Species of herbivore mammals in Striltsivsky Steppe and their environment-forming role for the ecosystems of the nature reserve

The article describes the key herbivore mammals species of in Striltsivsky Steppe. The authors noticed changes in the list of mammalian genera, namely, a decrease in the number of certain groups of characteristic steppe plant feeders, as well as the appearance and distribution of species common for forest biotopes. An increase in the number of large plant feeders (such as wild boar and roe deer) was noted, although the nature and scale of their environment-forming role are insufficient in suppressing reservogenic successions of the vegetation cover. Based on own observations and literature data analysis, the authors predict that the relevant trends in the flora and fauna composition in the reserve will continue in the future provided that the current regime of its territory remains the same.

Biostimulant Activity of Trichoderma saturnisporum in Melon (Cucumis melo)

Trichoderma-based biostimulants are considered the most effective plant growth–promoting fungi. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of two Trichoderma saturnisporum isolates on the growth promotion of melon (Cucumis melo) seeds and seedlings as well as their effect on the performance of the cantaloupe “Charentais” melon crop cultivar Gandalf cultivated under a typical parral-type greenhouse. For these purposes, germination trials and two experiments were performed in a commercial nursery, conventional system, and large plant system. Two experiments were also established for 2 years (two crop cycles) in a commercial greenhouse in Almería, Spain. In addition, we evaluated the influence of these isolates (T1 and T2) on the Charentais melon yield and quality. High values for seedling vigor and root length were obtained by T. saturnisporum T1 (93.50%) and T2 (93.75%) against control (62%). Trichoderma saturnisporum T1 and T2 increased the quality of plants in conventional system and large plant system and can be considered as biostimulant. Trichoderma saturnisporum treatments resulted in significantly larger crop productivity without a negative effect on the fruit quality parameters. Melon productivity increased in T. saturnisporum treatments T1 (13.99%) and T2 (16.04%), while at the same time increases the average fruit weight up to 7.71% for T2 isolate. Trichoderma saturnisporum act as biostimulants for nursing and commercial melon crops without negative effects on fruit quality. This is the first report describing T. saturnisporum as a potential crop yield promoter.

Cymbidium densiflorum (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae; Cymbidieae): a new orchid species from China based on morphological and molecular evidence

A new orchid species, Cymbidium densiflorum, from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here based on morphological and molecular analyses. A detailed comparison between the newly discovered orchid and other members of Cymbidium was conducted. The new plant belongs to C. section Cymbidium and has a pendent inflorescence, thick-coriaceous flowers with two pollinia and rigid leaves, and it differs greatly from all other known species of this section by being a large plant bearing leaves with an acute, oblique apex and producing a long inflorescence with more than 30 purplish brown large flowers, in which the lateral sepals are oblique and narrowly elliptic with a tooth at the apex and narrowly ovate-elliptic petals. A molecular study based on the nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid matK, rbcL, trnG, trnL and atpI DNA sequence data indicated that C. densiflorum is sister to C. paucifolium.