The effect of inductors of the immune response of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), β-1.3-glucan (GK), salicylic acid (SA) and their mixture on the structural and functional state of photosynthetic apparatus and the oxidative status of cucumber plants under infection by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum was studied. It was found that the disorganizing effect of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxusporum in cucumber plants caused the suppression of the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and the functional activity of the photosystem 2 in chloroplast membranes, as well as in changing the character of the redistribution of absorbed light energy, leading to a decrease in the photochemical energy conversion (qP) and enhancing non-photochemical quenching (qN) of chlorophyll. In this conditions intensification of lipid peroxidation processes was observed. The use of immunomodulators such as BABA, GK and SA promotes the improvement of the adaptive properties of the photosynthetic apparatus, and the reduction of oxidative processes activity in infected cucumber leaves, which indicates the protective role of these substances against the fusarious wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum.

The steam distillation method was used to obtain samples of essential oil of some species of genus Agastache L. introduced in Belarus. More than 20 components have been identified and determined in the essential oils of Agastache pallidiflora ssp.neomexicana L., Agastache aurantiaca L., Agastache mexicana L., Agastache foeniculum L. by gas liquid chromatography.

The quantitative composition of the samples of essential oils depends on the type of plant material. The main its components are limonene, 1.8-cineol, mentone, isomentone, methyl chavicol, methyeugenol. The main component of essential oils Agastache pallidiflora ssp. neomexicana L. и Agastache aurantiaca L is mentone (40–65 %). Essential oil Agastache foeniculum L. is enriched with pulegone and isomentone. Methyl chavicol and methyleugenol dominate in Agastache mexicana essential oil. Distribution of the enantiomers of limonene, menthone and pulegone are shown. Regardless of the plant species, the samples are optically pure in the (+)-pulegone. The nature of the distribution of the enantiomers of limonene and menthone is an individual characteristic of the studied Agastache L. essential oils.

Hypochlorous acid, HOCl, is one of the most powerful biological oxidants and the most important mediator of inflammatory damage of cells and tissues. The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphological features of HOCl – induced oxidative impairment in rat liver mitochondria in vitro and to compare the processes of HOCl-induced oxidation in mitochondria, erythrocytes and B14 cells.

HOCl addition (300 μM) to mitochondrial suspension resulted in mitochondrial structural changes with a decrease in the mean total length of the crista and the average number of cristae in one mitochondria with no change in the length of one crista. There was shown a slight decrease in the average cross-sectional area of one mitochondria, mitochondrial profile elongation, an increase in the number of altered mitochondria and the heterogeneity of the population. Simultaneously we observed depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, the rate and degree of which were determined by the concentration of HOCl. HOCl addition (25–150 μМ) induced lysis of erythrocytes for 60–180 s, which was preceded by a change in the shape and size of cells. The apparent dissociation constant for the HOCl – membrane complex was estimated to be Kd = 140 ± 25 μМ, and the Hill coefficient was to be 2.1. The B14 cell exposure to HOCl (100 μМ) led to a loss of ability to sorb on the substrate, to form associates, and to subsequent shrinkage of cells.

Therefore, HOCl caused some morphological (and functional) changes in rat liver mitochondria, which may serve as one of the causes of cell death in inflammatory foci. At the level of the whole cells, the HOCl addition induced lysis of red blood cells and deep damage to B14 cells.

Our research let identified the main climatic factors which impact on radial increment of oak trees on different forest conditions in South Belarus. We defined three regions (southwest, south and southeast) with different growth conditions and built six standardized master chronologies from 140 to 230 years long.

The results of correlation analysis of standardized chronologies showed that response of oak trees to climate on floodplain and drained conditions differ significantly from oak trees growing in dry conditions. A regression model between oak treering width and climatic parameters was developed for different growing conditions. Response function showed that increment of oak trees in floodplain conditions is closely related with temperature at the beginning of the growing season. For trees that are growing in mesotrophic conditions the main importance is the regime of precipitation.

The effect of LED lighting of different spectral composition on the productivity of Spirulina platensis, an accumulation of protein in alga cells and an expression of the nitrate reductase gene has been studied. It was shown that LED lighting with a predominance of the red component in the emission spectrum allows achieving 9–29 % higher alga productivity compared to using fluorescent lamp illumination. Illumination with single blue light resulted in significant (83 %) decrease in the productivity of Spirulina platensiswhich apparently was due to the absence of the yellow and red components in the illuminator spectral composition, which are most effectively absorbed by phycocyanin. A positive correlation between an increase in the productivity of alga and the accumulation of protein in its cells was found. So, by using an illuminator with red LEDs, the protein content increased by 21 % calculated per gram of dry weight and 47 % calculated per liter of suspension relative to the control. Analysis of the expression of the Nar gene encoding nitrate reductase in Spirulina platensiscells did not reveal a direct dependence between an increasing protein accumulation and an expression level of the Nar gene in the most promising in terms of biomass and protein yield sample of alga, growing under red LEDs. This indicates the crucial role of the photosynthetic activity of Spirulina platensiscells in increasing productivity and protein synthesis.

