliphilic ascomycete Sodiomyces alkalinus (100 % occurrence) and Emericellopsis alkalina (80 %), with a minimum diversity of other fungi. S. alkalinus predominated (100 %) on the coast of Lake Zun-Torey in damp places without plants. Dark-colored fungi from Dothideomycetes (Alternaria, Neocamarosporium, etc.) predominated in the alkaline soil samples of this lake not far from the halophites, the occurrence of E. alkalina was 60 %, and S. alkalinus was not found here, but the high occurrence was shown for the other species from Plectosphaerellaceae (Chordomyces, Gibellulopsis). The distribution, substrate preferences, and functional roles of alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi in extreme natural habitats with soda salinity are discussed in this paper.

The biodiversity of wood-destroying fungi on leguminous woody plants (LWP) growing in the Middle Urals has been studied for the first time. In the model region – Sverdlovsk province, from 2002 to 2022, there are 136 species of wood-destroying fungi were collected: 127 species of Basidiomycota and 9 species of Ascomycota. Fungi develop on 12 out of 20 species of LWP. The largest number of fungal species was found on the alien Caragana arborescens (115 species / 84.5 % of the total number of species), while on Caragana decorticans, C. ussuriensis, Laburnum alpinum two each, and one on Genista florida. 122 species of fungi were found on nine alien species of the LWP, which is 4.1 times more than on three native species. The largest number of substrate-specific fungal species develops on C. arborescens (85/62.5 %), while four on Chamaecytisus ruthenicus (2.9 %), three on Maackia amurensis (2.2 %), two each on Genista tinctoria and Robinia pseudoacacia (1.5 %), and one species on Caragana ussuriensis (0.7 %). Nectria cinnabarina develops on seven species of LWP, on six species – Xylodon sambuci, on four – Peniophora cinerea and Schizophyllum commune. In contrast, 71.3 % of fungal species were found on one LWP species, and 27.2 % of species are characterized by a single find. For the first time for Sverdlovsk province, 14 fungal species are indicated, of which 86 % were found in the parks of Ekaterinburg city, tree-lines along the roads, but only 14 % in natural conditions.

In order to reveal the latitudinal-zonal specificity for the distribution of species richness of the LWP associated mycobiota, we use Aphyllophoroids as the largest group of fungi among all analyzed (75 % of species), and Caragana arborescens, or Siberian pea tree, is the richest plant substrate. Changes in the fungal diversity were studied along a meridional transect stretching for 800 km. along 60° E, from the middle boreal subzone of Sverdlovsk province to the steppes of Chelyabinsk province (Russia) and Kostanay province (Kazakhstan). In each of the 5 vegetation zones/subzones, as well as in Ekaterinburg city, six sites were studied, the area of which varies from 0.9 to 6.8 ha. The aboveground phytomass of C. arborescens is maximal in the forest-steppe (8.9–11.7 t/ha), and minimal at the edges of transect (2.4–5.8 t/ha).A positive correlation was found between the aboveground plant phytomass and the species richness of mycobiota, while there was no correlation with climatic parameters. In Ekaterinburg city, where the Siberian pea tree phytomass is two times lower than in the forest-steppe, but the species richness of mycobiota is similar to the forest-steppe, is out of this pattern. A similar result was obtained for α-diversity (average number of fungal species on the sites and Shannon index) of mycobiota: an increase in indicators from the middle boreal subzone to the forest-steppe and a decrease in the steppe. The Whittaker and Czekanowski – Sørensen indices (β-diversity) increase towards the steppe, which is due to a strong relationship with the mean annual temperature and precipitation. A range of fungal species gravitating towards northern, southern and urbanized conditions has been revealed. In the north of transect, local species of fungi predominate, while in the south and in Ekaterinburg city, the role of biogeographically distant (alien) taxa is high. In this regard, the species composition of Siberian pea tree’s mycobiota is divided into two clusters – northern (boreal) and southern (nemoral-steppe) including Ekaterinburg city. To the south, species richness of pathogenic fungi increases, but this parameter does not correlate with the C. arborescens phytomass. In plantings of invasive Siberian pea tree, species richness of Poroid fungi is similar to Corticioid fungi at the local and regional level, which differs significantly from natural conditions. A high level of pathogenic fungi was also revealed compared to natural conditions. The results obtained can be used to optimize the concept development of Greenway planning in Ekaterinburg city and can help prevent a number of environmental problems arising after the “rapid” implementation of the strategy for the city development and surrounding areas.

