Phytosanitary condition of age-old trees of the V.V. Pashkevych arboretum of the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

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.

Goal. To determine the spread and development of powdery mildew on pumpkins in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods of investigation. The experiments were carried out in 2016—2018 biennium in the Right-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine (Khmelnytsky region) on the following varieties: common pumpkins — Ukrainskyi bahatoplidnyi, hull-less — Shtyriiskyi. Assessment of severity and spread of powdery mildew was carried out by conventional methods. The records were taken by visual method at 51, 73 and 89 stages (BBCH scale). Ten plants per plot were selected and spread and severity of the disease in percentage were determined.
 Results of investigation. During the period of investigation, powdery mildew was observed on the pumpkins of both varieties annually. Its first sympthoms were noted at the 15—17 stage. According to the morphological and biometric features, the pathogen identified as Erysiphe cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Heluta. In the varieties studied, powdery mildew was found with a non-significant difference in severity and spread. In 2016, the severity of powdery mildew on pumpkins of variety Ukrainskyi bahatoplidnyi varied in the range of 15.4—19.5%, disease spread — 45.1—49.6%, on variety Shtyriiskyi development was 13.3—17.5%, distribution — 46.2—48.1%. In 2017, we obtained the following results: the disease severity for common pumpkins was in the range 13.2—17.4%, disease spread — 42.8—46.7%, for hull-less pumpkins disease severity was 12.2—16.8%, disease spread — 41.7—45.3%. In 2018, severity of powdery mildew was higher than in previous years, accounting for 21.2—26.7% with spread 50.4—55.2% on common pumpkins, and 19.4—25.3% with spread 48.8—54.2% on hull-less pumpkins. The correlation analysis of the data showed that the closest correlation between the spread and the development of the disease was observed with the precipitation and GTC in June.
 Conclusions. Dynamics of severity of powdery mildew during 2016—2018 years on common and hull-less pumpkins were studied. At stage of full ripening, the maximum rates of spread and severity of the disease were noted, which averaged 49.2—50.5% and 19.9—21.2% over the three years, respectively. No significant difference in the powdery mildew infection between common pumpkins (variety Ukrainskyi bahatoplidnyi) and hull-less pumpkins (variety Shtyriiskyi) was found. The defining conditions for the development of powdery mildew on pumpkins are the weather conditions in June, most notably the presence of increased moisture during this period.

The article analyzes the formation and localization of in situ forest genetic resource conservation facilities in the conditions of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in terms of the main forest types. Peculiarities of the state and selection structure of the forest genetic reserves (FGR) and plus stands (PS) were studied. The established that the largest area of forest genetic reserves and plus stands of broadleaves forests within the Right Bank Forest-Steppe is concentrated in the Vinnytsia region, based on the results of the research. The largest number and largest areas of these objects are concentrated in this region. It was established that the largest area of FGR located in fresh forest type conditions — 3475.9 ha, according to the distribution of forest genetic reserves and plus stands. The largest number of objects — 92 (78.0%) — is concentrated in this type of forest. The largest area of FGR is concentrated in fresh hornbeam beech — 842.3 ha in the Roztoch-Opil district of the forest typological region. There are 44 genetic reserves located in the conditions of the Podilsk sector of the Polysk-Prikarpattia district of wet hornbeam forests of the forest typological region of the wet cluster 3d. The largest area of forest stands is fresh beech forest — 234.0 ha. There are 40 FGR with a total area of 2,001 hectares of fresh hornbeam forests in the Podilskyi and Pravoberezhny sectors of the Dnipro tipologycal district. Forest genetic reserves are mainly concentrated in fresh hornbeam forest — 1584.6 hectares (29 units). The representation of the objects of in situ conservation of the gene pool of forest tree species in terms of forest types is insufficient and reflects only 16% of the entire diversity of forest ecosystems within the boundaries of the Roztoch-Opil district and 21–24% of the Dnipro districts of Polisko-Prikarpatskiy. This requires the introduction of measures for the additional creation of forest genetic reserves in other types of forest with the aim of the widest possible representation of the ecosystem diversity of the forest landscapes of the region.