A computational simulation of water transfer across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been carried out. In the developed model, AQP4 plays a kinetically limiting role in water transfer across the BBB. The effects of the AQP4 specific density changes and its polarized distribution have been studied in respect to the volumetric water transfer. It has been demonstrated that AQP4 density and polarization within the glial membranes enveloping the capillary can affect the volumetric flow and the sign of the water flux. The results might be used for elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism of cerebral edema and in development of the ways of pharmacological correction of the cerebral water metabolism disorders.

A new species of mosquitoes was recorded for the fauna of Belarus – Aedes mercuratorDyar, 1920 (Diptera: Culicidae). Fourth-stage larvae have been collected in 2018 on the territory of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Morphological and ecological characteristics of this species are given.

The germplasm of valuable for breeding wild allotetraploid potato species Solanum stoloniferumis rarely used because of pre- and postzygotic reproductive barriers with cultivated potatoes. One of the factors that complicate crosses between S. stoloniferum and S. tuberosumis unilateral incompatibility (UI).

Here, we present the results of application of original SvSv-lines for overcoming UI in crosses with S. stoloniferum and of generating male fertile hybrids derived from this species. SvSv-lines are F2 S. tuberosum dihaploid× S. verrucosum that are male fertile and have D/γ-type cytoplasm. Since they are hybrids on homozygous for Svgene from S. verrucosum, they do not form SvSv-lines and have the same ability for elimination of prezygotic incompatibility as this species.As a result of pollination seven SvSv-lines were pollinated by 26 accessions of S. stoloniferum and a lot of hybrid seeds have been produced.In spite of low percentage of germination (1.9 %), formed 40 seedlings of interspecific hybrids. The experiment on hybridization between SvSv-lines and S. stoloniferum has been reproduced with the accession PI205522 of the wild species, which had DNA markers of PVY and LB resistance genes and “sterile” type cytoplasm W/γ: 950 hybrid seeds and 12 viable seedlings were produced. The genome of the seedlings was doubled by colchicine treatment, which generated hexaploids (F1) that formed highly fertile pollen and set seeds from self-pollination. We were able to cross them as females with the variety Katahdin. Produced pentaploid hybrids (BC1) were readily backcrossed by potato variety Quarta. Seedlings of BC2 were then backcrossed by potato varieties as female and, some of them, as male parents. The substantial part of F1, BC1 and BC2 plants of interspecific hybrids were male fertile (produced a lot functionally fertile pollen).

Juniperus chinensis‘Blaauw’ is difficult to propagate by rooting stem cuttings why the aim of the research was assessing the possibility of obtaining the progeny of this cultivar by grafting. Experiments conducted in 2012 on grafting with various methods of the cultivar on 2-year-old Juniperus virginiana‘Grey Owl’ seedlings of rooted cuttings origin have made it possible to achieve a survival rate of about 80 %, however, the final conclusions on the success of transplantation can be made only on the basis of further long-term observations of grafted plants. It is shown that the plants of the Juniperus chinensis ‘Blaauw’, grafted by veneer side grafting, are more viable than the plants grafted by side grafting. During the observation period 2012–2018 years in the latter case, 75 % of the grafted seedlings died, and only 38.5 % of the veneer side grafted plants fell out. Grafted seedlings are characterized by more powerful growth in comparison with seedlings of rooted cuttings origin. The annual increment of the first is 2–2.5 times higher, which is explained by the influence of the stock. The site of grafting becomes difficult to discern over time, which indicates a good compatibility of grafted components and a suitable way of carrying it out. Thus, veneer side grafting is a promising way to multiply the hard-to-root Juniperus chinensis‘Blaauw’.

Despite on using the use of complex treatment, the survival of high risk neuroblastoma patients doesn’t exceed 50 % with relapse as the main cause of death. The bone marrow (BM) lesion and presence of minimal residual disease at various stages of therapy are key factors of poor outcome and high frequency of relapse. Real time PCR is the most promising method for detecting neuroblastoma cells in BM samples due to the high sensitivity and specificity, which achieved by combination of several molecular markers. In this study we developed a method for evaluation TH and PHOX2B expression for monitoring metastatic BM lesion in neuroblastoma patients. This method has high sensitivity (1·10–4) and specificity to tumor cells. Evaluation of TH and PHOX2B gene expression was performed for 67 children with neuroblastoma at the time of diagnosis. We demonstrated that patients with overexpression of these genes has significantly worse overall and relapse-free survival. So, the developed method can be used in clinical practice for evaluation BM lesion degree as well as for risk group stratification in neuroblastoma patients at the time of diagnosis.

