We investigated pollen morphology of Rubus species from Azerbaijan. Pollen of 24 specimens from 15 species of all three Rubus subgenera has been studied using light, confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopes to estimate pollen characteristic variability and to describe pollen polymorphism and taxonomic value. Pollen grains are small- or medium-sized, mainly three-colporate and spheroidal; composed apertures include meridional directed, long, narrow colpi and clear ori on the equator. Exine is thin, tectate and columellate; ornamentation is striate or striate-perforate with thin mainly long striae and perforations from zero to numerous between striae. Pollen of Azeri Rubus species is similar to European ones, and it is difficult to distinguish from each other. Intraspecific and individual variability is manifested in size, shape, number and location of apertures, and patterns of ornamentation. The ordered structure of the individual variability of the characteristic shape (number and location of apertures) of pollen grains in the genus Rubus is described. An abundance of deviant forms was noted in the subgenus Rubus. An analysis of pollen morphology of investigated Rubus taxa around the world demonstrated that the diagnostic feature into genus is ornamentation, which can be divided into three groups: typical striate; non-typical striate; and non-striate. The subgenus Rubus is uniform in exine pattern. Typical striate pollen is found throughout the world; however, variations of non-typical striate and non-striate pollen are revealed in Southeast Asia. Pollen data indicate a geographical center of species diversity in Southeast Asia.

Fusarium dry rot of tubers (FDR), caused by Fusarium fungi, is a widespread potato disease that reduces seed quality both during planting and storage. The aim of the study was to establish the distribution of FDR in Russia and to reveal the species diversity of fungi causing this disease. In 2018–2024, tuber analysis of 342 potato batches obtained from various regions of 5 Federal Districts of the Russia was carried out. The share of batches with FDR and the occurrence of the tubers with disease symptoms were assessed, and Fusarium fungi were isolated from these tubers, followed by identification of them based on the morphological and cultural characteristics. It was found that 82.7 % of the analyzed potato batches contained tubers infected with Fusarium fungi, the proportion of which varied from 5.7 to 13.5 %. Potato yield of 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 can be characterized as a relatively low-infected by FDR, the frequency occurrence of tubers with disease symptoms did not exceed 6.5 % on average, whereas in 2018 and 2019, high potato infestation was noted – 15.3–20.5 % of tubers. According to the results of the dispersion analysis, a reliable effect of the factors “origin”, “year”, “cultivar” and “reproduction” on the FSGC occurrence in potato batches was established. Fusarium fungi isolated from tubers were represented by members of seven species complexes: F. sambucinum (FSAMSC), F. oxysporum (FOSC), F. tricinctum, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. redolens (FRSC), F. solani and F. nisikadoi. In the Siberian, Central and Northwestern Federal Districts, FSAMSC isolates were the most common in the tuber with FDR symptoms (34.2–66.7 % of all isolated Fusarium fungi), and F. sambucinum dominated among them. xIn the North Caucasian Federal District, FOSC isolates prevailed – 68.8 % of all isolated Fusarium fungi. In the Volga Federal District, the F. redolens from the FRSC was detected with a high frequency (33.3 %). Understanding the key factors facilitating on FDR and the species composition of pathogens will make it possible to justify the control of this potato disease.

Using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC MS/MS) ubiquitous presence of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi and their mycotoxins was detected in winter wheat grain grown in Krasnodarskiy Krai in 2023. All samples contained DNA of Fusarium producing trichothecene mycotoxins (Tri-Fusarium) in the range of 244–23537 pg/µg. DNA of Fusarium producing fumonisins was detected in 35 % of grain samples at 27–923 pg/µg. All samples contained Alternaria sect. Alternaria and sect. Infectoriae DNA at average levels of 3630±144 and 6814±214 pg/µg, respectively. Of the 36 analyzed mycotoxins, 17 metabolites were found in the grain samples: from 3 to 11 mycotoxins in each sample. Among Fusarium mycotoxins, most common were deoxynivalenol (DON) (in 79 % of samples), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (50 %), HT-2 toxin (47 %), and beauvericin (70 %). In two samples (6 % of the total), the maximum permissible DON concentration was exceeded by 2–3 times. A significant positive correlation between Tri-Fusarium DNA and DON content, as well as zearalenone, was found, indicating F. graminearum prevalence among the pathogens causing Fusarium head blight in this region. A high occurrence of mycotoxins produced by Alternaria fungi alternariol (82 % of contaminated samples), tentoxin (TEN) (100 %), and tenuazonic acid (79 %) in the grain was revealed. A significant correlation between the content of Alternaria sect. Alternaria DNA and two mycotoxins alternariol monomethyl ether and TEN was found. Significant distinctions were found between different Krasnodarskiy Krai locations in grain contamination levels with Fusarium, Alternaria fungi and mycotoxins.

