№1, 2020
FUNGAL DIVERSITY OF HERBS IN QUSAR DISTRICT OF AZERBAIJAN
Summary
The study reports the fungi occuring on herbs in Qusar district collected and investigated during 2017-2019 and specimens kept at the Mycological Herbarium of the Institute of Botany. In total 14 taxa of six genera belonging to Oomycota, 57 taxa of 22 genera belonging to Ascomycota and 84 taxa of nine genera belonging to Basidiomycota have been determined, which all together cover 155 species and infraspecific taxa. Taxonomic structure of 152 host plants belonging to five groups, 17 orders, 31 families and 116 genera has been investigated. Mass majority of fungi are obligate pathogens on the representatives of Asterales, Poales and Fabales. According to the results of the monitoring, the ratio of grass and fungal taxa not significantly different from 1:1. The affect of the climate condition to the development and abundance of fungi are different depending on the taxonomic and ecological groups. Thus the development of several fungi (Albugo, Alternaria, Bremia, Hyaloperonospora, Peronospora, Pseudoperonospora, Pustula etc.) depends on the temperature and humidity, but abiotic factors are not very important for development of the representatives of few genera (Claviceps, Colletotrichum, Phyllachora etc.). Species variation and consistent trend along the elevational gradient was observed starting from the low mountain zone. But some species were recorded at various elevations. Colletotrichum malvarum, various taxa of the genera Erysiphe, Golovinomyces, Puccinia calcitrapae, P. graminis, Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae were found in the middle and upper elevations. Monilia altaica on Hippophae rhamnoides was found in the lowest elevation, along the Samur river and Puccinia caricina in higher elevation, in the vicinity of Sudur village. The number of species was maximum in June, July and September. But the number of genera and species decreases slightly in August, which can be explained by heat and low humidity.