Andrey Yurkov works in the Laboratory of Ecology of Symbiotic and Associative Rhizobacteria at the All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology as a leading researcher and is the author of 120 publications (https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=162044), with 17 publications from the Scopus list (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56835374200) and with work experience of over 20 years. Key scientific interests: research on the mechanisms controlling the formation of effective arbuscular mycorrhiza and the creation of biopreparation for plant growth enhancement based on Glomeromycotina fungi. Yurkov A.P. et al. developed a genetic model: Medicago lupulina + Rhizophagus irregularis forming highly effective arbuscular mycorrhiza under conditions of low phosphorus in the substrate. The author organized expeditions to the mountains of the North Caucasus and the Gorny Altai to isolate arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and assess their biodiversity. Yurkov A.P. also created the first Russian collection of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi.