Background. At present, there is an increase in demand for natural agricultural products, which is contributing to the development of plant production in artificial ecosystems that function according to the principles of natural cenoses, with a certain flexibility to emerging stresses. Organic wastes can be incorporated into biosphere-like system compositions in the presence of decomposers, which include earthworms that increase the productivity, environmental sustainability, and self-regulating capacity of agroecosystems. Purpose. The purpose of our research was to investigate the effect of wheat straw/ cattle manure ratios in model systems with peat substrate and earthworms on lettuce productivity and vegetative growth parameters, chemical composition of plants and substrates, as well as worm population. Materials and methods. In laboratory experiments, we evaluated the effect of applying organic wastes (various wheat straw/cattle manure ratios) to peat substrate with introduced earthworms (Eisenia fetida) (10 individuals/800 g substrate) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa Credo cultivar lettuce plants). At the experiment’s end, each plant’s height, leaf area, aboveground biomass (fresh and dry), and photosynthetic pigment content were measured; chemical analysis of substrates and plant mass was carried out; worm adaptive capacity was evaluated according to morphofunctional characteristics; worm fecundity and coprolite output were calculated; the number of bacteria and micromycetes was counted, and Azotobacter activity was estimated. All experiments were performed in three independent biological replicates. Statistical analysis was performed using the application package Statistica 10.0 (StatSoft, USA). Results. Incorporating of various straw/manure ratios into the substrate enhanced the productivity of lettuce plants: the edible surface area, plant weight and photosynthetic pigment content increased. This also contributed to a significant change in the content of mobile forms of major nutrients in the substrate, as well as to a significant reduction in total nitrogen in plant tissues, and the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium. The addition of wheat straw and manure increased worm reproductive performance and coprolite output. Conclusions. The possibility of obtaining plant crop and earthworm biomass in an artificial ecosystem with various straw/ manure ratios in a peat substrate is shown. Funding. The work was carried out within the State Assignment of the Siberian Federal Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences FNUU-2021-0005.

В лабораторных и полевых опытах испытывали сочетание двух препаратов (на основе гуматов и бактерий с антифунгальными свойствами) для предпосевной обработки семян яровой пшеницы. Такая обработка снизила пораженность семян возбудителями семенных инфекций, увеличила количество корней и массу проростка пшеницы в лабораторном эксперименте. В полевом опыте отмечено увеличение всхожести семян, количества пигментов фотосинтеза, урожайности пшеницы и уменьшение зараженности семян нового урожая.

Изучено совместное культивирование компостных червей и растений пшеницы в торфонавозном субстрате в течение 21 суток. В эксперименте не отмечено негативного влияния червей на параметры развития растений: высота, а также сырая масса растений пшеницы, содержание хлорофилла увеличилось в присутствии червей в субстрате; на пораженность растений пшеницы корневыми гнилями черви влияния не оказали. Co-culiivaiion of earthworms and wheat plants in a peat manure substrate was studied for 21 days. In the experiment, no negative effect of earthworms on plant development parameters was noted: height, wet weight of wheat plants, and chlorophyll content increased in the presence of worms in the substrate; the earthworms had no effect on the infestation of wheat plants with root rot.

The ability of rhizosphere bacteria to induce systemic resistance in plants has been widely described in the literature. Various products of rhizobacteria act as signalling molecules, developing stress-like reactions in the plant. At the same time, the accumulation of peroxidase and other reactive oxygen species in the cell plays a major role, and is one of the most important plant defence mechanisms in response to various stressors. Peroxidase is a polyfunctional enzyme involved in both the generation and the utilization of hydrogen peroxide, and its activity in cells is related to plant resistance to phytopathogens and adverse environmental conditions. We measured the levels of free and weakly bound guaiacol-dependent peroxidase in the roots and leaves of wheat plants both inoculated with Pseudomonas extremorientalis PhS1 and Aeromonas media GS4 and uninoculated, under conditions of high temperatures and low humidity, with and without the phytopathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. Following inoculation, a 1.4–5.2-fold increase in the severity of plants affected with the phytopathogen was observed. Seed bacterization decreased the number of damaged plants both with and without the phytopathogen by 1.2–2.4 and 3.2–4.7 times, respectively. Seed bacterization increased peroxidase activity in leaves and roots with and without the phytopathogen. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship between the increased activity of peroxidase in wheat leaves and roots and the reduced number of affected plants. The strongest relationship was observed between the enzyme activity in wheat roots and a decrease in the disease severity with the phytopathogen.

