Volgograd Region Research Articles

The Construction of the First Volga-Don Canal of Peter the Great

This article studies the history behind the construction of a navigable canal meant to connect the Volga and the Don through their tributaries, the Kamyshinka and the Ilovlya, in 1697–1698. The authors aim to clarify the history of the first project of Peter the Great to modernise the country’s transport infrastructure and analyse it in the context of the events of the initial stage of the Petrine era. The study refers to maps and plans of the area, materials of office work – documents that both have been previously published and are introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time and come from the funds of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, as well as the results of archaeological exploration carried out at the Selimov Val cultural heritage site in the village of Petrov Val in Kamyshin district of Volgograd Region. The study demonstrates that the period of 1697–1698 saw the construction of a structure meant to perform both fortification and hydraulic functions in the interfluve of the Kamyshinka and the Ilovlya. B. A. Golitsyn and E. I. Ukraintsоv controlled the construction, while Prince A. F. Shakhovsky directly supervised it. The project was authored by engineer J. Bröckell, and Peter I attached great importance to it, repeatedly discussing it with European statesmen and scientists during the Great Embassy. Pososhniye lyudi (people in sokha-based military service) were recruited in the settlements and districts of the Volga cities and did the construction work on the Kamyshinka. Logging was carried out along the River Sura in Alatorsky and Yadrinsky uyezds. By the end of 1697, a fortification was built where the Kamyshinka and the Ilovlya were closest to each other, the remains of the fortification perfectly preserved to this day. However, it turned out impossible to build a navigable canal. Having received news of the departure of J. Bröckell, the author of the first project, from the country in the winter of 1698, Peter I and other members of the Great Embassy began to look for and invite “sluice masters”, i. e. specialists in the construction of navigable canals. Thus, the first unsuccessful attempt to connect the Volga and the Don was why the tsar paid close attention to the theoretical and practical issues of building navigable canals as a significant area of science and technology.

Опыт использования беспилотных летательных аппаратов для выявления мест размещения отходов в водоохранных зонах

Disposal of industrial and consumer waste in water protection zones of water bodies is a violation of water legislation of the Russian Federation. The use of materials obtained with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) significantly expands the possibilities for determining stored waste. UAVs are used for prompt identification of unauthorized waste disposal sites within the boundaries of the water protection zones of the Tsimlyansk reservoir. The paper presents the possibilities of using orthophotoplans and photo materials obtained during field surveys carried out by the Russian Research Institute for the Integrated Use and Protection of Water Resources in 2019-2021. According to the research results, the largest accumulation of solid household waste is localized in the water protection zone of large cities and villages. The largest amount of waste stored in the water protection zone is located in the Dubovsky and Tsimplansk districts of the Rostov region, as well as in the Kalachyovsky district of the Volgograd region. Dumping sites detected with the help of UAVs based on the composition of the predominant waste were divided into five groups: solid household waste, construction waste, organic waste, metal, and waste of unknown composition. Up to 42 % of landfill waste in the water protection zone of the reservoir is solid domestic waste, at least 25 % of landfill sites are construction waste and 20 % are organ waste.

Актуальность декарбонизации деятельности промышленных предприятий на территории Волгоградской области

The article presents the influence analysis of industrial enterprises of the Volgograd region on thestate of atmospheric air in the region. The importance of solving the problem of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere at the international level has been analyzed. Foreign experience in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions of industrial enterprises is considered. A method to reduce the environmental burden on atmospheric air by decarbonization, i.e. сarbon capture and storage of CO2 in deep geological objects is proposed.

Comparative demonstration trials of winter wheat varieties of the ARC “Donskoy” in the zone of blackearth soils of the Volgograd region

