The Resistance of Plants and Microorganisms to Unfavorable Environmental Factors: Review of the VII All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation (Irkutsk, Listvyanka 5 – 10 July, 2026)

On 5–10 July 2026, the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SIPPB SB RAS), in cooperation with the FGB «Zapovednoe Pribaikaliye» and the «Baikal Museum SB RAS», and with the support of the Russian Society of Plant Physiologists and its Irkutsk Branch, held the VII All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation « The Resistance of Plants and Microorganisms to nfavorable Environmental Factors » in the settlement of Listvyanka. The conference was dedicated to the 65t anniversary of the SIPPB SB RAS. The event brought together scientists and practitioners from Minsk, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, cities of Siberia, the rals, the Far East, and other regions. The participants addressed current issues concerning the mechanisms of plant and microorganism resistance to adverse environmental factors, biological diversity and bioresources of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, as well as agrobiopharmaceutical technologies.

The conference was opened by the acting Director of SIPPB SB RAS, M.A. Rachenko, who emphasized the importance and relevance of the conference topics, noting in particular that the event was held in the year of the 65th anniversary of the Institute and continued the series of conferences on plant resistance, the first of which was launched 50 years ago at the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. The Chairman of the Organising Committee, acting Scientific Supervisor of SIPPB SB RAS, V.I. Voronin, highlighted the broad representation of participants and the importance of discussing the formulated research directions. Greetings to the conference were delivered by the Minister of Agriculture of the Irkutsk Region, M.A. Kozharina; a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region, G.F. Kudryavtseva; Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, E.К. Khlestkina; Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, V.V. Demidchik; and Prof. S.S. Medvedev. The Scientific Secretary of SIPPB SB RAS, T.V. Kopytina, presented a report on the history and major milestones of the Institute.

The plenary session was opened by V.I. Voronin (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) with a talk outlining the Institute’s key research directions in forest ecology and phytopathology, with particular emphasis on the growing threats to forest ecosystems in the southern Baikal region. Among the most dangerous factors, he identified the spread of xylophagous and phyllophagous insects, an epidemic outbreak of bacterial dropsy, and the invasion of the ssuri polygraph ( Polygraphus proximus Blandford). According to the researcher’s estimates, within the next five years a significant portion of the dark coniferous forests of the Khamar-Daban range may be severely damaged, which could create an extremely tense fire hazard situation in the region. At the same time, the coniferous forests of the Baikal region perform an important climatic function: they absorb 354.08 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and annually produce 1030 million tonnes of oxygen through photosynthesis.

A report on nature protection in the Baikal region was presented by S.A. Kozlova (FGB “Zapovednoye Pribaikalye”, Irkutsk). The presentation covered the current state of the Baikal national parks, the specifics of the protected area regime, and approaches to territory conservation and the organization of tourist activities within the boundaries of specially protected natural areas.

The plenary session continued with a talk by A.B. Kupchinsky (Baikal Museum SB RAS, Listvyanka) on the study and conservation of the Lake Baikal ecosystem and the contribution of the Baikal Museum SB RAS to these efforts. The speaker outlined the history of the museum, its unique status as a scientific and cultural institution of the Academy of Sciences, and the current research and educational projects implemented at the museum.

Issues of crop preservation under changing environmental conditions were addressed by Corresponding Member of the RAS, E.K. Khlestkina (VIR, Saint Petersburg). Her report focused on the genetic resources and collections of the institute, as well as modern genetic technologies that help maintain the resilience of agricultural crops under changing conditions.

On the prospects for adaptation of tree species to climatic changes, K.V. Krutovsky (N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow) delivered a presentation. He demonstrated how the combination of whole-genome data with predictive climate models helps assess the adaptive genetic potential and likely resilience of Siberian larch ( Larix sibirica L.) populations to climate transformations expected by 2100 according to leading global scenarios.

Prof. S.A. Geras’kin (NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Obninsk) presented the results of studies on plant resistance to adverse factors in areas of radioactive contamination. He emphasized that plants often exhibit higher resistance to ionizing radiation compared to animals, owing to effective antioxidant protection, well-developed DNA repair systems, the ability to form new reproductive structures during ontogenesis (which limits the spread of harmful mutations), and a substantial seed productivity reserve. The speaker also noted that radiation exposure can disrupt component linkages in ecosystems, leading to effects that differ significantly from those predictable at the level of individual organisms or populations.

The first day of the plenary program concluded with a talk by Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Prof. V.V. Demidchik (Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus) on the role of calcium channels in plant responses to stress. The report covered the history of research on these structures, the current state of the field, and recent advances in understanding canonical and non-canonical calcium channels and their contribution to cellular stress responses in plants.