Forest genetic resources (FGRs) are an important source of biodiversity conservation and forest restoration. Today, more than 600 genetic reserves (GRs) of more than 30 main forest tree species have been allocated in Ukraine. The main aim of the work is to reveal the features of the distribution, environmental condition and the trends of state of in situ gene sources of broadleaved tree species in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Based on the research results, it has been established that the share of FGR in situ is only 0.3–0.5% of the total forest area of the region. The predominant species of forest stands of the region are English oak (Quercus robur L.) – 37.7%, European beach (Fagus sylvatica L.) – 26.8% and Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) – 7.6%. The in situ locations of Black alder (Alnus incana L.), Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), English oak and Common ash are characterized by the highest average annual temperature (8.1–8.2°С), the accumulated temperatures for the growing season (3111.9–3237.1°С). Stands with the European beech predominance are allocated in better moisture conditions by the precipitation-temperatures ratio (Selianinov Hydrothermal Index (HTI) – 1.769–1.802; climatic index by Vorobyov – 2.707–2.951). The in situ gene pool conservation units are defined by 12 soil types that are included in the 7 main groups according to the FAO international classification. The largest number of sites, 67 (56.8%), is concentrated on grey and dark-grey forest soils (Haplic Greyzems) (47%). According to the research results, GRs are not evenly distributed, they do not fully reflect the environmental diversity, and their area is negligible. We indicated the unsatisfactory condition of most genetic reserves. It was caused by reducing the share of main tree species, decrease in relative stocking density of stands and tree-breeding structure and deterioration of tree stands condition. This requires the development and implementation of an integration strategy based on the established concept of developing a national ecological network on both national and pan-European levels.

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) plants are valuable for the high taste, nutritional, medicinal and dietary properties of their fruits. Strawberries are the first to open the season of fresh berries. They are especially rich in sugars, organic acids, pectin, vitamins and mineral elements. The total area of strawberry plantations in Ukraine, according to the State Statistics Service, is 8200 ha. The average yield reaches 6.9 tons/ha. In order to develop an effective disease protection system, it is necessary to detect and diagnose disease in time. An assessment of disease spread and severity was conducted in 2020–2021 in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The most common diseases were gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers.), leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earlianum (Ellis and Everh.) F.A. Wolf), powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis (Wallr.) U. Braun and S. Takam.), black spot (Colletotricum acutatum J.H. Simmonds), white leaf spot (Ramularia grevilleana (Tul. and C. Tul. ex Oudem.) Jørst.). On strawberry plantations, diseases appeared in the following order: gray mold, white leaf spot, powdery mildew, black spot, leaf scorch. The most spread out and the most harmful were gray mold, white leaf spot and leaf scorch.

The study analyzed data on the negative impact of military actions on the objects of the nature reserve fund under the management of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” within the forest offices as of March 1, 2024. The impact of military actions on Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) objects was analyzed according to ten factors. It was established that out of the 9 Forest offices of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, the negative impact of military operations on NRF objects was noted in the territory of the Southern, Eastern, Slobozhansky, Northern and Capital forest offices.45 objects of the Nature Reserve Fund, which are located on the lands of forestry purpose, and are in permanent use of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” with a total area of 36,441.0 hectares, were negatively affected by the military operations. Most often, the territories of the objects of the nature reserve fund were negatively affected by military operations as a result of damage by aerial bombardment and shelling of long-range artillery, missiles, UAVs (37 objects) and the basing of military units (40 objects). The 19 NRF objects were affected by three or more negative factors of military operations, which included explosions of various ammunition, rockets and mines, most often accompanied by bullets and fragments of ammunition that exploded, as well as the fall of downed aircraft and missiles. The construction of engineering fortifications and the uncontrolled felling of trees often accompanied the movement of military equipment.The amount of damage to the objects of the nature reserve fund was calculated for 6 objects of the NRF on the territory of the Southern and Eastern forest offices and totals UAH 817,272.44. For 39 NRF objects, the amount of damages has not yet been calculated due to limited access and the impossibility of conducting relevant surveys and examinations and remains an urgent task.In order to eliminate the consequences of the negative impact of military operations on the NRF objects, it is necessary to calculate the damage caused to the environment, carry out demining. An important task is to conduct an inspection of the protected areas for the presence of explosive objects, as well as carry out the necessary sanitary felling to prevent the mass reproduction of pests on the dead and weakened trees damaged by fires.

