Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified and characterized from a dried wild edible and medicinal mushroom (V. bombycina). Using Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid affinity chromatography, PPO was purified from the dried V. bombycina. The purification was completed with a 33.85-fold purification. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the purified enzyme migrated as a single band. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be about 25 kDa. Catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol were used as substrates to determine the enzyme activity and its kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax). At the optimum pH and temperature, dried V. bombycina PPO’s Km and Vmax values for catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol were found to be 1.67 mM–833.33 U/mL, 3.17 mM–158.73 U/mL, and 2.67 mM–3333.33 U/mL, respectively. Also investigated were the effects of pH and temperature on the enzymatic properties of PPO in dried V. bombycina. The optimum pH and temperature values for dried V. bombycina PPO obtained by using catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates were 6.5, 15 °C; 9.0, 20 °C; and 8.0, 15°C, respectively. This is the first study on the purification and characterization of PPO from dried V. bombycina.

In this study, phylogenetic analysis of some fungal species distributed in West Kazakhstan was performed based on ITS sequences. All of the mushroom samples were collected from different regions of West Kazakhstan and brought to the laboratory. Total genomic DNA was extracted using a GeneMark commercial kit. ITS1 and ITS4 primers were used for the amplification of the ITS region in PCR analyses. The resulting DNA sequences were then edited using BioEdit and FinchTV. For phylogenetic analysis used MEGA 6.0 program. As a result of the study, ITS sequences ranged from 532 to 715 nucleotides, while the divergence values of the sequences differed between 0.000 and 0.468. The maximum likelihood tree constructed using ITS sequences consists of two clades. According to the phylogenetic analysis results obtained using other fungal species, ITS results were found to be a good indicator for the differentiation of fungal genera.

The medicinal and edible mushroom, Volvariella bombycina (Schaeff.) Singer, belongs to the family Pluteaceae, order Agaricales, phylum Basidiomycota. Volvariella bombycina was collected during fieldwork in forest communities in the Ural River Valley of West Kazakhstan between 2020 and 2024. All information about the habitat and location (GPS data) of the mushroom in natural environments is given in detail. The taxon is morphologically described and anatomically characterized along with microphotographs and illustrations.

Biodiversity and its conservation remain fundamental aspects of contemporary biology, continually sparking interest and requiring active research. Presently, significant disparities persist in our understanding of the distribution and habitats of various living organisms. Among the most diverse and crucial groups warranting intensive and comprehensive analysis are fungi. The data obtained significantly contributes to the study of macromycete diversity within the birch forests of the Ural River valley. However, information regarding these fungi within the territory of Kazakhstan remains incomplete and fragmented. The article presents data on the biodiversity of the mycobiota within the ravine birch forests situated along the left bank of the Ural River in the West Kazakhstan region. As of the current date, the biota study has identified 43 species belonging to 26 genera, spanning across 17 families and six orders. Predominant families include Polyporaceae, Russulaceae, Pluteaceae, Amanitaceae, and Strophariaceae. The trophic analysis of the mycobiota within birch forests revealed a notable diversity of xylotrophs, with 25 species identified, primarily associated with the families Fomitopsidaceae, Polyporaceae, Pluteaceae, and Strophariaceae. Additionally, the group of mycorrhizal fungi comprises 15 species, predominantly represented by the families Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Russulaceae, and Paxillaceae. Thus, the highest richness of macromycetes is noted in birch forests located in the lowlands of deep gullies. Species diversity of macromycetes tends to decrease in birch forests growing along slopes of various orientations, along the edges of gullies, and on eroded slopes. Moreover, in new pioneer sites such as the sole of the indigenous bank of the Ural River, the species composition of mushrooms is notably impoverished. This study represents the first taxonomic analysis of mycobiota diversity in the ravine birch forests.

Research works devoted to the identification of species composition of the mycobiota of the Ural River valley within the West Kazakhstan region (WKR) were carried out in the forest communities of the region from 2019 to 2021. On the basis of field studies, a mycological description of black poplar (Populus nigra) forests, which are the main forest-forming species of the studied territory, was carried out for the first time. Also, there was carried out a geobotanical description of the main black poplar communities. The study area is located within two botanical and geographical regions such as in the Eurasian steppe and Saharo - Gobi desert zones, the Holarctic kingdom, on the border of the Boreal and Ancient Mediterranean subkingdoms. Throughout the floodplain along the Ural River poplar forests are the dominant species. When studying the diversity of macromycetes in the biota of cap fungi of black poplar forests, there were registered 42 species of macromycetes belonging to 32 genera and 19 families, 7 orders of the class Agaricomycetes. Ecological-trophic analysis showed a predominance of xylotrophs (18 species, 42,9 %) and humus saprotrophs (13 species, 31 %) over mycorrhizal (11 species, 26,1 %).) According to the results of the study, it can be assumed that the species composition of macromycetes is significantly influenced by the geographical position of the region, the geomorphological structure of the Ural River, as well as the soil-climatic and hydrological conditions of the region. The taxonomic composition of macromycetes collected and identified in the study area is presented for the first time for this area.

This study examines the distribution and ecological characteristics of Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill in the forest communities of the Ural River valley in the West Kazakhstan region. This fungus, possessing both parasitic and saprotrophic properties, plays a crucial role in the nutrient cycle by decomposing lignin in the wood of deciduous trees. Based on a comprehensive geobotanical and mycological analysis conducted during field studies from 2019 to 2024, it has been determined that L.sulphureus is present across a wide range of forest communities, including elm, willow, poplar, aspen, alder, and oak forests. A strong association between the fungus and tree species such as Quercus robur, Salix alba, and Populus alba has been observed. The results of the study highlight the high ecological plasticity of L. sulphureus, enabling it to effectively adapt to various types of forest communities. ...