On the second day of the conference, a number of plenary lectures were delivered, addressing various aspects of physiological, molecular, and genetic responses of plants to adverse conditions. Prof. S.S. Medvedev (Saint Petersburg niversity, Saint Petersburg) presented a talk entitled “The drought tolerance paradox: why have vegetative plants forgotten what seeds can do?” The author historically and in detail examined the paradoxical situation: plants that suffer from drought even with a slight decrease in water status, at the mature seed stage tolerate near-complete water loss without damage – that is, the genes and mechanisms protecting the plant during dehydration exist but remain inactive for most of the life cycle. The differences in adaptation to dehydration between seeds and vegetating plants were thoroughly considered at the level of differential gene expression, signaling pathways, protein spectra, and phytohormones.

T.V. Savchenko (IBBP RAS PSCBR RAS, Pushchino) spoke about stem photosynthesis, a phenomenon that is little studied and underestimated in traditional plant physiology. The author convincingly demonstrated its importance for enhancing plant stress tolerance. Knowledge of the biological functions and operational features of the non-foliar photosynthetic apparatus provides a basis for a new strategy in breeding productive and resilient crop varieties and for developing methods to control invasive plants.

A.V. Doroshkov (ICG SB RAS, Novosibirsk) presented approaches to large scale analysis of omics data that allow reconstruction of molecular mechanisms of plant stress responses. The report provided an overview of the strategies used by the authors to unify homogeneous experiments on the one hand, and, on the other hand, strategies employing additional factors for differential reconstruction of regulatory interactions. The combination of such approaches for meta-analysis of classical (bulk) transcriptomes and cell-resolution transcriptomes makes the reconstructed picture of stress response more complete.

B.R. Kuluev (Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, FRC RAS, fa) presented data on the role of expansins and xyloglucan endotransglycosylases (XTHs) in plant stress responses. Expansins are non-enzymatic proteins that cause reversible disruption of hydrogen bonds between cellulose microfibrils and cross-linking glycans. XTHs are apoplastic hydrolytic enzymes that catalyse transglycosylation and cleavage of cross-linking glycans in the plant cell wall. Together, they regulate plant cell elongation and growth. In a series of experiments, the authors showed that the expression of expansins and XTHs is associated with the development of programmed responses to abiotic stress factors.

N.I. Rekoslavskaya (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) reported on the specifics of DPG-transferase expression in the context of hormonal regulation of plant growth and development, as well as under biotic and abiotic stresses.

The third day of plenary lectures was devoted, among other topics, to symbiotic interactions and mitochondrial biology. V.E. Tsyganov (All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg) considered evolutionary aspects of plant– microorganism symbiosis, with particular attention to the formation of nodules in legumes as a unique ecological niche for symbiotic bacteria. Within this symbiosis, rhizobia transform into a specialized form – bacteroids – adapted for nitrogen fixation; in some cases, this differentiation proves irreversible and is accompanied by loss of reproductive capacity. Notably, even under normal conditions, rhizobia in nodules experience stress compared with their saprophytic lifestyle in soil; under abiotic stressors, the bacteria are forced to activate their own defense systems.

Yu.A. Markova (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented the results of studies on the interaction of rare and relict plants with the soil microbiome under extreme conditions. Special attention was paid to PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria) taxa enriched in the rhizosphere of these plants. PGPR from rare legumes, identified by the group led by Yu.A. Markova, are considered promising candidates for the development of biopreparations that enhance crop tolerance to adverse environmental factors.

A considerable portion of the third-day reports dealt with mitochondria. D.A. Knorre (Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, MS , Moscow) presented work on mitochondrial heteroplasmy and intracellular selection of mitochondrial DNA in yeast cultures. According to the authors’ conclusions, the accumulation of mutant mtDNA variants caused by mutagenesis and intracellular selection is counterbalanced by cellular selection, which manifests only at high heteroplasmy levels. During eukaryotic evolution, mechanisms have evolved that prevent the spread of “selfish” variants of mitochondrial DNA.

Prof. Yu.M. Konstantinov (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented data on the natural competence of mitochondria for DNA uptake, as well as on the recently identified ability for intercellular mitochondrial transfer (IMT). It has been established that IMT is involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism, carcinogenesis, immune system function, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, mitochondrial quality control, wound healing processes, and adipose tissue functioning. These findings open new prospects for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at treating human diseases and improving cell-based therapy methods.

Prof. G.B. Borovskii (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) revealed the role of alternative enzymes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in ensuring cell resistance to abiotic stress. The speaker characterized the key components of uncoupled and non-phosphorylating respiration in plant mitochondria, addressed issues of their genetic control and activity regulation, and substantiated the importance of these processes for maintaining stability and energy efficiency of photosynthetic cells, especially under illumination.

The presentations were distinguished by the novelty of their hypotheses, reflected the current state of the science, and contained a number of non-trivial findings; the talks aroused keen interest among the audience and were accompanied by numerous questions.

The conference featured three sections: Section 1 — "Resistance Mechanisms of Plant and Microorganisms ", Section 2 — "Biological Diversity, Bioresources, and Sustainability of Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems", and Section 3 — "Agrobiopharm Technologies". A total of 50 oral presentations were delivered during the sectional meetings. The first section was the largest in terms of the number of participants; the sessions were held over the three days of the conference. The attention of the participants of this section was focused on the mechanisms of plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stress factors, plant– microorganism interactions, and the role of the latter in enhancing plant resistance to various stress factors.