The authors of the article propose a possible algorithm for the selection of soil plots potentially suitable for growing healthy virus-free seed potatoes. As selection criteria, such microbiological characteristics of the soil are considered as the level of species diversity of the soil microbial community (determined using metagenomic analysis, as well as classical microbiological methods and the subsequent calculation of the Simpson and Berger-Parker species diversity indices), as well as the level of suppressive activity of the soil microbial community against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium soilani. The study of the microbiological characteristics of two arable soil plots (from different crop rotation fields and different quality of potatoes grown on them), as well as one virgin soil plot of the same type, showed that the highest level of species diversity, determined by the method of metagenomic analysis, as well as by calculating the Simpson and Berger-Parker Species Diversity indices, is characteristic of the arable soil plot with long-term application of organic fertilizers, as well as the virgin soil plot. The soil of these plots was also characterized by the highest level of the total suppressive activity of the microbial community. The second studied plot of arable soil, which had been in a state of fallow for 20 years, turned out to be less suitable for growing healthy seed potatoes, since the soil of this plot had the lowest level of species microbial diversity, as well as a low level of soil suppressive activity.

The paper shows the possibility of using Aeromonas media and Pseudomonas extremorientalis to reduce the negative effects of elevated temperatures on wheat, which was evaluated through peroxidase activation.

В настоящее время основой повышения урожайности сельскохозяйственных культур становится высокая культура земледелия, в том числе экологически безопасное применение химических удобрений и пестицидов и их замещение на биопрепараты с аналогичным спектром действия.Актуален как поиск новых видов, штаммов и изолятов бактерий-антагонистов, перспективных для использования в качестве агентов биологического контроля, так и исследование механизмов антифунгальной активности, в частности связи между способностью подавлять рост и развитие тест-объектов в модельных условиях и в агроценозе.Целью настоящей работы была оценка возможности применения бактерий, выделенных из копролитов дождевых червей, как основы биопрепарата для контроля фитопатогенных грибов -возбудителей корневых гнилей зерновых культур.Опыты проводили в 2013-2015 годах.В предварительном скрининге на наличие фунгистатической и ростостимулирующей активностей в лабораторных тестах были отобраны два штамма -Pseudomonas sp.GS4 и Pseudomonas sp.PhS1.Фунгистатический эффект определяли по способности бактерий уменьшать скорость роста грибных колоний на агаризованной питательной среде и снижать зараженность семян мягкой пшеницы (Triticum aestivum L.) сорта Иргина возбудителями инфекций в тесте с использованием рулонов стерильной фильтровальной бумаги.Контролем служили семена, замоченные в водопроводной воде.В качестве эталона использовали обработку семян разрешенным к применению на территории Российской Федерации химическим фунгицидом Дивиденд Стар КС (Dividend® Star, «Syngenta AG», Швейцария) (действующие вещества дифеноконазол -30 г/л, ципроконазол -6,3 г/л) в рекомендуемых нормах расхода.Для оценки антифунгальной активности бактерий в полевых условиях проводили учеты корневых гнилей в фазы кущения и начала цветения у растений мягкой пшеницы сорта Иргина и ячменя (Hordeum vulgare L.) сорта Ача.В лабораторном эксперименте показано статистически значимое (р < 0,05) снижение скорости роста фитопатогенных грибов Fusarium oxysporum, Bipolaris sorokiniana и Alternaria spp.(в 1,5-2,5 раза по сравнению с контролем).Выявлено уменьшение (р < 0,05) общей зараженности семян возбудителями инфекций во всех вариантах бактеризации на 53-76 % относительно контроля.Влияние бактерий в экспериментах in planta оценивалось в малых модельных системах.Полученные результаты показали статистически значимое (р < 0,05) снижение распространенности корневых гнилей при бактеризации Pseudomonas sp.GS4 на 33-37 %, Pseudomonas sp.PhS1 -на 57-60 %; индекс развития корневых гнилей снизился соответственно в 2,1-2,4 раза и в 3,3-3,5 раза.Учет численности микроорганизмов в зоне ризосферы, проведенный в фазу начала цветения зерновых в вегетационном опыте, выявил тенденцию к увеличению общей численности микроорганизмов на 19-70 % в зависимости от сельскохозяйственной культуры и варианта бактеризации.Численность фосфатмобилизующих бактерий в ризосфере пшеницы в опыте была в среднем в 5,5-7,2 раза выше, чем в контроле, в ризосфере ячменя -в 2,1-3,2 раза.Результаты учета корневых гнилей в вегетационные сезоны 2013-2015 годов показали эффективность использования как монокультур, так и комплексной бактеризации: установлено снижение индекса развития корневых гнилей пшеницы и ячменя соответственно на 6,5-57,6 и 18,6-50,0 % в зависимости от бактериальной культуры и погодных условий вегетационного периода.Наибольшую биологическую эффективность изолятов наблюдали в начале цветения растений.

