Modern molecular and genetic methods for the analysis of a number of the most valuable tree species as well as medicinal and rare plant species have been deviced and implemented. This enabled to initiate a large-scale evaluation of their population gene funds and to estimate levels of genetic variability that are the basis of biological diversity. The results obtained allowed to approach the problems of conservation and regulation of genetic resources of forest ecosystems in Belarus and neighboring areas.
A FORESTLIFE model for calculation of external and internal doses on population formed due to visits of people to forests and consumption of radioactively contaminated forest food-stuffs has been developed and verified. The structure of dose formation permits to schedule application of countermeasures aimed at a decrease of doses from forests and forest food products as well as to assess their efficiency.
A pure culture bank for cultivated edible mushrooms of 200 strains was established. Regularities of 137Cs accumulation by edible xylotrophe basidiomycetes occurring on open and sheltered grounds were revealed.
Findings indicative of similar biosynthesis pathway of natural phytohormone of indole acetic acid (IAA) in phytopathogenic bacteria of different origin were obtained by means of polymerase chain reaction. Gene iaaM encoding synthesis of tryptophan-2-monooxygenase enzyme that catalyzes tryptophan transformation into IAA indole-3-acetamid-precursor was revealed in 11 out of 15 strains studied. Chromosomal localization of iaaM gene was detected for the majority of bacteria.
New evidence for involving cytoplasmic genetic system in nuclear gene expression, in particular, in mechanisms of phytohormonal regulation of gene expression, potato resistance to viral infection, in genetic control of resistance and tolerance of common wheat to Septoria disease, hormonal regulation of morphogenetic processes in wheat anther culture was obtained. There were developed alloplasmic wheat lines combining alien cytoplasms and nuclear genes of resistance to brown rust, increasing tolerance to Septoria disease, and characterized by an increased ability for inducing pollen embryogenesis. Agronomicaly valuable potato clones contrasting in virus-resistance were produced.
Resistance to Fusarium wilt of fiber flax varieties recognized in Belarus was revealed to be controlled by additive and dominant gene effects. Dominance was shown to be directed towards increase in disease resistance. Varieties Rodnik, K-65, Orshansky have the greater number of dominant genes of resistance to Fusarium wilt. Regenerant plants were produced when culturing hypocotyl explants on medium with cultural filtrate of Fus. oxysp. L fungi. When testing regenerant seed generation (R1) under field experiment conditions, promising genotypes of varieties Belinka, Baltuchai and Prizyv 2 were selected. The results obtained are of great importance for fiber flax breeding. (In collaboration with the Belarusian Scientific-Research Institute of Plant Protection of the Academy of Agrarian Sciences of the Republic of Belarus.)
Reduction in reproductive ability of carp stripped fishes inhabiting radiocontaminated ponds and increase in the frequency of cytogenetic damages and morphological anomalies in their offspring at early developmental stages were revealed to depend on radionuclide concentration in germ products of the stripped fishes and, consequently, to be due to chronic low-dose radiation. Evidence for biological efficiency of very low doses of regular chronic irradiation for pond carp, whose genetic radiosensitivity is similar to that of mammals makes an essential contribution to the development of fundamental insight into the mechanisms of low-dose radiation effect.
It was shown by herbicide zenkor (in experiments with animals and human cells) as well as by nitrite and nitrate fertilizers that genetic consequences of combined effects of chemical and physical factors can greatly exceed the sum of their individual effects. This is indicative of the necessity for a differential approach to chemicalization of agriculture in regions with an increased radiation background.
The catalogue of microbial cultures incorporating entries of type, reference and industrial (promising for biotechnology) strains maintained at the Institute collection of non-pathogenic microorganisms has been compiled and published.
The strain Bifidobacterium adolescentis 94-BIM representing normal gut microflora of humans and animals displays (-fructofuranosidase activity of transglycosylating type. The oligosaccharides, compounds of high biotechnological value, were detected as reaction products.
Double role of Fe ions - antioxidant at concentrations over 10-3 m and prooxidant at lower concentrations - was exemplified by intact yeast cells. In fungi (L. sulphureus), unlike yeasts, Fe ions irrespective of concentration stimulate lipid peroxidation in the mycelium and lead to degradation of carotenoids.
The process of producing biopreparations Colepterin and Dendrolin based on Bacillus thuringiensis strains to control potato and leaf-eating cabbage pests has been developed. The technology was tested at Obol Plant of Feed Supplements, field trials of test specimens were completed. Biocontrol efficiency of Colepterin reached 90.8%, while the figures for Dendrolin varied from 80% to 95% depending on the species of cabbage pest. (In collaboration with the Belarusian Scientific-Research Institute of Plant Protection of the Academy of Agrarian Sciences of the Republic of Belarus.)
The possibility of using enzymatic transglycosylatin for synthesis of antitumor nucleoside 5'-deoxy-5-fluoruridine has been demonstrated for the first time and the prospects for biotechnological production of aforementioned compound has been showed. (In collaboration with the Institute of Bio-Organic Chemistry of NASB.)