The session was opened by G.N. Smolikova (SPb , St. Petersburg) with a presentation on non-foliar photosynthesis in pod tissues, which was discussed as an important adaptive strategy enabling plants to maintain productivity under abiotic stress conditions. The speaker noted that the presence of chloroplasts with active photosystems and their own Rubisco in pod cells allows for the fixation of additional amounts of CO2 released during pod respiration, which ensures efficient accumulation of sugars and other metabolites in developing seeds. The peculiarities of ascorbic acid biosynthesis pathways in the tissues of Siberian crabapple (Malus baccata) at different stages of fruit development were revealed by E.G. Rudikovskaya (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk). А comparative analysis suggested that additional biosynthesis pathways, namely the galacturonic and myoinositol pathways, may contribute to the high ascorbic acid content in the fruits of M. baccata and its F₁ hybrids. N.N. Rudenko (IBBP RAS PSCBR RAS, Pushchino) presented results of a study on the effects of the knockout of chloroplast carbonic anhydrase genes αCA1, βCA1, and αCA4 in Arabidopsis thaliana on photosynthetic activity under high light conditions. The findings revealed the differentiated roles of the studied isoforms in light-dependent processes. The talk by I.V. Lyubushkina (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) was focused on mitochondrial respiration in vegetative and generative organs of winter and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at booting and anthesis stages. The authors showed that, in the studied varieties, mitochondria isolated from inflorescences differed from leaf ones in higher oxidation rates of respiratory substrates with a predominant contribution of the cytochrome pathway and a high degree of coupling between oxidation and phosphorylation. A.S. Lapashina (Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, MS , Moscow) addressed the dynamics of cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP pools in living Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells under energy deprivation. sing genetically encoded FRET-based fluorescent sensors (yATeam), the authors found that the cytosolic ATP pool is highly stable and does not change upon glucose addition, whereas the mitochondrial ATP pool markedly increases even in the presence of uncouplers. The report by N.K. Koteyeva (Komarov Botanical Institute, St. Petersburg) concerned structural variability of salt excretion systems in halophytic grasses (Poaceae). The author described three main structural types of salt glands and noted that assessment of structural diversification of salt excretion function in grasses allows identification of the features of development and evolutionary transformations within particular phylogenetic lineages of the family. E.A. Lazareva (Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, MS , Moscow) gave a presentation on the mechanisms of ER membrane and plasmodesmata modifications that underpin the life strategy of plant viruses. sing a combination of genetic engineering techniques and microscopic approaches, the authors demonstrated the key role of the transport protein BMB2 of hibiscus green spot virus (HGSV) in modifying these membranes and enhancing the intercellular transport of viral particles. The talk by N.A. Spechenkova (IBCh RAS, Moscow) was devoted to one of the current innovative approaches to combating viral pathogens, namely RNA interference of viral genes. The speaker demonstrated that application of exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) against potato virus Y (PVY) leads to effective inhibition of viral replication. The concluding talk of the first conference day was delivered by K.A. Kamarova (VIGG RAS, Moscow). The author presented the results of the study on the protein-protein interactions within the RGP (reversibly glycosylated polypeptides) family. Proteins of this family are known to be key players in the metabolism of arabinose, an important structural component of the plant cell wall. The talk discussed data indicating the regulatory and structural role of the class 2 protein (NbRGP5) in the formation of hetero-oligomeric functional complexes with class 1 proteins (NbRGP1, NbRGP2).

On the second day of the conference, the first session addressed mechanisms of organism resistance to biotic stress caused by pathogens. The session was opened by A.R. Kayumov (KF , Kazan) with a presentation on the potential ability of natural and synthetic terpenoids to eradicate mono- and dual-species communities of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus — opportunistic microorganisms capable of forming mixed fungal-bacterial consortia. The study revealed that all tested compounds, under irradiation, led to complete elimination of staphylococcal cells in planktonic culture and biofilms, but were ineffective against Candida biofilms. L.A. Lomovatskaya (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented the results of a study on systemic changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in potato plants in vitro, depending on their resistance to necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens. The author convincingly demonstrated that the systemic modulation of SOD activity in potato plants in vitro depends on both the cultivar resistance and the trophic specialization of the phytopathogen. E.O. Kolesnikova (LLC "SoyuzSemSvekla", VNIISS settlement) presented a report addressing the problem of microbial contamination of common beet (Beta vulgaris L.) explants during their introduction into in vitro culture and subsequent cultivation. The presentation described the results of identification of the major pathogens, characterized the sources of contamination, and presented an effective protocol developed for suppressing microbial contamination. V.A. Kuznetsova (VIR, Far East Experiment Station, Vladivostok) reported data showing that plant extracts with high antibacterial content (extracts of chaga, wormwood, nettle, larch bark, chamomile, and oak) are effective modulators of soybean resistance to biotic stress caused by Cercospora. The author discussed the feasibility of using these extracts as environmentally friendly agents for presowing seed treatment of soybean. The first part of Section 1 was concluded by A.A. Isupova ( S , Izhevsk), who presented the results of a study on the effect of inoculation of ameliorant plants with the endophytic fungus Neonectria macrodidyma on plant resistance to oil contamination, and on the oil content in the rhizosphere soil. The experimental results indicate the effectiveness of using micromycetes in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated lands.

