Goal. Determine the degree of resistance of spring wheat cultivars to pathogens and root rot in the Right-bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine and identify promising sources of resistance. Methods. Laboratory — selection of infection material with different levels of virulence, development of infection material of leaf rust and septoria of wheat; field — creation of artificial infection and provocative backgrounds of pathogens and assessment of resistance of the collection of cultivars to this phytopathogens; analytical in mathematical — analysis of the obtained data, calculation of the intensity of disease development. Results. In 2017—2019, 30 cultivars of spring wheat from the collections of the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine were provided by the Ustimovskaya Plant Research Station of the Institute of Plant Growing. V.Ya. Yuriev NAAS was evaluated for resistance to the main leaf pathogens: powdery mildew Blumeria graminis (DC.) E.O. Speer f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal, brown rust Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici Rob. et Desm. (syn. Puccinia triticina), leaf septoria Zymoseptoria tritici Rob. et Desm., pyrenophora Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechsler and root rot. The collection included cultivars of Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Kyrgyz breeding. Assessment of resistance to powdery mildew, pyrenophora and root rot was performed on a natural infectious background, and the pathogens of septoria and leaf rust on the created artificial complex infectious background during the period of maximum disease development. Cultivars were characterized by their degree of stability using a 9 — point immunological scale. According to the research results, the degree of resistance of varieties of Ukrainian and foreign breeding to pathogens of leaf diseases and root rot was established. Among the studied spring wheat collection, a number of cultivars were identified that showed resistance both to individual pathogens and to a group of diseases in the Right-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine: to powdery mildew — 4, brown rust — 20, septoria — 8, pyrenophorosis — 8, roots — 7. The group resistance was characterized by 13 spring wheat cultivars. Conclusions. Valuable sources of resistance are cultivars of Oksamit Mironovsky (UKR) and Lebedushka (RUS) with resistance to the group of pathogens of powdery mildew, leaf rust and pyrenophorosis, characteristic of the Right-Bank Forest Steppe zone of Ukraine. Other spring wheat cultivars that have high resistance to both individual pathogens and their groups are recommended to be involved in the breeding process to create new promising spring wheat cultivars with high resistance rates.

Composition of phytopathogens—causal agents of “black point” was studied in 2018–2019. Investigations were carried out at the Institute of Plant Protection of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Seed samples were taken from different locations in the Forest-Steppe and Polissya zones of Ukraine. The results obtained showed that fungi from the genus Alternaria Nees dominated in the pathogen complex. They were isolated from 76.5–83.1% of seeds from the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Less often they were found in samples from the Polissya zone (59.0–69.4%). Alternaria tenuissima тa Alternaria infectoria were isolated in an almost equal proportion. In addition, seeds with “black point” were colonized by fungi from genera Fusarium Link, Curvularia Boed, Bipolaris Shoem., Aspergillus P.Micheli, Nigrospora Zimm., Cladosporium Link, Acremoniella Sacc., Stemphillium Walr., Sordaria Ces. & De Not, Epicoccum Link, Aureobasidium Viala at Boy. It should be noted that the causal agent of nigrospora dry rot of maize Nigrospora oryzae (Berk & Broom) Petch was isolated from nearly 6% of seeds from the Polissya zone. In addition, saprophitic fungi Stemphillium spp. and Sordaria spp. were found. The majority of isolated fungi produce mycotoxins which are harmful for people and animals. Thus, the monitoring of species composition of pathogens on wheat seeds, in particular causal agents of “black point”, is essential for obtaining a high-quality wheat grain.

Black point (BP) and Fusarium-damaged kernels are common disorders affecting wheat grains worldwide. While the negative impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on yield and grain quality is well established, the biological significance of BP remains debated. This study evaluated the effects of BP on yield-related traits and seedling performance of winter wheat and compared them with the effects of FHB. Four winter wheat cultivars (Mercedes, Adina, Steffi, and LG Mocca) were examined under field and laboratory conditions. Fusarium infection was induced by artificial inoculation with Fusarium culmorum, whereas BP was assessed under natural field conditions using non-inoculated control plants. Fusarium infection significantly reduced thousand-grain weight (up to 46%) and grain number per ear (up to 35%). In contrast, BP was not associated with yield reduction. Grain with BP symptoms showed a 10–30% higher thousand-grain weight compared with BP-free grain. Seedlings originating from BP-affected seeds exhibited equal or improved biometric traits and a higher vigor index. Phytopathological analysis showed that Alternaria spp. dominated the endophytic mycoflora of both BP-affected and BP-free seeds. These results indicate that, under the conditions of this study, BP did not negatively affect wheat yield or seedling vigor and differed fundamentally from the damaging effects of FHB, highlighting the importance of distinguishing BP from Fusarium-related damage in wheat production.