In light uroporphyrinogen III decarboxilase is inhibited with Cs2+ ions noncompetitively resulting in an accumulation of uroporphyrinogen III in amounts equal to chlorophyll content. In darkness uroporphyrinogen III practically in whole transforms into protochlorophyllide forcing significantly thereby photooxidative processes and photodestruction of plants during following illumination.
Adaptive mechanisms which were realized in plastids as reply on heat shock action in etiolated seedlings of cereal were investigated. It is shown that in stress conditions the inner etioplast membrane system turn into new structural and functional state characterized by modification of its macrostructural dynamic, pigment-protein-lipid interaction, decrease in lipid microviscosity and increase in protochlorophyllide and carotenoid content. Coupling in alteration of antioxidants (carotenoids) and chlorophyll pigments synthesis should consider as new and important aspect of mechanisms of adaptive process in plants.
It was found that oat seedlings phospholipase D activity is inhibited by light. The photocontrol of the enzyme exhibited in decreasing of its activity till the level of green plants when etiolated seedlings were illuminated and in increasing of the enzyme activity when green plants were carried into darkness. This fact evidence about involvement of lipid signal molecules arised with the participance of phospholipase D in the processes of function of plants in darkness.
It has been discovered a novel photobiological reaction of the key bioenergetic enzyme, cytochrome oxidase. This reaction is photostimulation of inter heme electron transfer, a process of decisive importance in the function of the terminal hemoprotein of electron transport chain in energy coupling membranes.
It has been shown using by the phosphorescence method that dumping of large-scale equilibrium movements of structure of an aldolase from a rabbit muscle enhance at decreasing temperature and increasing protein matrix rigidity. The functional significance of millisecond intramolecular dynamics of aldolase structure has been established. The results extend and supplement the idea of the interconnection of structure dynamics and enzyme functional activity.
The main trends are traced in the geographic and typological landscape variability of the structure of associations and populations of model animal species from different trophic levels in different-type ecosystems of river valleys. The concept of formation, functioning, and human-induced dynamics of predator mammals (martens) in natural and human-disturbed landscapes in Belarus is formulated.
On the basis of inventory of birds and studies of the distribution of rare avian species the cadastre of birds of Belarus is prepared with assessment of their present status, distribution, and the number. As a result of generalization of results on avian biodiversity, with the use of European standardized criteria for protected areas adapted for Belarus, eight habitats of international importance are recognized in the Palesse region.
The ways of transformation of biodiversity of parasite complexes are traced in the areas with different urbanization degrees. A number of parasites which are agents or carriers of zooanthroponose diseases are found in the urbanized landscapes. The recommendations for establishing the active monitoring of variations of the arachnoentomofauna in radiation-contaminated and urbanized areas of Belarus are prepared and submitted for practical use.
Methods of conservation and wise management of resources of unique spring ecosystems in the national economy are developed. Proposal for protection of springs as the national wealth of Belarus and for recognition of some unique springs in the Minsk region as monuments of nature are submitted to the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.
The National Report The State and Management of Biological Diversity in the Republic of Belarus is prepared with the assistance of experts from other organizations as an assignment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.
The analysis of current state and estimation for representativeness of the active network of particularly protected natural areas of Belarus was carried out. In spite of the comparatively high density (2.32% of the Republic' area), the network of the protected natural areas was shown to be insufficiently representative and territorially separated, preservation and integrity of vegetation gene pool and its biodiversity being ensured not in full measure. The conception of further network formation and optimization of the protected natural areas of Belarus was set forth.
New formation of antibiotic compounds in wheat leaves affected by Septoria disease was revealed. Based on studying a complex of their properties, they were identified as cereals phenolic phytoalexins. Ecologically pure methods of controlling barley leaf diseases based on plant treatment with epibrassinolids were elaborated.
Screening of proteinase inhibitors-proteins was conducted among representatives of wild flora in legume family. The seeds of wild lupine, black pea, wood pea, and others were revealed to have the highest content of proteinase inhibitors (trypsin, chimotrypsin, suntilisin, etc.). The protein inhibitors isolated by chromatographic methods from wild lupine seeds are thermoresistant and high active with respect to trypsin.
Direct correlation between radionuclide accumulation by undergrowth and underwood, and species growth energy was revealed. Interrelation between accumulation of ash elements and specific radioactivity of these plants was noted.
Method of regeneration of difficult for reproduction plants in culture of cells and tissues directly from leave tissue has been developed. Received on its basis transgenetic plants of introduced species of Blueberry, resistant for antobiotic Canomycin as well as positive results of clonal microreproduction of Grandberry and Red Bilberry are the prerequisites of formation in Belarus of scientific and technical basis for intensive development of promising directions of nontraditional fruitculture and medicinal plants.
Complex ecologically friendly system for protection of industrial plantations of Grandberry from common insects, diseases and weeds has been developed on the basis of the ways of phytopathogenic complex formation of Grandberry and test results of chemical and biological means of plant protection. The use of this system allows more effective application of the potential of this culture biological productivity and increase of its crop by 20%.
Source: "Main Results of Fundamental Research. 1996--1997". Eds. F.A.Lakhvich and N.N.Kostyukovich. National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, 1998.
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