A series of reports was devoted to issues of plant resistance to water deficit and drought. For example, joint work by researchers from the ICG SB RAS and the SIPPB SB RAS examined the variability of adaptive responses of spring common wheat to water and drought conditions with substitution of chromosomes of the fourth homoeologous group (report by T.A. Pshenichnikova), the association of SSR markers on chromosome 2D of common wheat with drought resistance traits (report by S.V. Osipova), and the effect of introgression from Aegilops speltoides in the wheat genome on drought resistance (report by M.D. Permyakova). A report by M.A. Sundyreva et al. (FSBSI NCFSCHVW, Krasnodar) demonstrated that the combined effects of drought and high temperatures induce defense responses of grapes against phytopathogens. In a report by I.V. Fedoseeva (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) examined the role of one of the mitochondrial protein genes related to external alternative NADH dehydrogenases, AtNDB2, in the response of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to water stress. L.E. Ivachenko (BSP , Blagoveshchensk) reported on the effect of seed priming on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in soybean seedlings under oxidative stress.

Another abiotic factor that negatively impacts plants is salinity. The mechanisms of plant resistance to this factor were examined in the papers by A.V. Korobova et al. ( IB FRC RAS, fa) and O.V. Sazonova (Voronezh State Agrarian niversity, Voronezh). A.V. Korobova presented a report on the interaction of hormones and their distribution in tissues as an important mechanism of plant resistance to salinity, and O.V. Sazonova examined the role of promoter methylation of fumarate hydratase isoenzyme genes in regulating their transcription in sunflower leaves under salinity. Along with salinity and drought, low and high unfavorable temperatures often have a negative impact on plants, so studying plant responses to extreme temperatures is very important. The report by I.V. Fedoseeva (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) focused on the role of various types of dehydrins in plant resistance to low-temperature stress, while A.P. Mironova's (FRC SSC RAS) video report assessed the resistance of ornamental conifers to adverse winter conditions in Sevastopol urban landscapes. O.I. Grabelnych (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) report presented results on changes in the fatty acid composition of etiolated and green spring wheat seedlings under induced thermotolerance conditions. Section 1 concluded with presentations by A.B. Shcherban (ICG SB RAS, Novosibirsk) on the identification of a new S-gene conferring susceptibility to fungal diseases on chromosome 5BS of common wheat T. aestivum and E.A. Degtyaryova (IBBP RAS PSCBR

RAS, Pushchino) presented a report on changes in the content of jasmonates, abscisic and salicylic acids in the leaves of hexaploid and tetraploid wheat during pathogenesis caused by the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea .

Section 2 of the conference brought together research at the intersection of plant ecological physiology, biogeochemistry, population biology, and molecular genetics. The section featured presentations by leading experts from various research centers across Russia – from the Kola Peninsula to the Russian Far East, ensuring broad geographic coverage and enabling the examination of a wide spectrum of environmental challenges relevant to diverse climatic zones, ranging from Arctic tundra and boreal forests to the mountain systems of Southern Siberia and the monsoon-affected territories of Primorye.

Central to the section's discussions were fundamental issues related to assessing the current state of natural and anthropogenically transformed ecosystems, investigating the mechanisms of biota resilience to technogenic pollution, urbanization, and climate change, as well as developing the scientific foundations for the sustainable use and conservation of biological resources. A distinguishing methodological feature of the presented studies was the integrated interdisciplinary approach, which organically combined traditional field geobotanical and physiological-biochemical methods with state-of-the-art high-tech approaches – including molecular genetic analysis, chromatography-mass spectrometry, histochemical techniques for assessing the structural and functional state of tissues, as well as GIS technologies and bioinformatic modeling. Such a comprehensive methodological arsenal enabled a transition from descriptive documentation of stress effects to the elucidation of deep-seated molecular and cellular mechanisms of adaptation, which is particularly important for understanding the resilience limits of ecosystems under escalating anthropogenic pressure.

The section session was opened by A.A. Tikhomirov (IBP SB RAS, FRC KSC SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk) with a presentation on the challenges of plant sustainability in closed ecosystems. His work, conducted within the framework of long-term research on the development of bio-regenerative life support systems, demonstrated that under conditions of limited volume and multiple resource recycling, plants experience complex stress requiring fundamentally different approaches to environmental parameter optimization.

