In this study, the characterization of several bacterial diseases affecting silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), white poplar (Populus alba L.), and white willow (Salix alba L.) in Ukraine were described. The typical symptoms, features of pathogenesis, and characteristics of the causative agents of the most common bacterial diseases of these tree species were shown. The following types of bacterioses were noted to be especially dangerous, namely, bacterial wetwood, fire blight, bacterial canker, and tuberculosis. Bacterial necrosis of the bark was a less dangerous disease. At the same time, all of the listed types of bacterioses were registered within the forest areas of the investigated region. The study revealed that bacterial wetwood of birch and poplar was caused by Lelliottia nimipressuralis; the bacterial canker of poplar is Pseudomonas syringae (Pseudomonas syringae f. populi and Pseudomonas cerasi); the fire poplar blight is caused by Pseudomonas cerasi (P. syringae); the common ash tuberculosis is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi; and the bacterial wilt of the willow is caused by Brenneria salicis. The phenomenon of the introduction of microorganisms of different functional orientations as well as the formation of conditions for their activity in the rhizosphere of plants have been studied. In the future, it will provide the development of effective methods for the rapid identification of causative agents of bacterioses and plant protection measures based on multi-functional microbiological preparations based on highly effective strains of microorganisms.

The data concerning the effects of pesticides of different nature on the phytopathogenic bacteria was examined and summarized. Without extensive research on the mechanisms of interaction between pathogenic bacteria and pesticides in the literature review a similar message about microorganisms of soil and phyllosphere are included. The bacteria can be suppressed permanently by pesticides with a mechanism of action that universally affects biological processes in living systems. Long-term storage, ease of use and fast visible effect are the advantages of synthetic pesticides remedies. But chemical pollution, shifts in the balance of ecosystems, unpredictable effects of chemical pesticides on non-target objects are the drawbacks. Stimulation of resistance response in plants is unifying factor for all types of biopesticides. This is realized through localization of the pathogen during infection, blocking its further penetration, distribution and reproduction. The results of the study of effects of plant protection products on the phytopathogenic bacteria of main crops are described. Among all tested pesticides, thiocarbamate fungicides demonstrated significant inhibitory action on phytopathogens, but their effect may be neutralized by other constituents of multicomponent preparations. Triazole fungicides affect the causative agents of bacterioses of crops at a dose of more than 1% of the active substance in the nutrient medium. Insecticides and herbicides have little or no effect on phytopathogenic bacteria; however they can enhance morphological dissociations of some Pseudomonas strains, thereby increasing their ability to survive. The disadvantage of many biopesticides against phytopathogenic microorganisms is the difference between their efficacy in vitro and in vivo that is why the desired result is not achieved in field condition. In addition, biological pesticides often lose their activity causing the problem of constant search for new active antagonists. The fact that the sensitivity of phytopathogenic bacteria to pesticides is strain-dependent should be considered in practice, particularly, assessment of the antibacterial action of various preparations should not be limited to a single bacterial strain.

A significant part of the used pesticides does not reach the target organisms and, while remaining in the agrophytocenosis, influences all living organisms in it. Having a toxic and often mutagenic effect, pesticides induce morphological and physiological changes in the cells of microorganisms and are the cause of phenotypic heterogeneity of their populations. However, the effect of pesticides on phytopathogenic bacteria as non-target microorganisms remains out of the field of view for most researchers. However, the use of pesticides can lead to expansion of the diversity of existing phytopathogens and, as a consequence, complications of identification of the pathogens, loss of resistance by plants varieties, and increased harm from diseases caused by them. This study is focused on the effect of pesticides used in tomato plantations on the causative agent of bacterial speck of this crop—Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. The studies were carried out using the methods of classical microbiology. The mutagenic action of pesticides was recorded, taking into account the increase of the number of streptomycin resistance mutations in bacteria in the case of pesticide action. It is established that the fungicide aluminium phosethyl is characterised by a bacteriostatic effect on P. syringae pv. tomato. Deltamethrin insecticide does not affect the growth of P. syringae pv. tomato. However, there is an increase in the frequency of streptomycin resistance mutations in both studied strains of P. syringae pv. tomato after using deltamethrin. It is shown that the frequency of occurrence of R (rough colonies) forms of P. syringae pv. tomato IZ28 and IZ46 after using deltamethrin increased by 100 times when in comparison to the frequency of spontaneous morphological dissociation, or smooth-to-rough (S-R) mutation, of these bacteria. Therefore, aluminium phosethyl is characterised by moderate bacteriostatic action against P. syringae pv. tomato. Deltamethrin does not influence the growth of the pathogen of tomato speck but increases the frequency of formation of Str^R mutants and R forms of phytopathogenic bacteria.

The aim of this study was the identification of the causative agent of the basal glume rot of wheat Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens from the affected weeds in wheat crops, and determination of its virulent properties. Isolation of P. syringae pv. atrofaciens from weeds of wheat crops was carried out by classical microbiological methods. To identify isolated bacteria, their morphological, cultural, biochemical, and serological properties as well as fatty acids and Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) profiles with the OPA-13 primer were studied. Pathogenic properties were investigated by artificial inoculation of wheat plants and weed plants, from which bacteria were isolated. For the first time, bacteria that are virulent both for weeds and wheat were isolated from weeds growing in wheat crops. It was shown that the fatty acids profiles of the bacteria isolated from the weeds contained typical for P. syringae pv. atrofaciens fatty acids, in particular, hydroxy acids: 3-hydroxydecanoic, 2-hydroxydodecanoic, and 3-hydroxydodecanoic. RAPD-PCR profiles of the newly isolated strains were identical to those of the collection strains P. syringae pv. atrofaciens UCM B-1011 and P. syringae pv. atrofaciens UCM B-1014 and contained a dominant fragment of 700 bp. The isolated strains, according to their phenotypic and genotypic properties, were identified as P. syringae pv. atrofaciens. It was established that the causative agent of basal glume rot of wheat P. syringae pv. atrofaciens is polyphagous and capable of infecting a wide range of plants. The main control measure for cereals diseases caused by P. syringae pv. Atrofaciens—crop rotations with nonhost species, should be revised, and alternative control methods must be proposed.

Antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic, isopropanolic, acetone, DMSO and aqueous extracts of the two lichen species from Ecuadorian highland, Usnea sp. and Stereocaulon sp. were explored in vitro against bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by the disc-diffusion method. Also the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The strongest antimicrobial activity was found in DMSO extract of Usnea sp. compared to antibacterial activity of ciprfloxacin and cefazolin antibiotics. The inhibition zone was 28 mm, 30 mm, 31mm (DMSO extract, ciprfloxacin and cefazolin respectively) in case of B. subtilis usage as the test bacteria. MIC value for Usnea sp. and Stereocaulon sp. DMSO extracts was 0.4 mg/ml. E. coli was resistant to all kinds of extracts. The S. aureus sensitivity to lichen DMSO extracts was comparable to sensitivity of these microorganisms to tetracycline and vancomycin. Thereby, most kinds of extracts (ethanol, isopropanol, hexane, DMSO and acetone solvents) from Ecuadorian lichens Usnea sp. and Stereocaulon sp. with the exception of aqueous Stereocaulon sp. extracts possessed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. DMSO lichen extracts had also antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. At the same time the extracts studied didn't demonstrate antibacterial activity against the representatives of the most common and harmful phytopathogenic bacteria tested. Further investigations of Ecuadorian lichens especially study of plants collected from extremal highland biotops can be very important in study of possibility of treatment of numerous diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms.