Analysis of sequencing chromatograms for the identification of ash fungal pathogens in the territory of Voronezh
Within the territory of the city of Voronezh, as in many other regions of Russia, intensive die-back of ash is observed. However, to date, the study of pathogens in the city of Voronezh have not been performed. For the identification of the species of ash-infecting fungi, we cultivated them on a nutrient medium, isolated and purified the DNA using sorption spin columns, and amplified and sequenced the ITS regions of DNA. Analysis of the chromatograms obtained as a result of sequencing made it possible to determine the species of fungi that infect ash trees. It should be noted that the analysis of chromatograms obtained as a result of DNA sequencing of the studied fungi did not reveal Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, a fungal pathogen that was the most obvious candidate for the main cause of ash die-back, since this fungus greatly reduced the population of ash in Central and Northern Europe, and was also found in the Voronezh region on the territory of the Tellerman experimental forestry. On the contrary, in one of the trees Fusarium avenaceum was identified, which is considered an endophyte of the ash tree and, according to some reports, has antagonistic activity against H. fraxineus. However, the DNA of Erysiphe salmonii, a powdery mildew fungus that previously affected ash trees in Eastern Europe, was determined on two trees. In turn, the chromatograms revealed peaks that corresponded to the nucleotide sequences of DNA of Aspergillus niger, Coprinellus micaceus, and C. ovatus. The results of this study are applicable in the economic and environmental sector of forestry in the Voronezh region for designing a strategy for targeted combating the epidemic of ash die-back in the city of Voronezh.