The current paper has considered the results of comparative trials of winter wheat varieties of the ARC “Donskoy” in the zone of blackearth soils, the subzone of southern blackearth of the Volgograd region. Modern breeding provides a wide choice of winter wheat varieties. In the Volgograd region, more than 100 varieties are sown annually. This objectively results in difficulty of the best choice. Based on the official data on the preferences of farmers, there have been optimized the selection base, focusing on the varieties of the ARC “Donskoy”, considering it more important and responsible for farmers to clarify information about this significant (about 60 %) block. The field trial was laid in the Kikvidzensky district of the Volgograd region in the zone of blackearth soils, the subzone of southern blackearth, on the lands of “AGROPRODUKT” LLC. The study was carried out according to the methodology used by the State Variety Commission. Significant effect on the autumn stage of development was made by weather conditions, which were significantly contrasting, during the years of trial. The value of field germination was at the level of 65–75 %. The indicators of autumn tillering at the end of the autumn vegetation period for three years were in a rather narrow range of 3.9–4.7 pcs/plant. In the studied area, the formation of yield due to the density of productive stems prevailed. On average, for three years, the value of the productive stalk was 610–729 pieces/m2. According to this indicator, the winter wheat varieties ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Donskaya Step’, ‘Kapitan’ (679–729 pcs/m2) were the best ones. As a result, the best productivity indicators were demontarted by the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (5.66 t/ha) and ‘Donskaya Step’ (5.41 t/ha). A significant group of varieties, such as ‘Kapitan’, ‘Lidiya’, ‘Asket’, ‘Zhavoronok’, formed 5.21– 5.26 t/ha.

Selection of Cultivar-rootstock Combinations of Diploid Plum (Prunus rossica Erem.) for Arid Conditions in Southern Russia

Background: Plum diploid is a new species for the conditions of the Volgograd region of Russia, not previously grown. There are a large number of varieties and rootstocks that need to be studied in relation to new growing conditions. Methods: The research was carried out in 2020-2022. Drought resistance and heat resistance were determined by laboratory method. To account for these indicators, the water content of the leaf, the water deficit and the water-holding capacity of the leaves were determined. Productivity and fruit quality were determined by the weight method. Statistical analysis in the standard Microsoft Excel 2013 software package. Result: The study of the productivity of variety-rootstock combinations has shown that it is significantly influenced by, in addition to varietal characteristics, external environmental factors, also the rootstock on which the variety is grafted. The rootstock affects the strength of growth, the time of entry into fruiting, the quality characteristics of fruits, which significantly affects productivity. The highest productivity was observed in the Sarmatka variety on the VVA-1 rootstock (21.5 kg/tree), the smallest was the Kuban Comet on the cherry plum rootstock (10 kg/tree).

Spatio-temporal dynamics of land use transitions associated with human activities over Eurasian Steppe: Evidence from improved residual analysis

We presented a framework to evaluate the land use transformations over the Eurasian Steppe (EUS) driven by human activities from 2000 to 2020. Framework involves three main components: (1) evaluate the spatial-temporal dynamics of land use transitions by utilizing the land change modeler (LCM) and remote sensing data; (2) quantifying the individual contributions of climate change and human activities using improved residual trend analysis (IRTA) and pixel-based partial correlation coefficient (PCC); and (3) quantifying the contributions of land use transitions to Leaf Area Index Intensity (LAII) by using the linear regression. Research findings indicate an increase in cropland (+1.17 % = 104,217 km2) over EUS, while a − 0.80 % reduction over Uzbekistan and − 0.16 % over Tajikistan. From 2000 to 2020 a slight increase in grassland was observed over the EUS region by 0.05 %. The detailed findings confirm an increase (0.24 % = 21,248.62 km2) of grassland over the 1st half (2000−2010) and a decrease (−0.19 % = −16,490.50 km2) in the 2nd period (2011−2020), with a notable decline over Kazakhstan (−0.54 % = 13,690 km2), Tajikistan (−0.18 % = 1483 km2), and Volgograd (−0.79 % = 4346 km2). Area of surface water bodies has declined with an alarming rate over Kazakhstan (−0.40 % = 10,261 km2) and Uzbekistan (−2.22 % = 8943 km2). Additionally, dominant contributions of human activities to induced LULC transitions were observed over the Chinese region, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Volgograd regions, with approximately 87 %, 83 %, 92 %, and 47 %, respectively, causing effective transitions to 12,997 km2 of cropland, 24,645 km2 of grassland, 16,763 km2 of sparse vegetation in China, and 12,731.2 km2 to grassland and 15,356.1 km2 to sparse vegetation in Mongolia. Kazakhstan had mixed climate-human impact with human-driven transitions of 48,568 km2 of bare land to sparse vegetation, 27,741 km2 to grassland, and 49,789 km2 to cropland on the eastern sides. Southern regions near Uzbekistan had climatic dominancy, and 8472 km2 of water bodies turned into bare soil. LAII shows an increasing trend rate of 0.63 year−1, particularly over human-dominant regions. This study can guide knowledge of oscillations and reduce adverse impacts on ecosystems and their supply services.