We investigated how the land footprint of food consumption in Estonia could be decreased through socially acceptable moderate dietary changes while ensuring adequate nutrition. Estonian food consumption was categorized into 14 groups. Five diets were evaluated, including a reference diet, a nationally recommended diet (NRD) by the National Institute of Health Development, and three optimized diets that minimized the consumption land footprint and deviation from the reference diet. The study found that adopting an optimized diet resulted in a decrease in the consumption of milk and red meat, and an increase in the consumption of cereals, tubers, vegetable oils, and nuts, ultimately leading to an up to 56

Dry rot of potato tubers is a harmful disease caused by species of the Fusarium genus. Studies on the composition and features of Fusarium spp. that cause the disease in Russia are limited. Thirty-one Fusarium strains belonging to the F. sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC) and F. solani species complex (FSSC) were accurately identified using multilocus phylogenetic analysis of the tef and rpb2 loci, and their physiological characteristics were studied in detail. As a result, 21 strains of F. sambucinum s. str. and 1 strain of F. venenatum within the FSAMSC were identified. Among the analyzed strains within the FSSC, one strain of F. mori, four strains of F. noneumartii, and two strains of both F. stercicola and F. vanettenii species were identified. This is the first record of F. mori on potato as a novel host plant, and the first detection of F. noneumartii and F. stercicola species in Russia. The clear optimal temperature for the growth of the strains belonging to FSAMSC was noted to be 25 °C, with a growth rate of 11.6–15.0 mm/day, whereas, for the strains belonging to FSSC, the optimal temperature range was between 25 and 30 °C, with a growth rate of 5.5–14.1 mm/day. The distinctive ability of F. sambucinum strains to grow at 5 °C has been demonstrated. All analyzed Fusarium strains were pathogenic to potato cv. Gala and caused extensive damage of the tuber tissue at an incubation temperature of 23 °C for one month. Among the fungi belonging to the FSAMSC, the F. sambucinum strains were more aggressive and caused 23.9 ± 2.2 mm of necrosis in the tubers on average compared to the F. venenatum strain—17.7 ± 1.2 mm. Among the fungi belonging to the FSSC, the F. noneumartii strains were the most aggressive and caused 32.2 ± 0.8 mm of necrosis on average. The aggressiveness of the F. mori, F. stercicola, and especially the F. vanettenii strains was significantly lower: the average sizes of damage were 17.5 ± 0.5 mm, 17.2 ± 0.2 mm, and 12.5 ± 1.7 mm, respectively. At an incubation temperature of 5 °C, only the F. sambucinum strains caused tuber necroses in the range of 6.7 ± 0.5–15.9 ± 0.8 mm.

