Purpose. Estimate phenological and morphological characteristics of Miscanthus giganteus J. M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize, M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth. and M. sinensis Anderss., obtained in vitro, and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro) to attract them to the breeding process and create new forms of miscanthus for use in bioenergy. Methods. Seeds of M. sinensis, as well as M. sacchariflorus (2n), M. sacchariflorus (4n), introduced into culture and propagated in vitro according to commonly used methods (M. D. Melnychuk, A. Plazek et al.) were used in the studies. Phenological observations were carried out according to the methods of V. V. Zinchenko, M. V. Roik, D. B. Rakh­metov, and others. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out according to M. A. Shelamov and ot­hers. Results. M. sacchariflorus (2n) in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine does not enter into the flowering phase, whereas in M. sacchariflorus (4n) the flowering phase begins a month earlier than M. sinensis, which is an obstacle for transpollination of these species in the natural environment. M. giganteus, reproduced by rhizomes, in overwhelming majority of indicators (stem height and diameter, number of interstices and leaves, leaf area, length and width of cluster) dominate all species of mescanthus obtained in vitro. But the number of stems in the bush of M. sinensis is the highest (63 pcs.) and is almost 2–4 times higher than those of M. giganteus, obtained from risomes and in vitro. It has been revealed that the most promising forms for bioenergy use are M. sinensis, whose productivity is about 7 kg/m2 of green mass and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro), where the mass of the aerial part is almost 9 kg/m2. But M. sacchariflorus (2n) and M. sacchariflorus (4n) should not be considered as promising species for use in bioenergy purposes, because their performance is very low compared to other species and is only 0.25 and 2.05 kg above ground mass from 1 m2. Conclusions. On the basis of the obtained data, the most promising forms of Miscanthus were established to attract them into the breeding process and to obtain new varieties with high biomass productivity for the needs of bioenergy.

Purpose. Estimate phenological and morphological characteristics of Miscanthus giganteus J. M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize, M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth. and M. sinensis Anderss., obtained in vitro, and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro) to attract them to the breeding process and create new forms of miscanthus for use in bioenergy. Methods. Seeds of M. sinensis, as well as M. sacchariflorus (2n), M. sacchariflorus (4n), introduced into culture and propagated in vitro according to commonly used methods (M. D. Melnychuk, A. Plazek et al.) were used in the studies. Phenological observations were carried out according to the methods of V. V. Zinchenko, M. V. Roik, D. B. Rakh­metov, and others. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out according to M. A. Shelamov and ot­hers. Results. M. sacchariflorus (2n) in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine does not enter into the flowering phase, whereas in M. sacchariflorus (4n) the flowering phase begins a month earlier than M. sinensis, which is an obstacle for transpollination of these species in the natural environment. M. giganteus, reproduced by rhizomes, in overwhelming majority of indicators (stem height and diameter, number of interstices and leaves, leaf area, length and width of cluster) dominate all species of mescanthus obtained in vitro. But the number of stems in the bush of M. sinensis is the highest (63 pcs.) and is almost 2–4 times higher than those of M. giganteus, obtained from risomes and in vitro. It has been revealed that the most promising forms for bioenergy use are M. sinensis, whose productivity is about 7 kg/m2 of green mass and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro), where the mass of the aerial part is almost 9 kg/m2. But M. sacchariflorus (2n) and M. sacchariflorus (4n) should not be considered as promising species for use in bioenergy purposes, because their performance is very low compared to other species and is only 0.25 and 2.05 kg above ground mass from 1 m2. Conclusions. On the basis of the obtained data, the most promising forms of Miscanthus were established to attract them into the breeding process and to obtain new varieties with high biomass productivity for the needs of bioenergy. | Цель. Оценить фенологические и морфологические характеристики растений мискантуса гигантского (Miscanthus giganteus J.M.Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize), мискантуса сахароцветного (M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth.) и мискантуса китайского (M. sinensis Anderss.), полученных в культуре in vitro, и мискантуса гигантского, размноженного ризомами (ex vitro) для привлечения их в селекционный процесс и создания новых форм мискантуса для использования в биоэнергетике. Методы. В исследованиях использовали семена M. sinensis, а также M. sacchariflorus (2n), растения M. sacchariflorus (4n), введены в культуру и размножены в условиях in vitro по общепринятым методикам (М. Д. Мельничук и др., A. Plazek et al.). Фенологические наб­людения проводили по методикам В. А. Зинченко, М. В. Роика, Д. Б. Рахметова и др.; статистическую обработку полученных данных – по М. А. Шеламовой и др. Результаты. M. sacchariflorus (2n) в условиях Лесостепи Украины в фазу цветения не вступает, зато у M. sacchariflorus (4n) цветение начинается на месяц раньше, чем у M. sinensis, что является препятствием для переопыления этих видов в естественной среде. M. giganteus, размноженный ризомами, по подавляющиму большинству показателей (высота и диаметр стебля, количество междоузлий и листьев, площадь листьев, длина и ширина метелки) доминирует над всеми видами мискантуса, полученными в культуре in vitro. Однако количество стеб­лей в кусте у растений M. sinensis является наибольшим (63 шт.) и почти в 2–4 раза превышает показатели растений M. giganteus, полученных из ризом и в in vitro. Наиболее перспективными формами для использования в биоэнергетике является M. sinensis и размноженный ризомами (ex vitro) M. giganteus, урожайность зеленой массы которых составляла примерно 7 и 9 кг/м2 соответственно, тогда как M. sacchariflorus (2n) и M. sacchariflorus (4n) для этого непригодны, ведь формируют лишь 0,25 и 2,05 кг наземной массы с 1 м2. Выводы. На основе полученных данных установлены перспективные формы Miscanthus для привлечения их в селекционный процесс и получения новых сортов с высокой продуктивностью биомассы для нужд биоэнергетики. | Мета. Оцінити фенологічні та морфологічні характеристики рослин міскантусу гігантського (Miscanthus giganteus J.M.Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize), міскантусу цукроквіткового (M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth.) та міскантусу китайського (M. sinensis Anderss.), отриманих у культурі in vitro, та міскантусу гігантського, розмноженого ризомами (ex vitro) для залучення їх у селекційний процес і створення нових форм міскантусу для використання в біоенергетиці. Методи. У дослідженнях використовували насіння M. sinensis, а також M. sacchariflorus (2n), рослини M. sacchariflorus (4n), уведені в культуру та розмножені в умовах in vitro за загальноприйнятими методиками (М. Д. Мельничук, A. Plazek та ін.). Фенологічні спостереження проводили за методиками В. О. Зінченко, М. В. Роїка, Д. Б. Рахметова та ін.; статистичну обробку отриманих даних – за М. А. Шеламовой та ін. Результати. M. sacchariflorus (2n) в умовах Лісостепу України у фазу цвітіння не вступає, натомість у M. sacchariflorus (4n) цвітіння починається на місяць раніше, ніж у M. sinensis, що є перешкодою для перезапилення цих видів у природньому середовищі. M. giganteus, розмножений ризомами, за переважною більшістю показників (висота та діаметр стебла, кількість міжвузлів та листків, площа листків, довжина та ширина волоті) домінує над усіма видами міскантусу, отриманими в культурі in vitro. Проте кількість стебел у кущі в рослин M. sinensis є найбільшою (63 шт.) і майже у 2–4 рази перевищує показники рослин M. giganteus, отриманих із ризом та в in vitro. Найперспективнішими формами для використання в біоенергетиці є M. sinensis та розмножений ризомами (ex vitro) M. giganteus, урожайність зеленої маси яких становила приблизно 7 і 9 кг/м2 відповідно, тоді як M. sacchariflorus (2n) та M. sacchariflorus (4n) для цього є непридатними, адже формують лише 0,25 та 2,05 кгназемної маси з 1 м2. Висновки. На основі отриманих даних установлено найперспективніші форми Miscanthus для залучення їх у селекційний процес та отримання нових сортів з високою продуктивністю біомаси для потреб біоенергетики.