Changes in the taxonomic structure of the fungal community during the processing of cow manure with straw using Eisenia fetida worms were studied using fundamentally different methods - cultural and metabarkoding (by amplification and high-performance sequencing of ITS2 rDNA). Significantly more fungal taxa have been identified in substrates and vermicompost by application of metabarkoding than by plating method (66 and 33 species, respectively). Single species were identified simultaneously by both methods. The method of metabarcoding revealed OTE of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiobolomycota, Rozellomycota, Aphelidiomycota, fungi from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucoromycota were isolated by culture method. The species richness of the community decreased during the first 10-20 days of substrate processing, then grew and reached maximum values in the vermicompost (60 days). Both methods showed the dominance of ascomycetes at all stages of transformation of sunstrates by E. fetida. Metabarcoding showed the dominance of sordariomycetes of the order Sordariales (48-53 %), mainly Zopfiella spp., fungi of the orders Pezizales, Microascales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Chaetothyriales, Onygenales, Eurotiales had the representation at the level of several percents. The increase of the portion of Chytridiomycota in the community (from 1,1 to 3.2 %) was observed during vermicomposting. At the same time, the representation of fungi of Mortierellomycota (5.7 to 1,5 %) of genus Mortierella and Basidiomycota (from 8 and 21 to 3 %) decreased with an increase in their diversity. Among the basidiomycetes, Coprinellus marculentus, Coprinellus subdisseminatus, Coprinus annuloporus, Occultifur sp prevailed. According to the plating method, ascomycetes also prevailed during waste processing and in the vermicompost, but it were other species - Diplodascus geotrichum, genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Talaromyces, Trichoderma, Fusarium, mucoromycetes of the genus Mucor and basidiomycetes - Filobasidium wieringae. Fungi capable of decomposition of various polymer compounds in waste, active destructors of lignocellulose have been identified. Coprophiles, keratinophiles, thermophilic and thermotolerant species, representatives of the genera Trichoderma, Penicillium, capable of determining the suppressive properties of vermicompost to phytopathogens and human pathogens were found. The differences in mycobiota during composting and vermicomposting of various wastes are considered.

The interaction in the system “epiphytic microorganisms - host plant-pathogen” was considered on the example of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings which artificially infected with the facultative saprotroph Lophodermium seditiosum Minter, Staley & Millar. At the same time, the change of quantity of the epiphytic microorganisms, the composition and concentration of volatile compounds and the morphological parameters of pine in different variants of the experiment were studied. The influence of two factors on the studied characteristics was considered: L. seditiosum infection and the introduction of mycocompost into the soil. Classical phytopathological and microbiological methods were used. Volatile compounds were studied using chromato-mass spectrometry, phytoncide activity was studied using the Tokin method adapted to our conditions. At the stage of ascospore germination, an increase in the amount of volatile components released by the affected needles and a decrease in the number of those released by the roots of infected plants were noted. Against the background of changes in the composition of volatile compounds, an increase in the phytoncide activity of the leaf and root systems of plants with signs of the disease was found compared to specimens without signs of damage. This is also evidenced by the results of microbiological cultures: in the variants with infection, compared with the control, a significant decrease in the number of epiphytic microorganisms was noted. A significant increase in the mass of needles was noted in the variants with infection and with the adding of mycocompost, confirmed by ANOVA analysis. Registered correspond to Selye’s adaptive syndrome (activation of physiological processes at an early stage of adverse effects, followed by exhaustion of the body if the load continues).