C помощью количественной ПЦР (кПЦР) и высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии в сочетании с масс-спектрометрией (ВЭЖХ-МС/МС) выявлено повсеместное присутствие грибов Fusarium и Alternaria и продуцируемых ими микотоксинов в зерне озимой пшеницы, выращенной в Краснодарском крае в 2023 году. Во всех образцах обнаружена ДНК грибов Fusarium, продуцирующих трихотеценовые микотоксины (Tri Fusarium) в диапазоне количеств 244–23537 пг/мкг. Доля образцов, в которых выявлена ДНК грибов Fusarium, продуцирующих фумонизины (Fum-Fusarium), в количестве от 27 до 923 пг/мкг, составила 35 %. В зерне всех образцов выявлена ДНК грибов Alternaria: содержание ДНК Alternaria секции Alternaria в среднем оказалось 3630±144 пг/мкг, а ДНК Alternaria секции Infectoriae – 6814±214 пг/мкг. Из анализированных 36 микотоксинов в зерне обнаружены 17, в каждом образце от 3 до 11 соединений. Среди микотоксинов грибов Fusarium чаще других в зерне встречались дезоксиниваленол (ДОН) (в 79 % образцов), дезоксиниваленол-3-глюкозид (в 50 %), НТ-2 токсин (в 47 %) и боверицин (в 70 %). В двух образцах зерна (6 % от общего числа) обнаружено превышение предельно допустимой концентрации ДОН в 2 и 3 раза. Установлена достоверная положительная связь между количествами ДНК Tri-Fusarium и ДОН, а также зеараленоном, что указывает на доминирование гриба F. graminearum среди возбудителей фузариоза зерна в этом регионе. Продемонстрирована высокая встречаемость в зерне микотоксинов грибов Alternaria – альтернариола (82 % загрязнённых образцов), тентоксина (ТЕН) (100 %) и тенуазоновой кислоты (79 %). Установлены достоверные связи между содержанием ДНК Alternaria секции Alternaria и двух микотоксинов – метиловым эфиром альтернариола и ТЕН. Выявлены достоверные различия между образцами из разных районов Краснодарского края по контаминации зерна грибами Fusarium и Alternaria, а также их микотоксинами.

The Palaeozoic origin of gleichenioid ferns (Gleicheniales) has aroused curiosity for almost a century. The oldest definite sign of this ancient clade is the spore wall ultrastructure of Radiitheca dobranyana from the Moscovian of central Europe. However, familial assignment of this fern fossil is uncertain. A comparison of its in situ spores with those of the dispersed genus Maiaspora, from the Visean, suggests that they may represent the same group of leptosporangiates. Although these spores have a common metareticuloid sculpture, the ultra-thin structure of the dispersed counterparts remained unknown. Study of the ultrastructure of Maiaspora concava and M. panopta from central Russia and Northumberland (UK) using transmission electron microscopy shows that the wall of Maiaspora has a middle exospore layer composed of foliated lamellae. These spread from the base of the aperture slit to the subequatorial margins of kyrtome areas. The lamellae do not overlap the aperture slit and terminate at between two-thirds and three-quarters of the slit height. The miospores have a three-layered exospore in the interradial areas, while non-apertural parts of the exospore consist of two layers. Such an ultrastructure is shared by extant Gleicheniales and fossil R. dobranyana. The combined evidence from the morphology, ultrastructure and spatiotemporal distribution of Maiaspora, as well as radioisotope dating and additional plant macrofossils, suggests that the origin of the Gleicheniales stem was related to closure of the Rheic Ocean. Apparently, the first Maiaspora-producing gleichenioids emerged as neoendemic terrestrial ferns on the peri-Gondwanan volcanic arcs.

A laboratory assessment of the effect of 4 fungicides containing active substance (a. s.) of different chemical classes on the growth of strains of 2 dominant species of Fusarium fungi, pathogens of fusarium dry rot of potatoes, was carried out. The drug containing benomyl most effectively suppressed the growth of F. sambucinum and F. solani strains by an average of 76 ± 4% compared with the control. The drug containing azoxystrobin turned out to be the least effective ‒ inhibition of strain growth averaged 35 ± 5%. The significant influence of the factors “species affiliation” and “region of origin” of the strain and their interaction on the sensitivity of strains of both Fusarium species to each of the 4 fungicides has been shown. The risk of developing resistance in F. sambucinum to a. s. of different classes was noted.