A substantial portion of the presentations was devoted to the analysis of natural ecosystem transformations under the influence of industrial pollution and urbanization, using plants as bioindicators of environmental quality. T.A. Sukhareva (INEP KSC RAS, Apatity), presented the results of long-term monitoring (1991–2025) of the elemental composition of plants in the impact zone of copper-nickel smelters in the Murmansk region. The study revealed that under aerotechnogenic pollution, the photosynthetic organs of plants become depleted in essential mineral nutrients (Ca, K, P, Mg, Mn) while becoming many times enriched with pollutants (Ni, Cu, S). In defoliated forests and technogenic open woodlands, the concentrations of priority contaminants in leaves and needles were many times higher than background values. Of particular significance is the finding that, despite the reduction in emission loads in recent years, a considerable excess over background levels persists, indicating the protracted nature of recovery processes in Arctic ecosystems. O.V. Kalugina (SIPPB SB RAS) performed a comparative analysis of the responses of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) to technogenic stress. Species-specific differences in antioxidant defense activity were revealed: Siberian larch exhibited higher resistance to oxidative stress than Scots pine, which has practical implications for reforestation in polluted areas. O.V. Shergina (SIPPB SB RAS) established a spatial gradient of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in the Baikal region, correlated with proximity to industrial centers and transportation routes; the integrated combination of chemical analysis and bioindication enabled a comprehensive assessment of the region's ecological state. I.V. Gordeeva ( S E, Yekaterinburg) based on monitoring results, showed that approximately 35% of woody plantations in the park zones of Yekaterinburg are in an unfavorable condition, with the highest stress levels recorded for Siberian spruce (Picea obovata), exhibiting crown defoliation of 30–50%. Differences in leaf fluctuating asymmetry were revealed in birch, linden, and poplar depending on weather and climatic conditions, underscoring the need for differentiated species selection for urban greening.

Several presentations were devoted to plant adaptation to natural conditions. .I. Bocharova (IBPN, FEB RAS, Magadan), presented a study on the phenomenon of dwarfism in aspen in northeastern Asia as an adaptive strategy to long winters and short growing seasons, associated with reduced growth, redistribution of assimilates toward underground organs, and changes in crown architecture. M. A. Kuznetsov (Institute of Biology, FRC Komi SC B RAS, Syktyvkar) demonstrated that the success of natural spruce regeneration in clear-cuts depends on the size of the cutting area, the degree of soil mineralization, and the availability of seed sources; in large clear-cuts, regeneration is hindered by rapid overgrowth with deciduous species and grasses.

Molecular genetic approaches were widely represented in studies on the assessment of genetic diversity and crop resistance. I.N. Leonova (ICG SB RAS, Novosibirsk), identified the genetic basis of resistance in Russian cultivars of common and durum wheat to fungal pathogens, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining different types of resistance genes. Yu.V. Fotev (CSBG SB RAS, Novosibirsk) presented the results of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) introduction in the south of Western Siberia, identifying key breeding traits for the development of adapted cultivars. P.E. Nelyubina (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk), based on chloroplast DNA analysis, reconstructed the phylogeographic        structure        of Anemone altaica populations in the Khamar-Daban Ridge, reflecting the history of Pleistocene climate change, and identified the main refugia of the species.

Histochemical methods for assessing the adaptive potential of resource species were presented by O.Yu. Vasilyeva (CSBG SB RAS, Novosibirsk), using the genera Rosa and Miscanthus as examples. These studies enabled the diagnosis of winter hardiness at the tissue level, the assessment of technological characteristics of raw materials for bioenergy, and the selection of promising forms based on the content of biologically active substances. N.G. Platova (Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS, Moscow) investigated chromosomal aberrations in lettuce seedlings under helium ion irradiation and hypomagnetic conditions, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect and the modulating influence of hypomagnetic conditions.

Three presentations were devoted to microorganisms and their roles in ecosystems. B.A. Fenyuk (Central niversity, Moscow) presented the creation of a digital atlas of microbial bioenergetics based on FRET sensors for monitoring ATP in living cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; the stability of the cytosolic ATP pool and the role of ATP/ADP exchange between the cytosol and mitochondria were established. S.V. Sokornova (FSBSI VIZR, St. Petersburg–Pushkin) investigated the rhizosphere mycobiota of Vaccinium in pine forests after surface fires, identifying saprotrophic and potentially pathogenic genera ( Penicillium , Fusarium , Phomopsis ), and demonstrated the staged recovery of microbial communities. E.V. Fedoseeva (Lomonosov MS , Moscow) demonstrated dosedependent stimulation of sporulation in mycelial soil fungi under the influence of heavy metal ions (Zn), associated with changes in membrane lipid profiles and antioxidant enzyme activity.

The overarching outcome of the presented studies was the transition to a comprehensive analysis of adaptive mechanisms at the organismal, population, and ecosystem levels, employing a broad range of modern methods – from histochemistry and chromatographymass spectrometry to NGS sequencing and bioinformatics. Priority areas for future research include the development of scientific foundations for monitoring rare and relict species, assessment of the long-term consequences of technogenic transformation, identification of genetic determinants of crop resistance, and the creation of environmentally safe biotechnological approaches for biodiversity conservation and restoration.