Видовой состав паразитов крови рыб (Pisces) водоемов Волгоградской области: обзор исследований

The aim of this article is generalization of literary sources on blood parasites of fish in water bodies of the Volgograd region and determination of species composition. The material for the study was all the publications available to the authors on fish blood parasites in the Volgograd region. Methods used: comparative data analysis, descriptive statistics methods. Results indicate that the fish blood parasite fauna includes about 18 species belonging to 2 types (Euglenozoa, Sporozoa), 2 classes (Kinetoplastidea, Coccidea), 3 families (Cryptobiidae, Trypanosomatidae, Haemogregarinidae), and 3 genera. In view of the lack of reliable information about the findings of Cryptobia barbiand Trypanosoma acerinae in the blood of fish from the Volgograd region, their habitation in the study area is debatable. This report is preliminary, and the proposed species composition needs to be clarified. Practical significance: the obtained information can be used as a guide for the study of the parasite fauna of commercial fish species in the reservoirs of the Volgograd region, the implementation of preventive measures, and the monitoring of the epidemiological situation in the region.

Врачи уходят…куда? Зачем? И почему?

The shortage of healthcare personnel is a contemporary issue of national healthcare. At the same time, admission to medical colleges and universities is always highly competitive. However, having become a doctor, many specialists either seek private medical practice or retire from medicine. It is widely thought that low earnings of healthcare professionals are the reason for that. But this is not entirely true. The article summarizes the results of a sociological trial used to conclude about the hierarchy of reasons for the reduction in the number of physicians in state medicine of modern Russia. The trial was conducted in a typical region of the Russian Federation — the Volgograd region. An expert survey of the heads of state medical organizations was used. It turned out that ethical and legal insecurity of doctors promoted retiring from medicine and seeking private medical practice. It is the profession that healthcare professionals worry about the most; they have to shun medicine due to the decline of the value of the profession in the society and inattentiveness to healthcare professionals, which is most acutely felt by young physicians. Thus, care for medical personnel, especially young specialists, is the most pressing issue. That’s why mentors of medical beginners play a specific role as they do not only educate but also raise devotion to the profession. At the same time, mentors need state support as well. The article suggests which forms of support can be provided.

Социальные практики туризма в современной России (на примере Волгоградской области)

The methodological basis of this research is built within the framework of the theory of social changes conditioned by social practice transformation. The article reveals the concept of the term "practice". It also highlights the main approaches to studying mobility and connections in the system of tourism social practices (leisure practices, recreation, mobility, infrastructure, institutional factors, etc.). It is shown that social tourism practices are included in a complex with such practices as sports and excursions. Moreover, they are conjugated with space and time and are conditioned by technological progress and socio-economic processes. Several main trends are highlighted in this study. Firstly, changes in practices over time and during processes of institutionalization. Secondly, practices follow the results of infrastructure development. Thirdly, the tourist services market is affected by the economic influence of large companies. There are other main trends described in the article. The empirical base of this study is presented by data from the mass questionnaire survey "Social practices in the tourism field" conducted in the Volgograd region in October – November 2021 (n = 861; the sample is multistage and quota, with quotas by gender and age). The main purpose was to identify the social practices of actors living in the Volgograd region. The main problem was the correlation between Volgograd region residents' needs and opportunities for the implementation of social practices in the tourism field. It is revealed that income level is one of the leading factors influencing the organization of travel and the choice of a place to relax. The main sources of travel information are virtual and real social networks. The most common social practices are beach holidays and visiting nature. Volgograd region residents prefer to travel with their family and organize their holidays on their own (including traveling by private car). These facts suggest that social practices are not fully implemented, and sometimes actors reproduce a system of social actions or demonstrate affective behavior.