Goal. To identify fungi associated with the tissues of strawberry plants and evaluate the frequency of their isolation at different stages of plant growth. Methods. The research was conducted in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine (Cherkasy Region) in 2021—2023, cv. ‘Clery’. Plant samples were taken in the phases of rosette formation (April), budding-flowering (May), fruit ripening (June) and in the post-harvest period (July-August). The analysis was carried out in laboratory conditions using macroscopic and biological methods. Results. During the research period, fungi belonging to 27 genera were isolated from strawberry tissues. In general, they can be divided into three groups: pathogens of leaves, which is the most numerous, berries, roots and crown. Representatives of the genera Alternaria, which were isolated from 57—100% of samples, and Fusarium (40—88%) occurred most often. Less often, but also during the entire growing season, Penicillium spp. (36—69%), Podosphaera aphanis (11—80%), Botrytis cinerea (27—67%), Paraphomopsis obscurans (24—77%) were isolated. Among the leaf diseases powdery mildew was recorded during all growing season, with a maximum in the fruit ripening phase. White leaf spot was observed starting from the budding-flowering phase, and leaf scorch was found from the fruit ripening phase. Gray rot was the most common fruit disease. The root system was more often affected by Fusarium spp. Conclusions. The obtained results demonstrate that during the entire growing season fungi of the genera Alternaria, Fusarium, Penicillium, as well as Podosphaera aphanis, Botrytis cinerea and Paraphomopsis obscurans were most often isolated from strawberry tissues. R.grevilleana was isolated starting from the budding-flowering phase, and D. earlianum from the fruit ripening phase. Species from the genera Podosphaera, Ramularia, Diplocarpon, Colletotrichum, Pestalotiopsis, Verticillium, Sclerotinia, Gnomoniopsis, Rhizoctonia, Coniella, Rhizopus, Septoria, Cylindrocarpon require constant control of their spread. Under favorable conditions for their development, they can cause damage to plants and a significant lack of harvest. The seasonal monitoring of fungi on strawberry provides a means for establishing the optimal periods for their control and developing effective disease protection system.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is widely cultivated for its culinary and medicinal value but is highly susceptible to fungal diseases, particularly those caused by Fusarium species. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of lipid fractions from seven medicinal plants against Fusarium isolates obtained from infected garlic cloves. The lipid fractions were added to PDA medium and fungal growth was monitored over nine days. The lipid fractions of Eucalyptus mellidora and Salvia officinalis significantly reduced mycelial growth of both isolates compared to the control, suggesting strong antifungal potential. Other oils exhibited moderate or low activity. These findings support the potential use of selected plant-derived lipid fractions as natural fungicides in garlic protection. Further research is needed to validate efficacy under field conditions.

Goal. Identification of the fungi present in the plant tissues and rhizosphere of clematis and evaluation of their isolation frequency. Methods. Laboratory — plant samples collected in 2023—2024 throughout the growing season on three varieties were analyzed in the laboratory using macroscopic and biological methods. Isolation of fungi from the rhizosphere soil was carried out by the method of serial soil dilutions on agarized medium. The pathogens were identified by the cultural and morphological characteristics of the colonies and morphometric features of sporulation. Results. Nine species of fungi were isolated from the tissues of clematis leaves and stems, and eight species — from the root system and rhizosphere. The genus Alternaria was the most prevalent on leaves and stems, being observed throughout the entire growing season and isolated from 91% of the samples. Cladosporium spp. and Fusarium spp. were less common (isolation rate 58% and 17%, respectively). Neopestalotiopsis spp., Trichothecium spp., Cylindrocarpon spp., Epicoccum spp., and Chaetomium spp. were also found during both years of the study. Among the isolated fungi vast majority are pathogenic to plants. In 2024, symptoms of rust caused by Aecidium clematidis were detected. Rhizoctonia spp. and Fusarium spp. were most often isolated from the root system and rhizosphere soil. Conclusions. The results obtained indicate that throughout the growing season, plant pathogenic fungi were isolated from the leaves, stems, root systems, and rhizosphere soil. Alternaria spp. were predominantly found in the aboveground parts of the plants, while Rhizoctonia spp. and Fusarium spp. were primarily associated with the underground parts. These species, along with Neopestalotiopsis spp. and Cylindrocarpon spp., require constant monitoring, as they can cause damage on plants under favorable conditions for their development. Monitoring of mycoflora during the growing season makes it possible to establish the optimal periods for disease management.