Section 3 was devoted to agrobiopharm technologies. E.V. Babynin (IFMB KF , Kazan) opened the section with a report on the identification of a new species, Pseudomonas chegetensis sp. Nov., which holds promise for bioremediation and the creation of biofertilizers. The study isolated and identified non-pathogenic bacterial strains from soils for the first time, capable of utilizing diesel fuel as a carbon source. Based on genomic sequencing, these strains were assigned to the genus Pseudomonas. The similarity of these strains' genomes led the authors to classify them as a single species, for which the name Pseudomonas chegetensis was proposed. N.I. Rekoslavskaya (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented a report on the creation of a candidate therapeutic cancer vaccine based on the "early" protein of the HPV16 E2 papillomavirus, expressed in transgenic tomato fruits. Vaccination of mice with testicular and lung cancers with transgenic tomato fruits containing the HPV16 E2 gene encoding the tumor suppressor resulted in tumor regression, significant induction of interferon-γ, and increased T-lymphocyte generation, while simultaneously blocking the development of tumor biomarkers. R.S. Ivanov ( IB

FRC RAS, fa) presented a report on the combined effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria and humic substances on the rooting of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) cuttings. The study determined the quantitative ratio of a combination of humic substances and the agrobacteria Pseudomonas protegens and Enterobacter ludwigii that activates root formation in P. nigra cuttings. The latter is apparently due to both a bacterial-induced increase in IAA levels, leading to the activation of the PnRGF9 gene encoding a root meristem growth factor, and the suppression of ABA levels as a result of the combined action of bacteria and humic substances. A.V. Stepanov (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented a report on the specifics of micropropagation of various Fragaria species. This work successfully yielded viral-free Fragaria species specimens, and developed a detailed method for in vitro purification of planting material to obtain healthy plants ready for mass micropropagation, with the goal of subsequently producing large volumes of elite planting material. A.Yu. Velichko (CSBGSB RAS, Novosibirsk) reported on the search for optimized conditions for in vitro cultivation of Lithospermum officinale L. as a source of naphthoquinones. Elevated naphthoquinone levels were recorded in isolated roots of L. officinale microplants obtained after in vitro seed culture and cultivation at ½ MS. N.E. Korotaeva (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) reported on the use of Pinus sylvestris L. callus lines to conduct a model experiment to identify P. sylvestris dehydrin proteins specifically regulated by low positive temperatures at the genomic and proteome levels. V.D. Sergeeva's report (Lobachevsky State niversity of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod) was devoted to the use of light to stimulate the accumulation of phenolic compounds with medicinal value in the cells of Vaccinium corymbosum L. suspension cultures. Patterns in the effects of long-term and short-term changes in the illumination regime of V. corymbosum callus suspension cultures in combination with the addition of phytohormones on the content of individual phenolic compounds were identified. T.V. Lipchanskaya (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented a report on the impact of soil drought on the component profile of sterol fractions and their ester derivatives in the leaves of two common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in drought tolerance. It was shown that the composition of isoprenoids belonging to the sterol fraction was more stable and returned to control values more quickly after the peak of stress in the drought-tolerant cultivar, whereas in the susceptible cultivar, these changes were divergent during the stress period and indicated a more significant disruption to membrane homeostasis.

A number of oral presentations (16) at the conference were presented as short reports (flash presentations). One of the key areas of plant physiology presented in these reports was the study of plant responses to adverse temperature effects. An analysis of the metabolic response conducted in the work of M.K. Kolupaeva (IS , Irkutsk) showed that low- and high-temperature stresses led to the suppression of central metabolic pathways (glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and photorespiration) and to the activation of the protective compound synthesis in Marchantia polymorpha . A study by E.A. Polyakova (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) revealed the important role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and "external" mitochondrial NADH(P)H dehydrogenases in the regulation of ROS levels during the adaptation of spring wheat to high temperatures. SOD activity as an indicator of temperature stress in soybean seedlings ( Glycine max )

was also examined in the work of A.A. Blinova (BSP , Blagoveshchensk). It was shown that treatment of soybean seedlings with chaga extract ( Inonotus obliquus ) reduced the level of oxidative stress in seedlings caused by both elevated and reduced temperatures. S.A. Lavrent’yeva (BSP , Blagoveshchensk) presented the results of a study assessing the involvement of catalases in Glycine max and Glycine soja in the plant response to the influence of biogenic metal salts of copper and zinc. It was found that higher catalase activity determines a higher and more adaptive potential to the action of copper and zinc salts in Glycine soja . The protective effect of priming under unfavorable temperature influences was also demonstrated in grapes in a report by E.O. Lutskiy (FSBSI NCFSCHVW, Krasnodar). A two-component system consisting of a hormone (jasmonic or salicylic acid) and osmotically active proline was used as priming. In the work of P.A. Bizikov (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk), the activity of the phthalate pathway enzymes for the degradation of naphthalene structures in pea seedlings was demonstrated. This allows for a new assessment of the strategies of legumes in relation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Much attention was devoted to studying the responses of woody plants to external influences. Thus, in the reports of I.A. Trofimtsova (BSP , Blagoveshchensk) and A.A. Strokina (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk), changes in the activity of antioxidant systems and the structure of integumentary tissues in Scots pine ( Pinus silvestris ) under anthropogenic influences were demonstrated. In the work of A.V. Shergina (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) used birch stands ( Betula pendula ) as an indicator of the ecological state of the urban environment, and developed digital databases in Microsoft Access based on their analysis. In the molecular genetics field, the main focus was on identifying molecular interactions between plants and pathogenic microorganisms. E.A. Istomina (VIGG RAS, Moscow) presented the results of a search for thaumatin-like protein (TLP) genes, which have antifungal properties, in the genome of the medicinal plant meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ). Twenty-seven TLP precursor genes were identified and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted. M.P. Slezina

