Study of microscopic fungi on medicinal plants growing in the Kedabay region

Mycological investigations on medicinal plants is carried out in many countries of the world, but local studies in this direction are not widespread enough. The study of microscopic fungal species (mycoflora) distributing on some medicinal plants ( Urtica dioica L., Stellaria media L., Cephalaria gigantea (Ledeb.) Bobrov) in the natural conditions of the Gadabay region and widely used in folk medicine, determining their systematic composition, and evaluating the results obtained on a scientific basis. The study was conducted based on mycological methods. The characteristics and eco-trophic relationships of them have been studied. The anamorphs of fungi belonging to the Ascomycota division are more numerous than those belonging to other taxonomic groups. They account for 66% of the total number of fungi recorded during the studies. 34% belong to the Zygomycota phylum. More than 15 species of micromycetes were found on the studied plants and they were systematically attributed to different taxonomic groups. Plant-fungal relationships were observed in various ecolotrophic types: parasitism, saprotrophy and, in rare cases, mutualism. The dominance of pathogenic micromycetes increased, especially in weakened and mechanically damaged plant organs. The results of the study are of great importance in terms of increasing the level of biological safety of medicinal plants and determining the hygienic and sanitary norms that should be observed during their proper collection, storage, and use.