Ryszard Malinowski

Morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 45S (= 18S-ITS-28S) nuc rDNA region and the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II ( rpb 1) gene of two specimens, preliminarily named Isolate 527 and Isolate 530, showed that they are undescribed species in a newly proposed genus of the family Rhizoglomeraceae and in the genus Dominikia in Dominikiaceae (order Glomerales , phylum Glomeromycota ), respectively. Consequently, Isolate 527 was described as Durabilispora carpatica sp. nov . in Durabilispora gen. nov ., and Isolate 530 as Dominikia tatrensis sp. nov . Durabilispora was previously identified as an undescribed genus informally named “gen21” by other researchers. Both new species produced glomoid glomerospores in glomerocarps, which were extracted from trap cultures inoculated with mixtures of rhizosphere soils and root fragments of meadow plants from the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland. The morphological identity of Du. carpatica to the previously found Isolate 299, which was not provided with genetic data, indicated that Du. carpatica also inhabited dunes of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland.

This article presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyzes of sequences of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota): Dominikia indica , Dominikia indica strain 211, Isolate 517, and Isolate 524. Dominikia indica strain 211 was previously characterized only by sequences of the 45S nuc rDNA region (= 18S, partial, ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2, 28S, partial) and the rpb1 gene (without any morphological data) that were deposited in GenBank under the incorrect name " Dominikia indica strain 211". Its 45S sequences differed from the original D. indica sequences and, consequently, resulted in erroneous phylogenetic classification of this species. Isolate 517 and Isolate 524 slightly differed in morphology from Macrodominikia compressa (formerly D. compressa ) and Microkamienskia perpusilla (formerly Kamienskia perpusilla ), respectively. Microkamienskia perpusilla was originally found in a maritime dune site of Italy in 2009 and not yet reported from any other habitat in the world. Our sequence comparisons and analyzes showed that D. indica represents a new genus, here created under the name Delicatispora gen. nov. with De. indica comb. nov. , and Dominikia indica strain 211 is a new species, described as Dominikia paraminuta sp. nov . These analyzes also indicated that Isolate 517 is conspecific to M. compressa and confirmed the correctness of the transfer of D. compressa by other AMF researchers to Macrodominikia gen. nov. with M. compressa comb. nov. Morphological studies of our M. compressa specimens grown in culture showed that the original description of this species is incomplete and, therefore, the description was emended. Phylogenetic analyses of Isolate 524 proved its conspecificity to Mk. perpusilla and thus revealed its second site of occurrence, i.e., the coastal dunes of the Hel Peninsula in northern Poland.

The paper presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 45S (= 18S-ITS-28S) nuc rDNA region and the rpb1 gene (when available) of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the phylum Glomeromycota. These fungi were (i) an informally named Isolate 449, suspected of being an undescribed species of the genus Diversispora , and (ii) three Corymbiglomus species in the family Diversisporaceae. The studies confirmed the novelty of Isolate 449 in Diversispora and showed that Corymbiglomus contains only C. corymbiforme , while C. globiferum and C. pacificum should be transferred to a separate genus sister to Corymbiglomus . Consequently, Isolate 449 was described as Diversispora conica sp. nov., C. globiferum and C. pacificum were placed in Paracorymbiglomus gen. nov., and renamed P. globiferum comb. nov. and P. pacificum comb. nov.

The paper presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons andphylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 45S (= 18S-ITS-28S) nuc rDNA region andthe rpb1 gene (when available) of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the phylumGlomeromycota. These fungi were (i) an informally named isolate 449, suspected ofbeing an undescribed species of the genus Diversispora, and (ii) three Corymbiglomusspecies in the family Diversisporaceae. The studies confirmed the novelty of isolate449 in Diversispora and showed that Corymbiglomus contains only C. corymbiforme,while C. globiferum and C. pacificum should be transferred to a separate genus sisterto Corymbiglomus. Consequently, isolate 449 was described as Diversispora conicasp. nov., C. globiferum, and C. pacificum were placed in Paracorymbiglomus gen. nov.and renamed P. globiferum comb. nov. and P. pacificum comb. nov.