Fusarium strains isolated from the different plant hosts and formerly identified as Fusarium subglutinans s. l. according to morphological characteristics were analyzed in detail. Based on phylogenetic analysis of three loci (TEF, tub, and RPB2) two strains isolated from stem of wheat and root of rape were re-identified as F. temperatum. This is first report of rape and wheat as a novel plant host for F. temperatum that mainly associated with maize. This is also the first detection of F. temperatum in Russia. Other strains turned out to be F. subglutinans s.str. The examination of morphological characters has not revealed remarkable variation between the species: the features of F. temperatum and F. subglutinans are sufficiently similar to exclude confidence in identification based on visual assessment. Two F. temperatum strains possess alternate MAT idiomorphs, whereas the both F. subglutinans strains contain only MAT-1 idiomorph. Fertile crossings were observed between two F. temperatum strains in the laboratory conditions. Both F. temperatum strains produced beauvericin in high amounts of 1665 and 6106 μg kg-1 in contrast to F. subglutinans strains. Additionally, one F. temperatum strain produced 3407 μg kg-1 moniliformin. No one from the analyzed strains produced the fumonisins. The differentiation of the F. temperatum and F. subglutinans species is possible only with the involvement of molecular genetics and chemotaxonomic methods.

As global fish consumption rises, a large amount of waste is generated that is generally neglected. Considering the value embedded in these resources, sustainable methods become more important in extracting valuable ingredients from fish processing residues. Enzymatic hydrolysis is a fast and easily reproducible method for recovering protein ingredients and obtaining valuable by-products. To confirm its advantages, an environmental and economic impact assessment is essential. This study overviewed the sustainability and economic viability of extracting protein compounds and oil from Atlantic mackerel processing residues using enzymatic hydrolysis. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) methods were employed. It was found that the climate change impact of the whole process was 0.073 kg CO2-eq per 1 g of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH). As the process produces FPH as the main product and fish oil as the by-product, economic allocation was used to distribute the impacts of FPH and fish oil. The findings of the LCCA showed that producing 1 g of FPH costs EUR 3.68. The contribution analysis indicated the crucial role of electricity and fish in environmental impacts. To ensure the accuracy of the calculation, the results of an LCA study published previously were recalculated. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were susceptible to the region and source of electricity production. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainability and economic aspects of using enzymatic hydrolysis for extracting protein ingredients and oils from Atlantic mackerel. This can inform future investigations of environmentally friendly and economically viable solutions for extracting fish ingredients.

Among the 140 isolates collected from symptomatic potato tubers in four different European regions of Russia in 2021–2022, as many as 37.8 % isolates were identified as Fusarium sambucinum. Randomly selected isolates (n=19) of F. sambucinum were identified with DNA sequence data of the TEF locus and morphological characteristics on nutrient media. The growth rate of strains on potato-sucrose agar was assessed in the temperature range of 5–35 °C. The temperature optimum for growth of all strains was set at 25 °C, the average growth rate of strains was 13.68 ± 0.67 mm/day. The upper critical temperature completely arresting growth of strains was 35 °C, while at the temperature of 5 °C the strains were still able to grow at an average rate of 0.85 ± 0.27 mm/day. Fusarium sambucinum strains were characterized by their ability to produce symptoms of rot in potato tubers after inoculation and further incubation at 5 and 23 °C. Most strains caused extensive necrosis at the higher temperature, but there were strains whose aggressiveness was not affected by temperature. There is no clearly defined relationship between the origin of F. sambucinum strains and their aggressiveness.

Среди 140 изолятов грибов Fusarium, выделенных из клубней картофеля с симптомами сухой гнили из четырёх федеральных округов РФ в 2021–2022 гг., доля F. sambucinum составила 37.8 %. Принадлежность 19 изолятов разного происхождения виду F. sambucinum подтвердили секвенированием участка гена фактора элонгации трансляции EF-1α. Оценивали диапазон морфологических признаков генетически охарактеризованных штаммов F. sambucinum при культивировании на питательных средах, скорость роста на картофельно-сахарозной среде в диапазоне температур 5–35 °C и патогенность к клубням картофеля сорта Гала при температурах 5 и 23 °C. Оптимальной для всех штаммов была температура 25 °C, при которой средняя скорость роста штаммов составила 13.68 ± 0.67 мм/ сутки. Верхней критической температурой, останавливающей рост штаммов, было 35 °C, а при 5 °C штаммы были способны расти со средней скоростью 0.85 ± 0.27 мм/ сутки. Большинство штаммов вызывало более обширные симптомы гнили клубней при температуре 23 °C, чем при 5 °C, однако выявлены штаммы, на агрессивность которых температура не оказывала влияние. Связи между происхождением штаммов F. sambucinum и их агрессивностью не обнаружено.