Real time PCR is the most promising method for detecting neuroblastoma cells in BM samples due to the high sensitivity and specificity, which achieved by combination of several molecular markers. In this study we developed a method for evaluation TH and PHOX2B expression for monitoring metastatic BM lesion in neuroblastoma patients. This method has high sensitivity (1·10–4) and specificity to tumor cells. Evaluation of TH and PHOX2B gene expression was performed for 67 children with neuroblastoma at the time of diagnosis. We demonstrated that patients with overexpression of these genes has significantly worse overall and relapse-free survival. So, the developed method can be used in clinical practice for evaluation BM lesion degree as well as for risk group stratification in neuroblastoma patients at the time of diagnosis.

Flavanoids a class of plant and fungus secondary metabolites. 2ʹ-Hydroxyflavanone was previously isolated from Mimosa pudica (L.) whole plant and was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and binding with calf timus DNA. There are also reports on anti-inflammatory properties of compounds bearing flavanone/chromone nucleus. The aim of this work was to develop a synthesis of new azomethine compounds derived from flavanones, to examine their spectroscopic properties and interaction with DNA. 2ʹ-Hydroxyflavanone and thiocarbohydrazide were used as substrates in the synthesis. The obtained products were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy, UVVis. Ultraviolet spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical-physical properties. Mechanism of interaction of bioactive 2ʹ-hydroxyflavanone with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was studied employing UV absorption. 2ʹ-Hydroxyflavanon and 2ʹHFTCH are photostable in DMSO. The interaction of 2ʹ-hydroxyflavanone and its derivative occurs by the mechanism of intercalation. The change in the structure of the 2ʹ-hydroxyflavanone molecule by Schiff base modification leads to an increase in DNA-binding properties. High binding ability of 2ʹ-hydroxyflavanone with DNA may be useful for development of new anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial remedies.

The study of rare plants at the level of cenothic populations throughout the range greatly contributes to the identification of the features of their biology and ecology. We carried out the identification of the features of the age and spatial structure of the Adenophora lilifolia (L.) A. DC. cenothic populations in the ecological conditions of the steppe, foreststeppe zones of the Middle Volga (Samara region) and the Southern Urals (Republic of Bashkortostan), as well as the mountainous zone of the Southern Urals. Adenophora lilifolia is included in the Red Book of the Samara region (category 3 – a rare species).

The study of A. lilifolia populations was carried out in different years on the territory of specially protected territories of different rank. In determining the structure of cenothic populations, standard techniques were used. The studied cenopopulations are located on the fringes of oak-lime, birch, less often maple-linden or aspen forests, sparse forests or forest potholes. The total density of individuals varies from 0.8 to 4.2 specimens/m2. The mean values of the generative fraction in the populations are 81.1 %, the prevalent fraction is 19.3 %. The basic ontogenetic spectrum of A. lilifolia is characterized as centered. Although the share of generative individuals in all cenopopulations is high, the distribution by ontogenetic groups in the two regions differs. The average values of demographic indices indicate a fairly high stability of the species populations. Of the 14 investigated cenopopulations of A. lilifolia, according to the “delta-omega” criterion, most are mature, in addition, transitional and maturing are identified. In general, the state of the populations in the Southern Urals is fairly prosperous. All studied populations in the Samara region have a high anthropogenic load, and the number of individuals in specific habitats is low.

The basic principles for the development of a new greening system for the region of Belarus aimed at creation and restoration of sustainable roadside plant communities of high botanical and aesthetic value are formulated on the basis of the use of conservation, restoration and “incorporation” methods of flowering native plant species, characteristic of a particular region. The statements of the concept are developed and recommended for roadways and highways in the Republic of Belarus and tested on the model site between the city of Myadel and the resort village of Naroch of Highway P28. Roadside vegetation management practices in other countries as well as our research has shown that along the investigated roads there is a high adaptive potential of native flora; by changing the mowing regime, sustainable plant communities can be established while enhancing the aesthetics and expressiveness of key elements of the landscape of the roadsides. The implementation of the strategy for each geobotanical region depends on the development of an assortment of native plant species that can be used for the greening of roadside areas. This should be done by taking into account their geobotanical and edaphic features, creation of a seed bank for grass mixtures, the formation of natural genetic reserves (field banks) of meadow flora to conserve the local and overall ecosystem and genetic balance. For examples, the atlas of plants “Roadside flowers” developed for the National Park “Narochansky” is recommended for use in roadsides (verges) greening within the boundaries of the Oshmyany– Minsk geobotanical district. To expand the use of gained positive experience on increasing the biodiversity of roadside ecosystems and reducing the cost of their maintenance, it is desirable to implement this strategy for the entire road network of Belarus, which will require adjustment in technologies for managing roadside ecosystems, based on priorities of conservation, restoration and formation of native plant communities, including meadows and wetlands.