Laboratory of microbiological protection of plants

Within the framework of the direction, commercial strains of Bradyrhizobium bacteria that are part of soy inoculants are considered. The effect of Bradyrhizobium bacteria on soybean resistance to phytopathogenic strains of Fusarium fungi and the causative agent of bacterial soybean burn Pseudomonas savastanoi pv is being studied. glycinea in terms of induction of systemic plant resistance. In addition, the adaptability of soybeans during seed inoculation by Bradyrhizobium bacteria under temperature stress is considered. The laboratory studies aspects of the effectiveness of soy inoculants, such as the specificity of varieties in plant-microbial symbiosis, the titer of inoculants, and the resistance of rhizobia on seeds.

The laboratory searches for, isolates and identifies insect viruses. Baculovirus strains are screened against natural and laboratory insect populations in vitro and in vivo according to the criterion of entomopathogenic activity. As of December 2024, the collection includes about 30 cultures of nuclear polyhedrosis and insect granulosis viruses. In cooperation with the ICiG SB RAS, full-genome sequencing of 22 cultures of the granulosa virus of the apple moth C. pomonella was performed.

The direction includes the isolation and study of the antifungal activity of Bacillus and Pseudomonas bacteria from the Bioresource collection of the Federal State Budgetary Budgetary Institution FNTSBZR "State Collection of Entomoacariphages and Microorganisms", which are promising for the development of biologics based on them against phytopathogenic fungi. The aim of the direction is to study the metabolites of new promising strains of bacteria of the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas for the development of fungicidal biologics based on them using thin-layer chromatography, bioautography, as well as using an ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The tasks include obtaining chromato-mass spectra of secondary metabolites of promising bacterial strains and conducting a comparative analysis using standard metabolites (Sigma-Aldrich). The results will be used to scientifically substantiate the effectiveness of biologics.

As a result of route surveys and expedition fees, strains of bacteria and fungi useful for crop production were isolated in the laboratory. Bioagents are represented by various taxa of bacteria and Trichoderma fungi, which are isolated from the rhizosphere of various plants, plant residues and soils from various stations of the Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory. The collection was actively formed in 2011-2012 and continues to be replenished with new strains of microorganisms. As of December 2024, the collection includes 880 strains of beneficial bacteria, including strains with entomopathogenic, nematicidal and antifungal activity, as well as 75 isolates of P. Trichoderma suppressor fungi with cellulolytic activity. 43 bacterial strains were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. Genome-wide sequencing was performed for 26 bacterial strains. The collection also includes 60 isolates of phytopathogenic fungi. The purpose of the direction is to maintain and preserve the biodiversity of beneficial microorganisms, its study and use in agrobiotechnology. Pure cultures of microorganisms are maintained in a metabolically active state using subcultivation (the method of periodic replanting) and stored in test tubes on a beveled agarized nutrient medium. The storage temperature is +4C. The storage method using mineral oil has been worked out. A method of maintaining strains in a metabolically inactive state is being mastered -lyophilization (drying) and cryopreservation (deep freezing). The full name of the collection is "The State Collection of Entomoacariphages and Microorganisms".

Magnaporthe oryzae is the most harmful pathogen of rice in Russia and the world, the protection of which in Russia is currently conditioned solely by the use of chemical fungicides. The aim of the direction is to study the effectiveness of biological agents that can effectively contain this disease. In the process of primary screening of bacteria with fungicidal activity to the causative agent of rice pyriculariasis Magnaporthe oryzae, 300 strains from the Bioresource Collection of the State Collection of Entomoacariphages and Microorganisms were studied. Screening of crops made it possible to identify the 8 most promising agents for their field testing. During the three-year field trials 2021-2023, two strains with fungicidal activity against the causative agent of rice pyriculariasis were identified. In addition, these strains have growth-stimulating activity. Within the framework of the direction, it is necessary to study the mechanisms that determine the effectiveness of bacteria in restraining pyriculariasis, as well as to study the mechanisms of plant growth stimulation.