(VIGG RAS, Moscow) analyzed the antimicrobial properties of the γ-core defensins of wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum elongatum ) using synthetic peptides containing the corresponding sequences. The studied synthetic peptides demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activity. The report by T.V. Komarova (Lomonosov MS , Moscow) was devoted to the sensitivity of plant RNA viruses to nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) using the example of controlling the development of infection caused by the tobacco mosaic virus in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. In the work of A.S. Kutukova (Sirius niversity), important regions of interaction between the VPg protein of potato virus Y and the translation initiation factors eIF4E1-S60 and eIF(iso)4E-T42 of the host plant were identified. The biotechnological direction of research was represented by the reports of A.A. Sukhova (Lobachevsky State niversity, Nyzhny Novgorod) and M.D. Timergalin ( IB FRC RAS, fa). In the work of A.A. Sukhova analyzed the influence of environmental components (phytohormones 2,4-D and BAP) and lighting conditions (16-hour photoperiod and darkness) on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in callus and suspension cultures of blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ). M.D. Timergalin's report presented results on the influence of humates and bacterial preparations on the condition of silver maple ( Acer saccharinum L.) planting material. It was shown that the combination of humic substances and bacterial preparations influenced the levels of ABA and cytokinins in plants, optimizing photosynthesis and water metabolism.

Sixteen papers were presented at the conference poster session. A.M. Barkovskaya (ARRIAB, Moscow) presented the study results on the role of transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins of the Xanthomonas bacterium in the development of vascular bacteriosis of brassicas. The authors succeeded in inactivating TALEs through homologous recombination, the effect of which was assessed by the expression of plant target genes during Xanthomonas infection using transcriptome analysis of mRNA from inoculated plants. V.I. Degtyareva's paper (IBBP RAS PSCBR RAS, Pushchino) examined the stress tolerance to abiotic factors in transgenic lines of common wheat and spelt with different expression levels of the Arabidopsis allene oxide synthase gene, AtAOS, and its wheat homologue, TaAOS2. It was shown that gene overexpression provided increased resistance to osmotic stress. N.M. Ershova's study (VSP , Voronezh) studied the cellular localization of Kunitz protease inhibitor-like protein (KPILP), a glycoprotein important for regulating intercellular transport and responses to various stresses. It was established that KPILP, which matures in the endoplasmic reticulum of the Golgi apparatus (AG), is associated with vesicles of the trans-network of the AG and the plasma membrane, circulating between them via clathrin-dependent endocytosis. This requires three glycosylation sites – N60, N86, and N136 – to achieve this. A.D. Zhadan (ARRIAB, Moscow) studied potato R-genes encoding receptors that recognize AVR effectors of the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, the causative agent of late blight. The authors cloned the pathogen's AVR effector genes and the full-length coding sequences of R genes from Nicotiana benthamiana into vector constructs. In the report by E.I. Zaitseva (Lomonosov MS , Moscow) and V.O. Samarskaya (Lomonosov MS , Moscow) presented the results of a study of alternative splicing of the 10 FTHF-Df gene of potato, encoding deformylase, one of the key enzymes of the methionine-folate cycle of plants, involved in the metabolism of tetrahydrofolate and methionine under conditions of normal and high humidity. It was shown that high humidity leads to the expression of short isoforms of the enzyme without a regulatory domain and functionally inactive, which leads to an imbalance in the methionine-folate cycle. The work of N.I. Rumyantseva (KIBB FRCKSC RAS, Kazan) is devoted to the study of the infection pathways of tartary buckwheat by Botrytis cinerea conidia. The authors established for the first time that infectious hyphae of B. cinerea spread not only subcuticularly and through the intercellular space of the leaf mesophyll, but also through the vascular system of the leaf, which leads to rapid infection.