Based on long-term monitoring of the phytosanitary state of apple plantations in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the species composition of diseases was established, among which scab (Venturia inaegualis (Cooke) Wind) – 32.4 % and fruit rot (Monilia fructigena Pers.) – 23.7 %, mealy dew (Podosphaera leucotriche) – 21.7 %; bacteriosis (Erwinia amylovora) – 17.8 %. The features of the use of tank mixtures of microbiological fungicides based on fungal and bacterial bioagents for the protection of apple trees from diseases have been studied. It has been established that the microbiological preparation “Glyocladin BT” (Trichoderma (Gliocladium) virens) with a consumption rate (6.0 l/ha) provides a reduction in leaf infestation from scab and powdery mildew by 64.0–66.3 %, fruits by 31.4–40.0 %, the weight of fruits increases by 13.0–18.4 % and the yield of standard environmentally safe products by 12.0 and 14.2 %, and the yield by 4.6–5.8 t/ha. Microbiological preparations “Gaupsin BT” and “Pentafag-S” reduce the infection of apple leaves and fruits with bacterial burns by 56.3–70.0 %; fruit rot – by 66.8–80.0 %, while the yield and standard of apple fruits in the experimental variants exceed the control by 0.6–1.1 t/ha and 13.6–18.1 %, respectively.

Analysis of structure and condition of the dendroflora of Kryukovshchina park in Kiev-Svyatoshyn district, Kyiv region

During the route surveys of green plantations in Vinnytsia, it has been found that the most common pathogens of fungal diseases are representatives of the order of the Erisifal, Erisiffamily, the genus of Microsphere, which affects the largest number of species of tree plants. The most common is the genus Oidium, which practically does not cause a great harm to tree plants. The degree of damage and spread of parasitic fungi is influenced by the climatic conditions.The analysis of the tree damage by wood rotsin Vinnytsia forest park and the botanical garden of «Podillia» of VNAU has showed that рhellinus pini are the most widespread on in coniferous species, while fomes fomentarius is the most common on the angiosperms, betula pendula, alnus glutinosa, acer negundo. Phellinus robustus mainly becomes the cause of the disease of common hornbean, betula pendula. осиковий трутовик is becoming and more and wide-spread. Fomitopsis pinicola, which affects betula pendula, alnus glutinosa, is becoming less common,. The most widespread among the pathogens of раневихrot is pleurotus ostreatus (32 %) and polyporus squamosus (25 %), which affect Ácer negúndo, oak, ash. Viscum album L. is widely-spread in urban plantations being a semi-parasite of higher plants, which causes significant damage to woody plants, resulting in a decrease in their aesthetic, phytomeliorative functions, causes rapid aging and dying of wood species. Viscum album L. affects a significant number of the street, district and park plantations. According to the materials of our studies, the urbogenicconditions adversely affect the growth and development of the city dendroflora. Inconsistency of the conditions of growth is reflected on the beginning and duration of the vegetation. In order to create long-lived and highly-ornamental green plantations in the city streets, squares, as well as along asphalted, crushed and compacted ground roads, in the parks and squares, first of all, it is necessary to improve the environmental conditions, i.e. to improve the soil conditions andclimate.

The article is devoted to the most specific to oak pathological signs in the plantations of the recreational zone of the city of Voronezh. These include frost cracks. Regularities of the manifestation of frost-breaking cracks and their significance are analyzed. On the basis of literature sources it is established that frost cracks appear on the trunk of oaks not only in extremely severe, but also in ordinary winters and affect the best, cleaned from the branches, part of the lower trunk, significantly reducing the yield of valuable assortments. The mechanism of crack formation on the trunks of living trees is given, with rapid and significant lowering of the ambient temperature. Occurrence of this feature in the oak forests of the forest-steppe is identified and analyzed. Evaluation of the role of frost crack in the weakening of oak trees is conducted. The causes and regularities of their appearance in various types of plantations are revealed. The data for all frost cracks are recorded with their differentiation into overgrown and unbroken cracks. Variation of this feature in various plantations is shown. Analysis of the structure of frost crack as a result of a disproportionate thermal contraction of the tissues of the outer and inner parts of the trunk is made. The location of the frost cracks is analyzed depending on the sides of the light and depending on the inclination of the trunk. Manifestations of the occurrence of frost cracks are analyzed depending on the combination of the inclination of the trunk and the sides of the light. Comparative characteristic of frost cracks on height of a trunk and extent on trees of other species is made. As a result, the occurrence of frost cracks in all ripening and ripe oak plantations of the recreational zone of Voronezh has been revealed. The ability of frosts to infect oak trees with stem decay and deteriorate the sanitary state of plantations is revealed. It is determined that frost cracks appear in the draft timber facing the north and east and have a well-defined specificity in place of location and extent.

