Vol 57, No 5 (2023)

Fungi play an important role in colonization and biodeterioration of stone monuments in the open air. This study significantly complements the data on fungal diversity in lithobiotic communities through the use of metagenomic analysis. It was shown that the mycobiota of tombstones in the historical center of St. Petersburg has a complex structure. There are different complexes of species, which have various origins and ways of getting to the monuments. The complex of dominant fungi in SABs on marble and granite in St. Petersburg is formed by dark-colored micromycetes. At the species level, the absolute dominant in all samples was the Knufia karalitana according to metagenomic data and Aureobasidium pullulans according to cultural data. The use of two methodological approaches indicates the expediency of combining culture-based and molecular genetics methods, which make it possible to obtain the most more complete picture of the formation of lithobiotic communities. The season and the type of biofilm have a key importance for the abundance and diversity of micromycetes on stone surface. It was shown that type of rock has a minimal importance for the fungal diversity on stone monument.

Velikiy Island is the largest island in Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve (the Reserve). We prepared a check-list of aphyllophoroid fungi of Velikiy Island and the two nearest small islands, including 131 species. Seventy-seven species were recorded in the Reserve for the first time. Byssoporia terrestris, Hyphodontia abieticola, and Hypochnicium multiforme were found in Murmansk Region for the first time. The observations of the three species form the northern limit of their global range. New localities are reported for four Murmansk Region red-listed species (Dichomitus squalens, Hericium coralloides, Junghuhnia collabens, and Leptoporus mollis).

Septoria blotches represent some of the most harmful wheat diseases that encompass all grain-producing countries worldwide. They are caused mainly by fungi of the genera Parastagonospora and Zymoseptoria. The aims of the research were to analyze the nucleotide sequences of two phylogenetically informative DNA loci, ITS and tub2, of Parastagonospora nodorum isolates from the Altai Krai, to detect the presence of Tox1, Tox3, ToxA effector genes and to study the virulence of the isolates. Microscopic analysis of fragments of affected plant tissue was used for primary identification of the Septoria blotch. The causative agent from the studied plant samples was identified as P. nodorum. Fungal colonies cultivated on potato-glucose agar displayed a well-developed light brown velvety mycelium with dark periphery (mixed type) and numerous pycnidia exhibiting high sporulation capacity. Microbiological diagnostics were complemented by molecular genetic studies. Sequencing of ITS and tub2 loci isolates revealed complete genetic identity of all eight studied monoconidial isolates obtained from different samples. PCR-based detection of tree Tox-genes demonstrated that the only Tox3 was present in the geno-types of 80 tested P. nodorum monoconidial isolates. The ToxA and Tox1 genes were not found in the studied isolates. The virulence of P. nodorum isolates was evaluated in laboratory conditions using an isolated wheat leaves assay. Mixture of four isolates from spring wheat and one isolate from winter wheat, were characterized as virulent. When spring and winter wheat cultivars were infected with two isolates obtained from oats, pathogenic but avirulent properties were detected. The isolate from triticale was avirulent to winter wheat cultivars and virulent to spring wheat cultivars.

The present notice continues the series on rare and interesting species of microfungi and is devoted to the stromatic ascomycete Diatrypella quercina (Xylariales, Ascomycota), the saprotroph associated with crown self-thinning in Quercus robur. An extended morphological description of the species is given, and its differences from closely related species, Diatrypella favacea and D. pulvinata, are analyzed. The data on the global and regional distribution of this rather scarce species are analyzed. The list of studied exsicates and herbarium documentation is provided. The conclusion concerning the optimum range of D. quercina is given.