Currently, crop yields can be increased by high farming standards which include environmentally friendly use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as their replacement by bioformulations having similar activity.That is why both search for new promising species, strains and isolates of bacterial antagonists for their potential use as biocontrol agents, and study of antifungal activity mechanisms, particularly the relationship between the activity in model tests and in agrocenoses, are relevant.The aim of this study was to estimate bacterial isolates from redworm coprolites as potential bioactive agents to control phytopathogenic fungi causing root rot of crops.The experiments were conducted in 2013-2015.In the preliminary laboratory screening for fungistatic and growth-promoting activity we selected two strains, Pseudomonas sp.GS4 and Pseudomonas sp.PhS1, and assessed their ability to decrease the growth rate of fungal colonies in Petri dish test on nutrient agar medium and to reduce seed infestation of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Irgin cultivar) in sterile paper roll test.Seeds soaked in distilled water served as control.As a standard, we used seed treatment with a chemical fungicide Dividend® Star («Syngenta AG», Switzerland) (30 g/l difenoconazole, 6.3 g/l cyproconazole) at recommended rates.In field tests, we recorded root rots in soft wheat Irgin cultivar plants and in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Acha cultivar plants during tillering and beginning of blooming.The laboratory tests showed a statistically significant (р < 0.05) 1.5-2.5-folddecrease in the growth rate of phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Bipolaris sorokiniana and Alternaria spp. as compared to control.In all experiments with bacterization, there was a 53-76 % decrease (р < 0.05) in total seed infestation by pathogens as compared to non-bacterized plants.The effect of the bacteria in planta was assessed in small model systems.The obtained data show a statistically significant (р < 0.05) reduction in the root rot disease incidence in bacterization with Pseudomonas sp.GS4 (by 33-37 %) and Pseudomonas sp.PhS1 (by 57-60 %).Root rot disease severity decreases 2.1-2.4-fold and 3.3-3.5-fold,respectively.In 2015, we revealed a tendency towards a 19-70 % increase in the total number of rhizosphere microorganisms at the beginning of plant blooming depending on the crop and type of bacterization.The number of phosphate-mobilizing bacteria in the rhizosphere under bacterization was, on average, 5.5-7.2-foldhigher in wheat and 2.1-3.2-foldhigher in barley than that without bacterization.Our results of root rot field study in the 2013-2015 showed the efficacy of both monocultures and complex bacterization which provided a decrease in wheat and barley root rot disease severity by 6.5-57.6 % and 18.6-50.0%, respectively, depending on the bacterial culture and the weather conditions.The maximum biological efficacy of the isolates is noted at the beginning of blooming.