Abstract Emerging fungal pathogens are a global challenge for humankind. Many efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity in bacteria, and OMICs techniques are largely responsible for those advancements. By contrast, our limited understanding of opportunism and antifungal resistance is preventing us from identifying, limiting and interpreting the emergence of fungal pathogens. The genus Scedosporium (Microascaceae) includes fungi with high tolerance to environmental pollution, whilst some species can be considered major human pathogens, such as Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium boydii. However, unlike other fungal pathogens, little is known about the genome evolution of these organisms. We sequenced two novel genomes of Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum isolated from extreme, strongly anthropized environments. We compared all the available Scedosporium and Microascaceae genomes, that we systematically annotated and characterized ex novo in most cases. The genomes in this family were integrated in a Phylum-level comparison to infer the presence of putative, shared genomic traits in filamentous ascomycetes with pathogenic potential. The analysis included the genomes of 100 environmental and clinical fungi, revealing poor evolutionary convergence of putative pathogenicity traits. By contrast, several features in Microascaceae and Scedosporium were detected that might have a dual role in responding to environmental challenges and allowing colonization of the human body, including chitin, melanin and other cell wall related genes, proteases, glutaredoxins and magnesium transporters. We found these gene families to be impacted by expansions, orthologous transposon insertions, and point mutations. With RNA-seq, we demonstrated that most of these anciently impacted genomic features responded to the stress imposed by an antifungal compound (voriconazole) in the two environmental strains S. aurantiacum MUT6114 and S. minutisporum MUT6113. Therefore, the present genomics and transcriptomics investigation stands on the edge between stress resistance and pathogenic potential, to elucidate whether fungi were pre-adapted to infect humans. We highlight the strengths and limitations of genomics applied to opportunistic human pathogens, the multifactoriality of pathogenicity and resistance to drugs, and suggest a scenario where pressures other than anthropic contributed to forge filamentous human pathogens.

Purpose. Estimate phenological and morphological characteristics of Miscanthus giganteus J. M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize, M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth. and M. sinensis Anderss., obtained in vitro, and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro) to attract them to the breeding process and create new forms of miscanthus for use in bioenergy. Methods. Seeds of M. sinensis, as well as M. sacchariflorus (2n), M. sacchariflorus (4n), introduced into culture and propagated in vitro according to commonly used methods (M. D. Melnychuk, A. Plazek et al.) were used in the studies. Phenological observations were carried out according to the methods of V. V. Zinchenko, M. V. Roik, D. B. Rakh­metov, and others. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out according to M. A. Shelamov and ot­hers. Results. M. sacchariflorus (2n) in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine does not enter into the flowering phase, whereas in M. sacchariflorus (4n) the flowering phase begins a month earlier than M. sinensis, which is an obstacle for transpollination of these species in the natural environment. M. giganteus, reproduced by rhizomes, in overwhelming majority of indicators (stem height and diameter, number of interstices and leaves, leaf area, length and width of cluster) dominate all species of mescanthus obtained in vitro. But the number of stems in the bush of M. sinensis is the highest (63 pcs.) and is almost 2–4 times higher than those of M. giganteus, obtained from risomes and in vitro. It has been revealed that the most promising forms for bioenergy use are M. sinensis, whose productivity is about 7 kg/m2 of green mass and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro), where the mass of the aerial part is almost 9 kg/m2. But M. sacchariflorus (2n) and M. sacchariflorus (4n) should not be considered as promising species for use in bioenergy purposes, because their performance is very low compared to other species and is only 0.25 and 2.05 kg above ground mass from 1 m2. Conclusions. On the basis of the obtained data, the most promising forms of Miscanthus were established to attract them into the breeding process and to obtain new varieties with high biomass productivity for the needs of bioenergy.

Fungi inhabit every natural and anthropogenic environment on Earth. They have highly varied life-styles including saprobes (using only dead biomass as a nutrient source), pathogens (feeding on living biomass), and symbionts (co-existing with other organisms). These distinctions are not absolute as many species employ several life styles (e.g. saprobe and opportunistic pathogen, saprobe and mycorrhiza). To efficiently survive in these different and often changing environments, fungi need to be able to modify their physiology and in some cases will even modify their local environment. Understanding the interaction between fungi and their environments has been a topic of study for many decades. However, recently these studies have reached a new dimension. The availability of fungal genomes and development of postgenomic technologies for fungi, such as transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, have enabled more detailed studies into this topic resulting in new insights. Based on a Special Interest Group session held during IMC9, this paper provides examples of the recent advances in using (post-)genomic approaches to better understand fungal interactions with their environments.