Лексикон диалектоносителей в этнолингвистическом аспекте: проблемы, задачи, методы исследования

The paper presents a comprehensive approach analysis on the lexicon of dialect speakers, chosen for the purpose of ethnolinguistic study of this research object. Attaining the objectives set contributes to the consideration of the problems relevant to the modern paradigm of scientific knowledge. Following the established methodological principles of linguistic units interpretation and using the recordings of the Don and Ukrainian dialects speakers as research material, the authors present a multilevel classification of a vast array of facts registered while surveying the informants in the residential areas with mixed population in the Volgograd region. The methods of differentiation of the vocabulary with an explicitly or implicitly expressed ethnocomponent of meaning are proposed, the means of linguistic continuum segmentation are determined. It is noted to reflect indirectly the realia, phenomena, processes and signs characteristic of traditional material and spiritual folk culture. The methodological system of dialectological, functional-and-semantic, and ethnolinguistic analysis of lexical units is introduced. It allows to present the person's ethnic identification means in the speech of Russian and Ukrainian speakers, taking into account the content-and-semantic principle of detailing information in the text (within the framework of themes and microthemes) and the semantic-and-categorial method of ethnocultural meanings verbalization in the context (within situations and microsituations). The fundamentals of the field modelling technique embracing a vast array of facts are characterised, their application enables presenting lexicon of dialect speakers as the hierarchical structure, and the ethnolinguistic significance of its individual segments and their components identification is discovered.

Анализ восстановления растительного покрова в пределах Шуруповских карьеров на основе данных дистанционного зондирования

The article presents an analysis of restoration processes within two quarries located in the northwest of the Shurupovsky Khutor in the Frolovsky district of the Volgograd region. The described methods of revegetation analysis within the quarry-dump complexes included images from the USGS Earth Explorer portal (US Geological Survey). The Landsat-5 TM satellite images were used in July 2007, Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS was used in July 2015, and Landsat 9 OLI_TIRS described the status in July 2022. Using the ArcGIS geoinformation system 10.3.1, we considered multispectral images of different times and calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for 2007, 2015, and 2022. As a second index, we calculated the NDVI trend for 2007–2015 and 2015–2022. Based on the results of interpretation, the assessment of changes in the vegetation cover of quarry-dump complexes was carried out. As a result, it was revealed that the vegetation cover of quarries demonstrated different restoration pathways despite their close territorial location. By 2022, the NDVI of the eastern quarry did not exceed 0.2, and the NDVI of the western quarry increased to 0.5. However, in general, there is a positive NDVI trend in the territories of both quarries. Resulting from the data obtained, NDVI maps and NDVI trend maps for the studied quarries were prepared. Tables for calculating changes in the areas of flooding and vegetation cover of the Shurupov quarries for 2007, 2015, and 2022 were created in MS Excel.

Mapping of Arable Lands in Agro-Landscapes of the Volgograd Region According to Remote Sensing Data

Mapping of Arable Lands in Agro-Landscapes of the Volgograd Region According to Remote Sensing Data

IMPROVEMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF DURUM WHEAT CULTIVATION IN THE ZONE OF THE CHERNOZEM SOUTHERN IN THE LOWER VOLGA REGION

The conducted research allowed us to identify new approaches in the technology of improving the cultivation of durum wheat in the southern chernozem zone, which are aimed not only at increasing the yield and quality characteristics of this crop, but also to show new ways to preserve and increase soil fertility. In experimental surveys, both zoned varieties of spring (Krasnokutka 13 - control, Don elegy) and winter (Aksinite and Agate of the Don) durum wheat were studied. The experimental part was carried out in 2018...2021 on the territory of the farm "Eliseev A.N.", which is located in the chernozem zone of the southern Mikhailovsky district of the Volgograd region. The norms of mineral nutrition for yields of 2.00, 4.00 and 6.00 t/ha were calculated. The long-term experience has shown that biofertilizers (Benefit +, Gumi 20) can compete with mineral nutrition to obtain a given yield of durum wheat. The use of biofertilizer Gumi 20 contributed to a yield of 3.11 t / ha in the Don Elegia variety, and in winter durum wheat Axinite up to 3.73 t / ha. The highest yield level has Axinite), which amounted to 5.96 t/ha (with a planned yield of 6.00 t/ha). On the spring durum wheat variety, the maximum yield was achieved in the Don Elegia variety (5.03 t/ha) on the Gumi 20+N221P87K135 variant.

THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF LANDS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

On the basis of testing various varieties of ecological and economic assessment of lands on the territory of the Russian Plain, their systematization was carried out both from the standpoint of the ratio of profi t and loss associated with nature management, and the attribution of these varieties to the areas of economic science that diff erently determine the role of human economic activity in ecological systems.Th e predominance in the Russian Federation of those techniques and methods of ecological and economic assess-ment, which are associated with the defi nition of damage/ harm from pollution, degradation and cluttering of land plots, is shown. Th e results of the approbation of the «Methodology for determining the extent of damage from soil and land degradation» (1994) for agricultural farms located in various regions of the Russian Federation — in the Volgograd, Belgorod, Kaliningrad and Penza regions are presented. It has been established that the damage caused to agricultural lands in all the studied regions is due to the low level of agrotechnical measures carried out here — mainly insuffi cient application of organic and mineral fertilizers, liming of acidic soils (for example, in the Kaliningrad region) and gypsum of saline soils (in the Volgograd region).Methods where the comparison of income and losses is carried out (methodology Y. von Braun, adjusting the value of land based on information about their ecological condition), are the most diffi cult to implement, but the most promising from a practical point of view. Th e results of the adjustment of the cadastral value of the lands of the West-ern Administrative District of Moscow based on the calculation of the indicator of loss of ecological quality of soils are presented. In some cases, the decrease in the cadastral value of land plots was 71% compared to the initial value.It has been established that the assessment of environmental damage refers to the direction of «environmental economics», the assessment of ecosystem services of soils and lands, the adjustment of the value of land based on information about their ecological condition, the assessment of environmental tax/environmental payments, — to the direction of «ecological economics», the methodology of J. von Braun and the assessment of environmental risks of pollution, degradation and littering of land — towards the direction of «green economics».

Spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters of chestnut soils in small watersheds under the influence of forest strips

The soils of agricultural land are degraded, which affects their productivity. Soil properties reflect the ability of soil to prevent the processes of degradation. The article presents materials on the study of chestnut soils of Volgograd region in the system of protective forest belts on arid agricultural lands. The purpose of the study, conducted in 2021, was to establish the spatial impact of protective forest strips on the physico-chemical parameters of the soil in the conditions of a low steepness of the slope of the eastern exposition. To achieve this goal, we investigated theoretical and methodological materials on the experimental plot and studied the selected samples by conducting laboratory analyses of the main indicators (granulometric composition, soil structure coefficient, soil density, organic carbon). As a result of the study of samples from points near the forest belt and within it the following was revealed: high content of organic matter (up to 1.47%) and high density (up to 1.53 g/cm3), sandy loam soil with a light granulometric composition and high content of agronomically valuable aggregates (0.25-10 mm), the structure factor above 1.6. Outside the forest belt and up the slope low carbon content (not more than 0.84 %) low density (not more than 1.32 g/cm3), soil has heavy granulometric composition, structure coefficient decreases to 0.86.

Ecological and economic efficiency of the agroforestry complex in the zone of chestnut soils of the Volgograd region

Light chestnut soils are the most vulnerable to external factors. In the system of balanced farming, an important place is occupied by the forest reclamation complex, which performs the ecological function of preserving and restoring degraded territories and soils. The zonal aspect of the impact of the agroforestry complex on soil and crops is poorly studied, the choice of criteria for assessing the impact on the agrolandscape causes discussion, there is no theory of rational land use, which determines the relevance of this work. Moreover, there are about 930 thousand hectares of low-productive degraded arable land in the Volgograd region. Therefore, the purpose of the research conducted from 2016 to 2022 was to study the environmental and economic efficiency of the agroforestry complex in the zone of chestnut soils. The research methodology is based on the developments of the GNU VNIIZiZPE, FGBNU VNIALMI, FGBNU "Rosinformagrotech", on the analysis and generalization of scientific literature, data obtained from three economic entities, with different options for agrotechnological and forest reclamation factors and control outside their impact zone. The normative values of the structure have been clarified, supplemented, and the ecological and economic efficiency of the agroforestry complex of the arid zone has been established. A high level of profitability of winter wheat grain production of 92.4-170.4% and a balance of agricultural production of 4 points were revealed, which, under the conditions of anthropogenic and climatic stress of agricultural production, ensures the formation of ecologically balanced agricultural landscapes and the implementation of the idea of rational farming and land use in areas of insufficient and deficient moisture.