Anthropogenic impact on the environment leads in most cases to forest systems degradation; therefore there is a need for the forest science development towards a balance finding between forest’s ecological functions and economic effect from stands. Introduced species are of great importance in this respect, especially if they are dominated by native tree species. Feasibility of diverse use of black walnut fruits and wood, the urgency of searching for tree species, which are resistant to negative impacts associated with climate change, the issue of increasing pests and diseases resistance encourages scientists to an in-depth study of the questions on the possibilities of black walnut cultivation in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Taking into account the previous experience of black walnut growing in this region and its prospects, we have decided to study more thoroughly the first stage of high-yielding stands restoration, which involves forest stands development. The study included several stages, in particular: studying of black walnut growing experience, seeds quality inspection, sites selection according to forestry scientists recommendations for this species conditions, test plots establishment using plant growth regulators with the definition of the most effective ones and identification of optimal doses of their application. To study the influence of plant growth regulators on the growth and development of black walnut plants we used preparations of N-oxide pyridine derivatives and their compositions with the biological preparation of Ecostim-1. Bleached were the seeds of black nuts, which had a tight germ of milk-white or cream color. The quality of samples was 99 %. The best results in the first year of autumn growth were obtained using growth regulators of group 1. In the group 1 percent of liveliness varied from 73 % to 93 % in June and from 77 % to 90 % in October. On the control site the survivability is 69 %. Comparing the height of black walnut tree seedlings, determined in spring and autumn, it should be emphasized that the increase of seedlings height of black walnut was proportional – the highest plants of the spring period remained the same in the autumn period. In autumn the seedlings grown using growth regulators D5S, D11S, D13S, D16S, D20S, D21S, DGK6, DGUR had the height of more than 90 cm. In the control area the height of the black walnut plants in the spring period was 20 cm, and in the autumn it was 76 cm. Having determined the average diameter of the plants at the height of the root collar, we obtained the best results using D5S, but there are no significant fluctuations on this indicator.

У статті наведено результати аналізу впливу видового складу дендрофлори біотопів м. Полтави на розповсюдження і ступінь зараження листяних деревних порід омелою білою протягом 2016–2019 років у паркових зонах міста. Під час проведення досліджень використовували матеріали екскурсій-них і експериментальних досліджень у таких мікрорайонах обласного центру – Київського, Поділь-ського та Шевченківського. Проведені обстеження показали, що останнім часом у біотопах м. Полтави спостерігається негативна динаміка щодо ураження омелою білою (Viscum album L.) листяних деревних порід. Серед досліджуваних районів найбільш враженими є зелені насадження Шевченківського району (25,2 %), а найменше – зелені насадження Подільського району (12,1 %). Значний процес ураження дерев у вуличних насадженнях можна пояснити чималим антропогенним навантаженням на насадження, що своєю чергою послаблює їхній імунітет і знижує стійкість ву-личних насаджень до шкідників, хвороб і напівпаразитів. Однією з основних причин ураження дерев омелою в паркових насадженнях є близьке розташування інфікованих і здорових дерев, що посилю-ється значним антропогенним тиском та селективністю паразита до переважаючих в дендрофлорі парку видів дерев. За результатами досліджень також було визначено породи дерев, які через свої видові біолого-фізіологічні особливості найбільш уражаються і навпаки виявляють більшу стійкість до пошкоджень омелою білою (Viscum album L.). Проведений аналіз дав змогу розробити рекоменда-ції щодо оздоровлення видового складу біотопів м. Полтави, зважаючи на їхню стійкість до вра-ження омелою білою. Результати проведеного дослідження сприятимуть розробці практичних ре-комендацій, спрямованих на поліпшення ситуації з омелою білою (Viscum album L.) не тільки в мікро-районах м. Полтави, а й зможуть оптимізувати зелені насадження будь-якого населеного пункту.