A laboratory method for studying the fungal phytotoxicity with cut-offs from leaves was tested for the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus the causative agent of ash dieback ( Fraxinus L.) disease. We used 12 cultures of the fungus originating from the native and invasive ranges of the pathogen, and leaves of two species of ash Manchurian ( Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) and ash green ( F. pennsylvanica Marsh.) that differed in resistance to this phytopathogen. After cultivation of fungi on liquid nutrient media, the cultural filtrates were applied to cut-offs from ash leaves placed in moist chambers. Necrotization of photosynthetic tissues was noted after the action of exometabolites of some cultures. At the same time, large necrosis have developed only on the cut-offs from the leaves of ash green, which corresponds to the known fact that this species is less resistant to H. fraxineus in comparison with of ash Manchurian. The geographical origin and composition of the culture medium did not affect the ability of cultures to induce necrosis. The analysis of the results indicated a probable positive relationship between the necrotizing activity of the culture liquid and the indicators of the crop biomass yield. It can be assumed that the necrosis inducing factors appeared in cultures at the stationary stage of the fungus growth. No concurrence was found between the results of laboratory tests with leaf cut-offs and field experiments on the inoculation of H. fraxineus mycelium into the trunks of young ash trees. The deficiency of knowledge about the H. fraxineus physiology and the mechanisms of interaction of this phytopathogen with the host are discussed. A conclusion was made about the suitability of the laboratory technique with leaf cut-offs for factors of H. fraxineus phytopathogenicity investigation, which act during the colonization of the photosynthetic part of the crown in sensitive ash species.

Currently, in the dark coniferous forests of the Baikal region, the spread of the disease bacterial wetwood disease is noted, causing the sanitary condition deterioration in the forest stands, and leading to the forest dieback on large territories. Despite the fact that this disease has been known since the beginning of the last century, the question of its’ real pathogen is still open. It is believed that associations of various endophytic microorganisms may take part in the development of pathogenesis. In this regard, it seems relevant to study the composition of the endophytic complex of microorganisms in wood with bacterial wetwood of forest species in order to establish the types of relationships between endophytes and test their ability to initiate a pathological process in conifers. An attempt was made to identify the main endophytic microbiome representatives of the «wet wood» of Siberian stone pine ( Pinus sibirica Du Tour) affected by bacterial wetwood, to assess their phytopathogenic properties and types of relationships between them. The features of the endophytic microbiome of the Siberian stone pine affected by bacterial wetwood in the Slyudyanskoye forestry of the Irkutsk region were studied. With standard microbiological and phytopathological methods we isolated pure cultures of bacteria and studied their characteristics (including virulence). For bacterias identification molecular genetic methods were used. From the infested wood of Siberian stone pine trees affected by bacterial wetwood, a complex of pure microorganisms cultures, not previously described in other studies, was isolated. Among them, opportunistic strains include Rouxiella chamberiensis, Ewingella americana, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and Bacillus pumilus , which exhibit pronounced virulent properties in relation to indicator plants and ambiguously affect the growth and development of Scotch pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. Mutual impacts of bacteria on each other were noted in the endophytic microbiome of the affected Siberian stone pine wood. Bacillus bacteria showed pronounced antagonistic properties. Basically, in the endophytic community symbiotic relationships were dominated with possible syntrophic connections.