The paper presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 45S (= 18S-ITS-28S) nuc rDNA region and the rpb1 gene (when available) of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the phylum Glomeromycota. These fungi were (i) an informally named isolate 449, suspected of being an undescribed species of the genus Diversispora, and (ii) three Corymbiglomus species in the family Diversisporaceae. The studies confirmed the novelty of isolate 449 in Diversispora and showed that Corymbiglomus contains only C. corymbiforme, while C. globiferum and C. pacificum should be transferred to a separate genus sister to Corymbiglomus. Consequently, isolate 449 was described as Diversispora conicasp. nov., C. globiferum, and C. pacificum were placed in Paracorymbiglomusgen. nov. and renamed P. globiferumcomb. nov. and P. pacificumcomb. nov.

This article presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyzes of sequences of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota): Dominikia indica, Dominikia indica strain 211, Isolate 517, and Isolate 524. Dominikia indica strain 211 was previously characterized only by sequences of the 45S nuc rDNA region (= 18S, partial, ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2, 28S, partial) and the rpb1 gene (without any morphological data) that were deposited in GenBank under the incorrect name “Dominikia indica strain 211”. Its 45S sequences differed from the original D. indica sequences and, consequently, resulted in erroneous phylogenetic classification of this species. Isolate 517 and Isolate 524 slightly differed in morphology from Macrodominikia compressa (formerly D. compressa) and Microkamienskia perpusilla (formerly Kamienskia perpusilla), respectively. Microkamienskia perpusilla was originally found in a maritime dune site of Italy in 2009 and not yet reported from any other habitat in the world. Our sequence comparisons and analyses showed that D. indica represents a new genus, here created under the name Delicatisporagen. nov. with De. indicacomb. nov., and Dominikia indica strain 211 is a new species, described as Dominikia paraminutasp. nov. These analyses also indicated that Isolate 517 is conspecific to M. compressa and confirmed the correctness of the transfer of D. compressa by other AMF researchers to Macrodominikia gen. nov. with M. compressa comb. nov. Morphological studies of our M. compressa specimens grown in culture showed that the original description of this species is incomplete and, therefore, the description was emended. Phylogenetic analyses of Isolate 524 proved its conspecificity to Mk. perpusilla and thus revealed its second site of occurrence, i.e., the coastal dunes of the Hel Peninsula in northern Poland.

An experiment was conducted to analyse the potential for obtaining biomass for energy purposes and tall wheatgrass (TWG) seeds grown under conditions of varying pre-sowing fertilisation with compost and mineral fertilisation with nitrogen on sandy soils. Field trials were conducted between 2012 and 2015. The study factors were compost from municipal green areas with I-doses of 0, 10 and 20 Mg∙ha⁻¹ added before sowing and nitrogen II-doses of 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg∙ha⁻¹ added each year in the form of ammonium nitrate. During the experiment conducted on sandy soils, a favourable effect of fertilisation on the morphological parameters of above-ground vegetative and generative parts was found. The experiment resulted in high dry matter yields (DMYs) in the range of 9.08–31.38 Mg∙ha⁻¹ and high seed yields (SYs) (635 kg∙ha⁻¹ to as much as 2397 kg∙ha⁻¹), which depended on the applied fertilisation variant. The applied levels of compost fertilisation had a positive effect on the obtained dry matter yields (DMYs) and SY. Analysing the effect of the applied doses of mineral nitrogen fertilisation (40, 80 and 120 kg∙ha⁻¹) on the dry matter yield of TWG under sandy soil conditions, it should be noted that this factor significantly increased the DMY and SY in all years of the study. At the same time, the response of plants to this factor of the study over the years varied and depended on weather conditions. The high energy yield (192.50 GJ∙ha⁻¹–408.93 GJ∙ha⁻¹) closely related to the high DMY indicates the high suitability of TWG as a new grass species under temperate climate conditions grown for biomass energy production and the possibility to harvest seeds when adequately cultivated.