The report by L.E. Makarova and co-authors (SIBIFR SB RAS, Irkutsk) was devoted to studying the role of endogenous N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine (N-PNA) in the growth processes of the roots of pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L.). Changes in the physiological and biochemical processes in root zones with meristematic and elongating cells are shown against the background of an increase in N-PNA content induced by a 10-4M naphthalene solution. A report on the effect of ABA on the auxin content and distribution of auxins in Arabidopsis tissues depending on the sensitivity of plants to ethylene under salinity conditions was presented by A.O. Sevostyanova ( IB FRC RAS, fa). In the report of O.V. Yakovleva (Lomonosov MS , Moscow) an innovative approach to the use of chlorophyll a fluorescence indicators as a criterion for assessing the condition of plants under anthropogenic load and an indicator of environmental pollution is proposed. The most sensitive parameters of the JIP-test were determined by PIABS, FV/F0, FV/FM, which can be used as indicators of the physiological state of urban phytocenoses. In the report of Perfileva A.I. (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presents data on the effect of chalcogen and metal nanocomposites on the expression of PR-genes in potatoes under biotic stress. The induction of PR-gene expression in the presence of nanocomposites and during infection with Pectobacterium carotovorum was established using RT-PCR. Nurminsky V.N. (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) reported the results of studying the effect of osmotic stress on the functional state and microviscosity of mitochondrial membranes in potato tuber cells (Solanum tuberosum L.). It was found that hyperosmotic stress leads to changes in the microviscosity of mitochondrial membranes and the appearance of densely packed domains, which can be raft structures of membranes.

In the work of N.V. Filinova (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase of different localizations was studied – appoplastic ionbound and cytosolic soluble in transgenic potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.), constitutively expressing the glucose oxidase gene (gox) from Penicillium funiculosum. It has been shown that the activity of soluble enzyme fractions is significantly higher than the activity of ionically bound fractions. In the report of S.Kh. Vyshegurov (FSBEI HE niversity of Biotechnology, Novosibirsk) and A.Yu. Velichko (LCC RC “Innovations”, Novosibirsk) current data on reserves of medicinal raw materials in the Novosibirsk region were presented. 47 species of medicinal plants of commercial importance were identified. Research by I.N. Egorova (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) were aimed at studying the characteristics of the chemical composition of Nostoc commune (Cyanobacteria) thalli from different ecological and geographical conditions. Variability in the content of a number of chemical elements, ash content, fatty acid composition of lipids and the content of Nostoc pigments from different ecological and geographical living conditions has been established. In the work of T.I. Morozova and N.A. Pavlyuk (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) data on the distribution of brown schutte in Siberia, a fungal disease of coniferous trees caused by Herpotrichia pinetorum (Fuckel) G.Winter = Herpotrichia juniperi (Sacc.) Petr. were presented. In the report by A.V. Korsukova (SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk) presented the results of studies of the effect of the triazole fungicide tebuconazole on cell membranes (at the level of fatty acid composition) of winter wheat under the influence of the herbicide fluridone and showed that tebuconazole reduces the damaging effect of fluridone on membranes at low temperatures.

A competition for the best oral presentation, best flash presentation, and best poster presentation was held among young conference participants. Diplomas for the best oral presentations were awarded to: Evgeny Andreevich Degtyarev (1st place, IBBP RAS PSCBR RAS, Pushchino), Anastasia Anatolyevna Isupova (2nd place, S , Izhevsk), and lyana Ilyinichna Bocharova (3rd place, IBPN, FEB RAS, Magadan). Diplomas for the best flash presentations were awarded to: Elizaveta Alekseevna Polyakova (1st place, SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk), Anastasia Sergeevna Kutukova (2nd place, Sirius niversity, Sirius Technology Center), and Petr Aleksandrovich Bizikov (3rd place, SIPPB SB RAS, Irkutsk). Diplomas for the best poster presentations were awarded to: Anastasia Mikhailovna Barkovskaya (1st place, ARRIAB, Moscow), Elizaveta Ivanovna Zaitseva (2nd place, Lomonosov MS , Moscow), Vlada Igorevna Degtyareva (3rd place, IBBP RAS PSCBR RAS, Pushchino).

Based on the results of the conference, a collection of materials was published (The resistance… 2026).

Also, based on the results of the conference, a number of articles will be published – some of them in this issue (Lavrentyeva and Ivachenko, 2026; Kayumov et al. , 2026; Rodenko et al. , 2026; Golubev et al. , 2026; Nurminskaya and Markova, 2026; Nabieva et al. , 2026), and some in the next issue of the journal.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of the conference, discussion and exchange of opinions by the conference participants, the following decision was made: to note the high scientific level of the presented papers, the scientific discussions and debates on the issues and ideas in the field of plant and microorganism resistance to adverse environmental factors, biological diversity and bioresources of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems and agrobiopharmaceutical technologies; to recommend that the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Russian Science Foundation consider the possibility of organizing and holding an interdisciplinary comprehensive object-oriented competition to support fundamental scientific research on individual plant objects; to note the important contribution of the presented research results to solving the problems of preserving and restoring natural ecosystems and urbanized areas; to note the good representation of various scientific schools and young researchers at the conference; to continue regularly holding conferences on this topic at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS); to publish the results of the conference; to consider the conference on the stated topic held, successful and productive.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research was carried out within the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry of the Siberian Branch of RAS (Project State Registration Nо – 125021902487-9). The conference organizing committee expresses the gratitude to “Skygen” and “Dia-m” for their financial support.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.