Biscogniauxia Charcoal Canker—A New Potential Threat for Mid-European Forests as an Effect of Climate Change

Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze is a fungus which induces strip-cankers on beech, commonly referred to as charcoal canker. The symptoms of infection are visible on the host tree’s bark as elongated, blackish bark lesions on the trunk and branches. Recent years have shown that, due to climate change causing local epidemics, the species is increasing its economic impact in Mediterranean regions. Until recently, B. nummularia was considered rare and uncommon in central Europe. However, in the last few years it has been noticed more often, mostly in coniferous trees, which are out of B. nummularia’s host range. A similar situation has been observed with the closely related species Biscogniauxia mediterranea (De Not.) Kuntze, which prior to 2017 had not been observed in central Europe at all. This study shows the genetic diversity of mid-European strains of Biscogniauxia spp. (based on the ITS, TEF1, TUB2 and ACT regions) and, as the first in Europe, presents a molecular investigation of this species isolated from coniferous trees. It is also the first attempt at estimating the potential impact of this pathogenic fungus on European forestry management in the close future.

SHRUBS AS AN ELEMENT OF THE PARK ENVIRONMENT

Ornamental shrubs are one of the elements of the formation of the park environment and an integral part of urban landscaping. The paper presents the results of studying the species diversity of shrubs in park plantations in the city of Voronezh. The range includes more than 30 species, decorative forms and varieties of plants. Deciduous species are predominant, while coniferous species account for not much more than 10 %. Deciduous shrubs growing in the parks of the city of Voronezh belong to 14 families. Among them, there are beautiful flowering and decorative deciduous species, as well as plants with attractive fruits. Coniferous species belong to two families-pine and cypress. The cypress family is characterized by the greatest species (form, variety) diversity. The most popular types and varieties of coniferous trees are Western thuja "Smaragd", Western thuja "Danika", Cossack juniper, Cossack juniper"Tamariscifolia". The main types of shrub plantings in park stands are hedges and row plantings. The most common hedges are made of brilliant dogwood and Wanguttaspirea. Less often, groups and tapeworms are used in park plantings. The analysis of the geographical origin of shrubs showed that the largest number of species are introduced − their participation is more than 90%, the share of local species is less than 10%.

A COMPARISON OF METABOLITES IN WOOD-FORMING TISSUES FROM EIGHT COMMERCIAL TIMBER TREE SPECIES OF HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE IN CHINA

Four coniferous and four deciduous commercial tree species from Northeastern ofChina were selected to investigate the differences ofmetabolites in wood-forming tissues bygas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the identified metabolites mainly consisted of neutral sugars, lipids, and organic acids. The mean contents of both arabinofuranose and 1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid were higher in coniferous trees thanin deciduous ones. Similarly, the D-fructose and D-glucose content was significantly higherin coniferous trees than deciduous trees, but the total contents of these two sugars was roughly equal among most tree species. The mean content of lactic acid, glycerol and malic acid was lowerin coniferous trees than deciduous trees. The malic acid content decreased in later-stages of wood formation than in early-stagefor all tree species. The content of L-proline and myo-inositol was greater in later-stage of wood formation than early-stage.The contentof octadecanoic acid, D-fructose and D-glucose decreased in later-stage of wood formationfor most tree species. All of thissuggested that the metabolites in wood-forming tissues showed the significance of species-specific and seasonal dynamic differences among the eight tree species.

Mycorrhiza Formation in Pinus Sylvestris and Picea Obovata Seedlings in Forest Nurseries in Kazakhstan

This work presents research materials, the purpose of which is to grow seedlings of coniferous trees in the open field using artificial substrates of mycorrhizal macromycetes in forest nurseries of Central, North and Northeast Kazakhstan. The success of mycorrhiza formation in seedlings Pinus sylvestris and Picea obovata from forest nurseries of Akmola and Karaganda regions, and the survival rate of seedlings from forest nurseries of Akmola, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions of Kazakhstan are analysed. In the future, we want to expand the range of studied species and compare artificially mycorrhized seedlings with naturally mycorrhized species from natural forests. If we compare the survival rate of seedlings in nurseries, the highest in P. sylvestris seedlings in Shaldai is about 78%, low in Novodolenskoe, about 27%, and for P. obovata, on average, 66%. In the future, we want to expand the range of studied species and compare artificially mycorrhized seedlings with naturally mycorrhized species from natural forests.

Genomic Comparisons of Two Armillaria Species with Different Ecological Behaviors and Their Associated Soil Microbial Communities

Armillaria species show considerable variation in ecological roles and virulence, from mycorrhizae and saprophytes to important root pathogens of trees and horticultural crops. We studied two Armillaria species that can be found in coniferous forests of northwestern USA and southwestern Canada. Armillaria altimontana is considered as a weak, opportunistic pathogen of coniferous trees, but it also appears to exhibit in situ biological control against A. solidipes, formerly North American A. ostoyae, which is considered a virulent pathogen of coniferous trees. Here, we describe their genome assemblies and present a functional annotation of the predicted genes and proteins for the two Armillaria species that exhibit contrasting ecological roles. In addition, the soil microbial communities were examined in association with the two Armillaria species within a 45-year-old plantation of western white pine (Pinus monticola) in northern Idaho, USA, where A. altimontana was associated with improved tree growth and survival, while A. solidipes was associated with reduced growth and survival.

Species structure and ecologo-trophic features of basidial macromycetes in the Novousmansky district of the Voronezh Region

The work is devoted to a long-term study of the species composition and ecologo-trophic features of basidial macromycetes growing in diverse communities in the Novousmansky district of the Voronezh Region. The mycological study revealed 405 species of macromycetes belonging to 2 divisions, 3 classes, 14 orders, 67 families and 145 genera. Most species of fungi belong to the orders Agaricales (177), Russulales (69), Polyporales (47) and Boletales (46). It was found that saprotrophs (187 species), represented by mono- (126) and polysaprotrophs (61), predominate in the forest coenoses in the Novousmansky district of the Voronezh Region. Macromycetes with a mixed type of nutrition (58) make up a large proportion of the detected fungi, among which facultative xylosaprotrophs dominate (21). Symbiotrophs include 58 taxa and form an exomycorrhiza with deciduous and coniferous trees. The overwhelming number of macromycete species are classified as edible (188) fungi. A smaller number of inedible (152), poisonous (51) and conditionally edible (14) representatives are represented. Special attention is paid to the issues of protection of rare and endangered basidiomycetes growing on the territory of the study. As a result of the survey of the Novousmansky district territory, 11 taxa of basidial fungi included in the 2nd edition of the Red Book of the Voronezh Region (2018) were identified.

Anoplophora huangjianbini sp. n. from Fujian and Guangxi, China (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)

The genus Anoplophora Hope, 1839 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Lamiini) includes 47 species (without subspecies) occurring in East, South and Southeast Asia. Amongst them, 38 species are known from CHINA. Members of this genus are familiar to Chinese people with a widely-used common name: “星天牛 [starry longhorn beetle]”. Anoplophora species have great economic importance, attacking and damaging numerous hardwood trees and some coniferous trees. A new species of starry longhorn beetle, Anoplophora huangjianbini sp. n. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Lamiini) is described from Fujian and Guangxi, CHINA. Diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated and comparison with closely-related congeners is provided.