In 2006-2018, 13 species of leaf mining gracillariid moths (Gracillariidae) caused noticeable damage to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) in Siberia, i. e. about six of all moth species known in this part of Russia. Relative damage levels of 50-75 % and > 75 % were recorded for 9 moths, of which 5 species are native pests of poplars ( Populus L.): Phyllonorycter apparella (Herrich-Schäffer), Ph. comparella (Duponchel), Ph. populifoliella (Treitschke), Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander), and Ph. unipunctella (Stephens). Three moth species, namely Acrocercops brongniardella Fabricius, Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius) and Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata) are alien to Siberia. Their numerous mines were found on leaves of woody plants (oaks ( Quercus L.), lilacs ( Syringa L.), ash ( Fraxinus L.) and lime ( Tilia L.) trees) in Western Siberia (Omsk, Tyumen and Novosibirsk Oblast). Alien origin of Phyllonorycter medicaginella (Gerasimov) and Ph. lantanella (Schrank) in Siberia requires confirmation. Both native and alien moth species showed a tendency to cause significant damage to the plants in artificial (manmade) stands, i. e. in urban green plantings, parks, arboreta, botanical gardens, tree nurseries. Overall 81 % of cases of significant damage by gracillariids was documented in artificial plantings vs. 19 % in forests. The European part of Russia remains the main donor of alien gracillariid species for Siberia. Alien species distribute to Siberia directly or through bridge-effect invasions from the west of Russia.

The outbreaks history of the Siberian moth ( Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetveraikov, 1908) in larch forests of the forest-steppe at the eastern foothills of the Kuznetsk Alatau mountains (West of the Chulym-Yenisei basin, South of Eastern Siberia, Republic of Khakassia) is reconstructed. Outbreaks of this species have repeatedly covered forests from the Urals to the Far East on an area of more than 1 million hectares. However, there is a lack of long series of observations of changes in the size of the Siberian moth populations. Data on the history of the defoliations caused by it will at least partially fill this gap. For reconstruction, we studied the radial growth in six larch stands, which in the past were subjected to intensive defoliation by the Siberian moth. Using the OUTBREAK algorithm, specific features (abrupt, deep, and prolonged declines in growth) were found in the series of radial growth, indicating defoliation in the past. In total 31 such periods were found in 1740-2017. A study of the frequency characteristics of the chronology of defoliation showed that after the end of the Little Ice Age, the interval between defoliations gradually decreased from 10-11 years at the end of the 19th century to 7 years in the 1930s. Since the 1940s, this interval has decreased to 4-6 years, which we attribute to anthropogenic impact (massive logging and, apparently, more frequent ground fires). The consequence of this was the fragmentation of forest stands and the periodic eliminations of overwintering entomophages by fires. As a result, the frequency of occurrence of the Siberian moth foci in the study area increased either due to its escape from the control of entomophages, or because of the formation of a system of migration foci that existed at different times in fragmented forest stands.

The chestnut gall wasp ( Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu; Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) was first found in forests with the sweet chestnut ( Castanea sativa Mill.; Fagaceае) in the area of Sochi, where it became the worst pest of chestnut. By now, the chestnut gall wasp has spread to all territories in which the sweet chestnut grows in the Krasnodar Krai. Besides, the condition of chestnut orchards and forests in this region for a long time cannot be considered satisfactory to chesnat due to the development of cryphonectric necrosis ( Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr) is causative agent of the disease). Control measures against the chestnut gall wasp have not been developed. A treat with pesticides are generally not effective because the chestnut gall wasp take cover inside the galls. And also pesticides can hurt honey bees and other beneficial insects. Moreover, pesticides use unacceptable in specially protected natural territories (SPNT), as well as near rivers, streams and settlements. The use of trunk injections is also impossible because the chemicals can make localize into the honey and nuts. To control the density of this phytophagous insect, the torymid wasp ( Torymus sinensis Kamijo; Hymenoptera: Torymidae), which is its effective specialized parasitoid, was introduced. This entomophage is used as an agent of biological pest control against the gall wasp in countries where entered earlier. The introduction of the torymid wasp allowed to significantly reduce the pest’s population density, at the same time it did not harm natural ecosystems. This is the first case in the history of Russia of targeted introduction of a biological pest control agent into SPNT. The article describes the process of making an official decision, logistics and preliminary results of the introduction of a parasitoid in the territory of the Sochi National Park and the H. G. Shaposhnikov Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve.

An overview and the main content of the reports of the Third All-Russian Conference with international participation «Monitoring and biological methods for controlling pests and pathogens of woody plants: from theory to practice», held on 11-15 April, 2022 in Moscow, are presented.