Currently, crop yields can be increased by high farming standards which include environmentally friendly use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as their replacement by bioformulations having similar activity. That is why both search for new promising species, strains and isolates of bacterial antagonists for their potential use as biocontrol agents, and study of antifungal activity mechanisms, particularly the relationship between the activity in model tests and in agrocenoses, are relevant. The aim of this study was to estimate bacterial isolates from redworm coprolites as potential bioactive agents to control phytopathogenic fungi causing root rot of crops. The experiments were conducted in 2013-2015. In the preliminary laboratory screening for fungistatic and growth-promoting activity we selected two strains, Pseudomonas sp. GS4 and Pseudomonas sp. PhS1, and assessed their ability to decrease the growth rate of fungal colonies in Petri dish test on nutrient agar medium and to reduce seed infestation of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Irgin cultivar) in sterile paper roll test. Seeds soaked in distilled water served as control. As a standard, we used seed treatment with a chemical fungicide Dividend® Star («Syngenta AG», Switzerland) (30 g/l difenoconazole, 6.3 g/l cyproconazole) at recommended rates. In field tests, we recorded root rots in soft wheat Irgin cultivar plants and in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Acha cultivar plants during tillering and beginning of blooming. The laboratory tests showed a statistically significant (р < 0.05) 1.5-2.5-fold decrease in the growth rate of phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Bipolaris sorokiniana and Alternaria spp. as compared to control. In all experiments with bacterization, there was a 53-76 % decrease (р < 0.05) in total seed infestation by pathogens as compared to non-bacterized plants. The effect of the bacteria in planta was assessed in small model systems. The obtained data show a statistically significant (р < 0.05) reduction in the root rot disease incidence in bacterization with Pseudomonas sp. GS4 (by 33-37 %) and Pseudomonas sp. PhS1 (by 57-60 %). Root rot disease severity decreases 2.1-2.4-fold and 3.3-3.5-fold, respectively. In 2015, we revealed a tendency towards a 19-70 % increase in the total number of rhizosphere microorganisms at the beginning of plant blooming depending on the crop and type of bacterization. The number of phosphate-mobilizing bacteria in the rhizosphere under bacterization was, on average, 5.5-7.2-fold higher in wheat and 2.1-3.2-fold higher in barley than that without bacterization. Our results of root rot field study in the 2013-2015 showed the efficacy of both monocultures and complex bacterization which provided a decrease in wheat and barley root rot disease severity by 6.5-57.6 % and 18.6-50.0 %, respectively, depending on the bacterial culture and the weather conditions. The maximum biological efficacy of the isolates is noted at the beginning of blooming.

The paper contains a description of the method, which allows assessing soil suitability for growing improved seed potatoes by the totality of microbiological characteristics of the soil. An indicator of the level of suppression of the soil microbial community is proposed as the main indicator of soil suitability, which is based on the species diversity of the soil microorganisms and its total suppressive activity against potato pathogens, in particular Fusarium solani. Among the six soil sites tested by this method at one of potato farms in Tomsk Region, virgin land sites, a site that had been in a fallow state for a long time, and an arable site that had been fertilized for several years were recognized as the most suitable for growing improved seed potatoes.