Background: Viscum album is a hemiparasitic shrub that grows on various tree species and contains diverse active substances. Objectives: The histopathology of the toxic effects of Viscum album leaf and stem aqueous extracts from host plants Azadirachta indica (neem), Psidium guajava (guava), and Acacia albida on organs of albino rats was evaluated. Methodology: Thirty-five (35) albino rats divided into 7 groups (A-G) of 5 albino rats each was exposed to graded doses of 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400mg/kg using the intraperitoneal route. The experimental rats were observed for 24 hours and subsequently sacrificed and their organs including liver, kidney, lungs, and heart were subjected to histopathology for any ultra-structural changes. Results: The histopathological findings indicate that the liver had vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes and congestion of sinusoids for 800mg/kg of Viscum album (Azadirachta indica: neem) stem extract, and widespread vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes at 3200mg/kg for Viscum album (Acacia albida) stem extract. The kidneys had congestion, tubular necrosis with deposition of hyaline materials in the intratubular lumen and capsular space of the glomerulus, and glomerular atrophy at 400mg/kg of Viscum album (Psidium guajava: guava) leaf extract, but indicated marked congestion, and tubular necrosis with 3200mg/kg of Viscum album (Psidium guajava: guava) stem. The lungs had marked thickening of the interstitium by edema fluid, red blood, and mononuclear cell infiltration at 3200mg/kg of Viscum album (Acacia albida) leaf extract. The heart had multifocal areas of mild necrosis of the myocytes with 3200mg/kg Viscum album (Azadirachta indica: neem) leaf extract, and multifocal areas of moderate haemorrhages with 3200mg/kg Viscum album (Psidium guajava: guava) leaf extract. Conclusion: Aqueous extracts of Viscum album in this study had bioactive components that could be toxic.

It is commonly expected that exotic plants experience reduced herbivory, but experimental evidence for such enemy release is still controversial. One reason for conflicting results might be that community context has rarely been accounted for, although the surrounding plant diversity may moderate enemy release. Here, we tested the effects of focal tree origin and surrounding tree diversity on herbivore abundance and leaf damage in a cross-Atlantic tree-diversity experiment in Canada and Germany. We evaluated six European tree species paired with six North American congeners in both their native and exotic range, expecting lower herbivory for the exotic tree species in each pair at each site. Such reciprocal experiments have long been called for, but have not been realized thus far. In addition to a thorough evaluation of overall enemy release effects, we tested whether enemy release effects changed with the surrounding tree diversity. Herbivore abundance was indeed consistently lower on exotics across all six tree genera (12 comparisons). This effect of exotic status was independent of the continent, phylogenetic relatedness, and surrounding tree diversity. In contrast, leaf damage associated with generalist leaf chewers was consistently higher on North American tree species. Interestingly, several species of European weevils were the most abundant leaf chewers on both continents and the dominant herbivores at the Canadian site. Thus, most observed leaf damage is likely to reflect the effect of generalist herbivores that feed heavily on plant species with which they have not evolved. At the German site, sap suckers were the dominant herbivores and showed a pattern consistent with enemy release. Taken together, the consistently lower herbivory on exotics on both continents is not purely a pattern of enemy release in the strictest sense, but to some degree additionally reflects the susceptibility of native plants to invasive herbivores. In conclusion, our cross-Atlantic study is consistent with the idea that nonnative trees have generally reduced herbivory, regardless of tree community diversity and species identity, but for different reasons depending on the dominant herbivore guild.

Tree diversity in forests is an important driver of ecological processes including herbivory. Empirical evidence suggests both negative and positive effects of tree diversity on herbivory, which can be, respectively, attributed to associational resistance or associational susceptibility. Tree diversity experiments allow testing for associational effects, but evidence regarding which pattern predominates is mixed. Furthermore, it is unknown if herbivory on tree species of native vs. exotic origin is influenced by changing tree diversity in a similar way, or if exotic tree species escape natural enemies, resulting in lower damage that is unrelated to tree diversity. To address these questions, we established a young tree diversity experiment in temperate southwestern Germany that uses high planting density (49 trees per plot; plot size 13 m2). The species pool consists of six congeneric species pairs of European and North American origin (12 species in total) planted in monocultures and mixtures (1, 2, 4, 6 species). We assessed leaf damage by leaf-chewing insects on more than 5,000 saplings of six broadleaved tree species. Plot-level tree species richness increased leaf damage, which more than doubled from monocultures to six-species mixtures, strongly supporting associational susceptibility. However, leaf damage among congeneric native and exotic species pairs was similar. There were marked differences in patterns of leaf damage across tree genera, and only the genera likely having a predominately generalist herbivore community showed associational susceptibility, irrespective of the geographical origin of a tree species. In conclusion, an increase in tree species richness in young temperate forests may result in associational susceptibility to feeding by generalist herbivores.