The aim of present study was to reveal the species composition of Fusarium fungi found in the soybean mycobiota from the various origins of Russia, as well as to characterize physiological and biochemical properties of isolates. Identi cation of the taxonomic status of 21 Fusarium strains isolated from seeds, stems and roots of soybeans was clari ed according to data using phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the gene of translation elongation factor 1α. Five fungal species have been identi ed: F. oxysporum (11 strains), F. equiseti (4), F. proliferatum (3), F. solani (2), as well one strain of F. commune, which was identi ed for the rst time in soybean mycobiota in Russia. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates and their pathogenicity to leaves of two soybean varieties in the laboratory conditions were also analyzed. At the cultivation of Fusarium fungi on potato- sucrose agar medium, the optimal temperature range for the growth of all isolates has been established as 25-30 °C, at which the largest colony diameter 68,5-74,0 mm was found in F. equiseti and F. commune strains, and the smallest colonies (49,5-55,8 mm) was detected in F. solani strains. Three F. oxysporum strains and one F. commune strain, isolated from the stems, were characterized by high pathogenicity to the leaves of two soybean varieties. These strains caused the necrosis of leaves of the Isidor variety in the range of average length 16,7-21,7 mm, and the necrosis of leaves of the Selecta 201 variety in the range of 10,7-23,3 mm. At the same time, the most of the analyzed Fusarium strains (52-67 % depending on the soybean variety) were non-pathogenic. A high intraspeci c variability of pathogenicity to soybean leaves was noted among F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum strains

Up-to-date information on the occurrence of Fusarium fungi and their mycotoxins in the grain of wheat, barley and oats grown in the Urals and West Siberia in 2018‒2019 is presented. Mycological analysis of grain revealed at least 16 species of Fusarium fungi. The F. sporotrichioides, F. avenaceum, F. poae, and F. anguioides were predominant, and the proportions of these species among all Fusarium fungi found in the grain were 31, 20, 19, and 13

A Fusarium species associated with sunflower based on multilocus genealogy, morphological, physiological, ecological, mating type, and mycotoxin production data is formally described as the newly discovered species Fusarium bilaiae. The F. bilaiae strains formed a genealogically exclusive lineage within the African clade of the F. fujikuroi species complex. Comparison of morphological characteristics of F. bilaiae strains with those of the closely related F. phyllophilum strain NRRL 13617 revealed similarities in the main micromorphology of both species: production of numerous one-celled microconidia in false heads and short chains on monophialides and polyphialides and the absence of macroconidia and sporodochia. There was a slight but significant distinction between the two species when the strains were grown on different agar media, as well as in the shape and width of microconidia. Fusarium bilaiae strains isolated from symptomatic sunflower were not pathogenic to members of the Asteraceae tested; apparently, they live as saprophytes or endophytes in sunflower tissues. A difference between the strains of the two species in the production of mycotoxins was demonstrated with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis. On autoclaved rice, F. bilaiae did not produce fumonisins and beauvericin but produced moniliformin, whereas F. phyllophilum produced all these mycotoxins. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay specific for mating type alleles identified F. bilaiae as a putative heterothallic species with MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs, but laboratory crosses were unsuccessful. Determining the area and host range of the new endophytic species F. bilaiae is a priority for future research.

Using phylogenetic analysis of three loci of Fusarium subglutinans sensu lato strains isolated from wheat and rape, the strains were re-identified as F. temperatum . This is the first report of this fungus in a cruciferous plant’s mycobiota . Analysis of F. temperatum pathogenicity to rape revealed that the pathogen reduced the germination of seeds by 15%, and decreased seedling length by 13–18%. Fusarium temperatum strains did not produce fumonisins, but produced beauvericin and moniliformin.