Effect of bacterization with Aeromonas media GS4 and Pseudomonas extremorientalis PhS1 on wheat seedlings under different abiotic conditions *We studied the effect of soft wheat seed treatment (Triticum aestivum L.) with two bacterial strains (Aeromonas media GS4 and Pseudomonas extremorientalis PhS1) isolated from earthworm coprolites on the growth and development of wheat seedlings in a 12-day laboratory experiment, as well as on root rot disease and the activity of guaiacoldependant peroxidase under optimal conditions and abiotic stress (elevated and low temperatures and moisture content).We established that growing nonbacterized wheat plants under stress abiotic conditions reduced the height of plants compared to growing under optimal abiotic conditions, and seed bacterization with P. extremorientalis PhS1 strain increased wheat plant height (by 9-15%) under stress abiotic conditions compared to the nonbacterized plants.Bacterization with both strains decreased infestation of wheat seedlings (2.5-4 times) by root rots under unfavorable abiotic conditions compared to nonbacterized plants.In addition, under optimal and arid conditions, bacterization with P. extremorientalis PhS1 strain was the most effective, and under humid conditions it was bacterization with A. media GS4 strain.We showed that the activity of guaiacoldependant peroxidase correlates with the development of plant resistance to abiotic stress.In our experiments, plant bacterization resulted in a 2-fold increase in peroxidase activity both in leaves and roots of wheat plants compared to the nonbacterized plants.As the result, the ability of bacteria to activate peroxidase can serve as an information indicator of strengthening protective mechanisms of plants during bacterization.The paper contains 4 Figures and 34 References.

It is well known that reducing the extent of damage to grain crops by root rot causing agents is one of the most effective ways to increase the yield of agricultural grain crops and improve their quality. These diseases are especially harmful for hard wheat, barley, soft spring wheat, and winter rye. Yield losses due to these diseases may reach 19–20% or more for wheat and 25–30% or more for barley. In order to assess the effectiveness of the bacteria isolated from earthworm coprolites as biological control agents, we conducted a series of field tests in Western Siberia from 2011 to 2015. We compared growth and development indicators of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Irgina variety) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Acha variety) where seeds were treated with Bacillus cereus and two strains of Pseudomonas. The results showed that the inoculation increased the grain yield by 0.2–1.0 t ha−1 for spring wheat and by 0.3–1.8 t ha−1 for barley. In addition, the prevalence of the disease in spring wheat plants was significantly reduced from 18.1–61.1% in the control plots to 6.4–50.2% in the inoculated plots. Similarly, the index of root rot development decreased from 18.2–23.0% in the control plots to 13.2–15.8% in the inoculated plots. To understand the mechanism that induces the spring wheat resistance to fungal root rots under the influence of rhizobacteria, we investigated the effect on the guaiacol-dependent peroxidase activity. There was an inverse relationship between the peroxidase activity in wheat tissues and damage of plants caused by root rot agents indicating that the response of peroxidase enzymes to plant inoculation is a meaningful indicator that can be used to assess the potential of a particular strain as a biological agent for protecting spring wheat.

We investigated the effect of treating soft wheat seeds ( Triticum aestivum L.) with two Pseudomonas bacteria strains, isolated from earthworm coprolites, showing a significant antifungal and growth-promoting action in preliminary screening on the activity of guaiacol-dependant peroxidase under phytopathogenic load in the presence of Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker as a mechanism for inducing plant resistance to the pathogen. We established a statistically significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in root rot disease incidence and severity during bacterization, which is indicative both of antifungal activity of the used bacterial isolates and of their successful colonizing the rhizosphere of wheat plants. We noted a response of free and weakly bound peroxidase of wheat plants to infection with B. sorokiniana : the enzyme activity increased during pathogenesis. Bacterization also increased peroxidase activity in plant leaves and roots, the greatest differences from non-bacterized plants being observed in wheat roots in the presence of the pathogen. We detected a direct link between peroxidase activity in wheat roots and leaf tissues in the absence of the pathogen and the feedback between peroxidase activity and plant infestation by the root rot pathogen. In the presence of the phytopathogen, there is a lack of correlation between peroxidase activity in wheat roots and leaves, and there is a shift of activity towards its increase in roots, which plays an important role in the development of systemic resistance against the root rot pathogen that penetrates into plants through the roots and root collar.