This study evaluates the impact of multi-year protection of grapevines using copper-based pesticides on heavy metal content in soil, leaves, and fruit under organic and conventional cultivation methods. Conducted on Solaris, Hibernal, and Muscaris grapevine varieties in north-western Poland, the research highlights significant differences between the two cultivation approaches. In organic vineyards, copper content in soil averaged 10.25 mg/kg, significantly higher than the 9.05 mg/kg found in conventional soils. Manganese levels were also elevated in organic soils (223 mg/kg) compared to conventional ones (299 mg/kg). Conversely, conventional vineyards exhibited higher zinc and lead concentrations, averaging 47.10 mg/kg and 20.34 mg/kg, respectively, versus 43.50 mg/kg and 11.22 mg/kg in organic soils. The organic soils also had higher salinity (46.50 mg/kg) than conventional ones (30.50 mg/kg). The fruits of grapevines in organic cultivation showed higher copper and zinc levels, with the Solaris variety containing 15.01 mg/kg of copper and the Muscaris variety having 11.43 mg/kg of zinc. These levels exceed the commonly encountered ranges of <1 to 10 mg/kg. Lead content in fruits was higher in organic cultivation (2.19 mg/kg) than in conventional cultivation (1.18 mg/kg), occasionally surpassing the critical value for consumable plants (1 mg/kg). Leaves of grapevines from organic vineyards had significantly higher copper and manganese content than those from conventional vineyards, with the Hibernal variety showing the highest levels. These findings underscore the necessity for monitoring and managing heavy metal content in vineyard soils to ensure fruit quality and safety.

Preliminary morphological analyzes of an isolate producing glomoid spores in culture and comparison of its 45S nuc rDNA sequences (= 18S-ITS-28S) with sequences available in GenBank suggested that this isolate is an undescribed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus of the genus Glomus in the family Glomeraceae (phylum Glomeromycota). This suggestion was confirmed by phylogenetic analyzes with sequences of 45S and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1) gene that placed this isolate in an autonomous clade sister to that with Glomus macrocarpum, the type species of Glomus and Glomeromycota. In the field, this species, here named G. rugosae sp. nov., was associated with roots of Rosa rugosa, which inhabited the coastal dunes of the Hel Peninsula in northern Poland. In single-species cultures, G. rugosae formed typical vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. Phylogenetic analyzes with 45S sequences of Glomus species and environmental sequences with a similarity of >96% to the 45S sequences of G. rugosae showed that G. rugosae was previously detected in the Czech Republic.

The study of changes in grassland was conducted on the territory of individual counties of the West Pomeranian Voivodship. Based on data collected in the Valorisation of the Agricultural Production Space of Poland and spatial data (an electronic 1:5000 soil and agricultural map) the basic information on the use of agricultural land in the 70s of the 20th century. Changes in use over time were analysed based on data the Statistics Poland (Pol.: Główny Urząd Statystyczny – GUS), General Geographic Database and The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture Crop Register (Pol.: Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa – ARiMR). The studies showed that in the West Pomeranian Voivodship, a successive decrease in the share of permanent grasslands (0.9%) and arable lands (1.4%) is observed. There is a spatial variation in the share of permanent grassland in the province’s counties, with a distinction between northern and southern counties. The main direction of change in grassland area is arable land, which applies to counties with the highest share of permanent grassland (PG) and counties with a high share of the best soils and forest direction. Land quality was the main factor determining the direction of grassland changes, with the best PG converted to arable land or for investment purposes. In contrast, the weakest were converted to forestry or spontaneously wooded through abandonment. The main reasons for changes in grassland areas in the West Pomeranian Voivodship were: conversion of use to arable land, afforestation of grasslands, land use for urban planning purposes, leaving land fallow and conversion for constructing fishponds.