The ubiquitous distribution of Nigrospora fungi in the mycobiota of cereal grain in Russia has been established. Fourteen Nigrospora strains using phylogenetic analysis of ITS, tub, and TEF loci were identified as N. gorlenkoana, first identified in Russia. Morphological characteristics of N. gorlenkoana strains were analyzed on various nutrient media. A wide temperature range of 15–25°C was optimal for growth of N. gorlenkoana strains. This probably contributes to the wide distribution of N. gorlenkoana in nature. The pathogenicity of N. gorlenkoana strains to cereal crops was shown. The fungal strains reduced length of wheat and barley seedlings on average 48% and 39% compared to the control, respectively.

Clarireedia spp., Fusarium culmorum , and Microdochium nivale are destructive and widespread fungal pathogens causing turfgrass disease. Chemical control is a key tool for managing these diseases on golf greens but are most effective when used in a manner that reduces overall inputs, maximizes fungicide efficacy, and minimizes the risk of fungicide resistance. In this study, sensitivity to eight commonly used fungicides was tested in 13 isolates of Clarireedia spp., F . culmorum , and M . nivale via in vitro toxicity assays. Fungicide sensitivity varied significantly among the three species, with isolates of F. culmorum showing the least sensitivity. The sensitivity of M. nivale to all tested fungicides was high (with the exception of tebuconazole), but only four fungicides (Banner Maxx®, Instrata® Elite, Medallion TL, and Switch® 62,5 WG) suppressed the growth of M. nivale completely at a concentration of 1% of the recommended dose. All three fludioxonil-containing fungicides either alone (Medallion TL) or in combination with difeconazole (Instrata® Elite) or cyprodinil (Switch® 62,5 WG) had the same high efficacy against isolates of both M. nivale and Clarireedia spp. On average, the Clarireedia isolates tested in this study showed high sensitivity to the tested fungicides, except for Heritage (azoxystrobin). The observed variation in sensitivity among isolates within the same fungal species to different fungicides needs further investigation, as an analysis of the differences in fungal growth within each fungal group revealed a significant isolate × fungicide interaction ( p  < .001).

Fusarium langsethiae is a suspected plant-pathogenic fungus causing cereal contamination with trichothecene mycotoxins. Here, we report the genome sequences of two F. langsethiae strains, MFG217701 (a prototroph) and MFG217702 (a biotin auxotroph), isolated from a grain of oat harvested in Russia.

Background. Comparative palynomorphological studies of naturally occurring and introduced Pterocarya Kunth representatives reveal the taxonomic significance of pollen morphological features and pollen characters of cultivated plants. The quality of pollen material and the potential of the plants from the Botanical Garden of BIN RAS for introduction are characterized.Materials and methods. Pollen grains were investigated using light, confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopes. Fertility was assessed using the standard acetocarmine method.Results. Comparison of pollen morphology in cultivated and naturally growing plants of this genus was made for the first time. Pollen fertility of two cultivated species (Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold et Zucc., and P. stenoptera DC.) was very high, generally over 90%. Fertility of P. fraxinifolia (Lam.) Spach grains varied from 28 to 73% in different years, which is a low or medium level of pollen quality. Morphologically, pollen grains of all 12 specimens from five taxa are flattened, medium sized, 21–45 μm in diameter, with 4–8 pores; pores are located mainly at or near the equator. The pores are round or oval, with a limbus. Exine is three-layered, thickened near the pore. The sculpture is microechinate. The low-fertile P. fraxinifolia specimen contains small pollen grains, as well as grains in tetrads and dyads. The data on the introduction of the genus in St. Petersburg are presented.Conclusion. The palynonomophological description is diagnostic for the genus Pterocarya. The Pterocarya pollen is well distinguishable from other wind-pollinated taxa; however, species identification by pollen for spore-pollen analysis is not practicable. Morphologically, the most diverse are the grains of the low fertile specimen P. fraxinifolia. The limited possibility of seed propagation of P. fraxinifolia is probably explained by low pollen fertility. The pollen quality of the introduced P. rhoifolia and P. stenoptera is high.