We studied the efficiency of water treatment by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu), as well as a possibility of using water hyacinth biomass obtained during treatment for vermicomposting by Eisenia fetida and the vermicompost quality in a model experiment. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in the trials with water hyacinth decreased within 35 days. We introduced water hyacinth biomass to the organic substrate for vermicomposting, which promoted a significant weight gain of earthworms and growth in their number, as well as a 1.5- to 3-fold increase in coprolite production. In the trial with 40 % of Eichhornia biomass in the mixture, we observed a 26-fold increase in the number and a 16-fold weight gain of big mature individuals with clitellum; an increase in the number of small individuals 40 times and in the number of cocoons 140 times, as compared to the initial substrate. The utilization of water hyacinth biomass containing heavy metals in the mixture led to a 10-fold increase in the number of adult individuals and cocoons, which was higher than in control. We found out that adding 10 % of Eichhornia biomass to the initial mixture affected slightly the number of microorganisms and their species diversity in the vermicompost. Adding Eichhornia biomass with heavy metals reduced the total number of microorganisms and sharply diminished their species diversity. In all trials, adding water hyacinth in the mixture for vermicomposting had a positive impact on wheat biometric parameters in a 14-day laboratory experiment, even in the trial with heavy metals.

Fiber flax is one of the most important industrial crops of the domestic crop sector, which is of great national economic and strategic importance. And at the same time fiber flax is one of the crops most difficult for cultivation. Currently, the use of biological preparations with systemic action, combining the properties of plant growth stimulators and means of protection, is one of the most effective methods to increase germination of fiber flax and its resistance to disease causing agents. The results of laboratory and field tests have shown efficiency of bacterization of fiber flax seeds by enrichment cultures of bacteria isolated from the coprolites of earth worms Eisenia fetida. Presowing treatment of fiber flax seeds (TOST-4 variety selectie in the Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat) along with spraying of vegetating plants with enrichment culture of phosphate bacteria had a positive effect on the plants’ preservation in the field experiments, increase in plant height, yield of seed and flax straw. Bacterization of flax seeds by Pseudomonas sp. reduced the degree of Fusarium infection of plants, increased the weight of 1000 seeds and plant height.

Biological method of plant protection from phytopathogens is based on applying microbial antagonists of phytopathogens. Today, domestic and foreign markets are represented by a number of bacteria-based formulations; nevertheless, more effective plant protection agents are being searched. The present work examines a possibility of applying formaldehyde-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas sp., strain В-6798, as a potential biofungicide. Different methods for estimation of antifungal activity of the strain were used, including the method linked with inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi by bacteria-antagonists. Growth-promoting activity of bacteria was assessed both in laboratory and field experiments. As the test objects were used the following crops: wheat, oats, maize, potato and fiber flax. Treatment of seeds with Pseudomonas sp., strain B-6798, reduced the overall infestation of cereal crops by seed infection agents by 12–36% due to decreasing the percentage of seeds affected by Helminthosporium and Fusarium root rot causing agents. Bacterization of potato tubers reduced late blight in the period of growing season by 45–50%, rhizoctonia blight and common scab by 40–70% during storage. The optimum concentrations of the applied bacteria for plant protection were within 10 4 –10 7 CFU/ml. It was established that under the activity of antagonistic bacteria in the laboratory conditions shoot length was increased in 1.5–3.5 times, dry biomass – 1.5–5 times and total root system length – 1.7–3.0 times. According to the results of field experiments, bacterization contributed to increasing the yield of cereal crops and potato by 10–40%, depending on the species and variety.

Для решения СЛАУ с блочно-трехдиагональными матрицами предложены и численно реализованы на многопроцессорных вычислителях различного типа параллельный алгоритм матричной прогонки и параллельный метод сопряженных градиентов с предобуславливателем. Проведено сравнение времени счета параллельных алгоритмов на видеоускорителе NVIDIA GeForce, 4-ядерном процессоре Intel Core I5-750 и многопроцессорном вычислительном комплексе МВС-1000 при решении задачи о нахождении распределения потенциала на поверхности земли в проводящей среде.