Seed production techniques for enhancing millet yields in chestnut soils of the Lower Volga region

Growing millet in the Nizhnevolzhsky region is as a drought-resistant crop that guarantees the provision of the food industry with raw materials and animal feed is extremely important. Seed-growing work on millet is currently represented by three varieties, as the most in demand among peasant farms. In technological issues of growing millet, insufficient attention has been paid to seeding rates for seed purposes in the arid region of the Lower Volga region. The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal and economically justified sowing rate for obtaining seeds of sowing millet in the Lower Volga region. Studies to establish optimal seeding rates for seed purposes of millet sowing were carried out on an experimental plot in the Kamyshinsky district, Volgograd region. The obtained data on the yield of millet were processed by the method of dispersion analysis. As a result of studies to determine the optimal seeding rate for millet, it was found that for seed purposes the most effective seeding rate was 25 kg/ha, at this rate the Diana variety was the most productive - 1.8 t/ha. With the profitability of seed production - 207.3%. With a seeding rate of 20 kg/ha, the yield of the same variety was 1.6 t/ha, the profitability was 244.8%. The leading variety in the test had the highest weight of 1000 seeds - 8.7 g and protein content in the grain - 13.9%. The highest yield in the experiment was obtained in millet crops at a seeding rate of 25 kg/ha (1.8 t/ha) in the Diana variety. The result of the variety Diana is higher than that of the standard variety Saratovskoe 6 by 0.1 t/ha.

Modern features of the educational level and employment of the population of the Volgograd region

Modern trends in the development of the higher vocational education system of the Volgograd region are being considered. Patterns of its development are revealed, expressed in a change in the number of educational institutions and the number of students studying in them. The composition of the population in terms of education is described and its impact on the level of employment in the region is considered.

Comparison of the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers during the autumn and spring tillering of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

An important direction of modern agrotechnologies of crop production is the greening of intensive technologies and energy conservation, this contributes to the use of biological preparations that can increase yields, improve grain quality, increase profitability by saving mineral fertilizers and protective equipment. Therefore, field experiment was conducted during 2019-2021 in the dry-steppe zone of chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. The scheme of the experiment included four sites with late-autumn; early-spring; late-spring application dates and control, without the use of nitrogen fertilizers. All records and surveys were carried out according to the methodology of the state variety testing of agricultural crops: calculation of germination, determination of tillering coefficient, determination of the weight of aboveground biomass of plants, the density of productive stems. As a result of studying the issue conducted in various weather conditions of the test years, it was established that the period of application of nitrogen fertilizers had a significant impact on the growth, development and yield of experimental crops. The highest yield indicators were recorded at the time of early spring application of nitrogen fertilizers @ 38.0, 30.8 and 40.2 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. With the delay in the application of nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, the yield decreased by 8-13% during the observation period, and 32.94 28.2 and 35.8 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The introduction of nitrogen fertilizers in autumn, as close as possible to the end of the growing season, led to a decrease in yield by only 2-4% and amounted to 36.5, 29.8 and 39.5 q/ha in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Members of the Genus Beauveria Associated with Natural Populations of Locusts in Southern European Russia

The species composition of fungal pathogens among three of the most harmful locust species (Asian migratory locust, Moroccan locust and Italian locust) in the southern Russian Federation was studied. Insects were sampled in 20 locations of seven federal subjects of the Russian Federation (Republic of Dagestan, Republic of Kalmykia; Krasnodar and Stavropol Krai; Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov Regions). Forty-five isolates belonging to the fungal genus Beauveria were collected, particularly isolates of B. bassiana and B. pseudobassiana. B. bassiana was the most prevalent, constituting 98% of the samples, and could be differentiated into three clades, as evidenced by the TEF gene and intergenic spacer Bloc. Clade 1, represented by the reference isolate ARSEF 2040, was most abundant (61%), and Clade 2, represented by ARSEF 1811, had lower abundance (27%). The remaining isolates either belonged to the genetically distinct Clade 3, represented by ARSEF 1564, or were found to fall outside the major lineages. The frequency of infection in locust populations was variable and tended to increase under conditions unfavorable for the insects. The vast majority of Beauveria isolates from locusts were highly virulent in this insect group.