YuSU scientist participated in the European Mycological Congress in Italy

Last week in the Italian city of Perugia the leading experts-scientists from all over the world engaged in the study of fungi gathered all together. The 19th European Mycological Congress was held there, and Nina Filippova, Head of the Youth Laboratory of Molecular and Genetic Methods of Analysis at YuSU, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher of the UNESCO UNESCO Chair "Environmental Dynamics and Global Climate Change" was invited too. It should be noted that this is the second Congress for Nina. The researcher was also a participant of the 18th Forum, which took place four years ago in Warsaw.

Over the five days in Perugia, several sections were held, including one on fungal data management, and scientists discussed fundamental issues in the study of molecular diversity, as well as applied issues in biotechnology related to fungi.

"There were presented many modern methods of studying the diversity of mushrooms, functional characteristics of biomass, the use of biotechnology, which we will also use. It is very useful to get first-hand information, to get acquainted personally with people who are engaged in this field, to read articles and to master these directions", - Nina emphasized.

The paper of the YuSU scientist was devoted to the diversity of large fungi on peatlands. Nina Filippova presented to the scientific community the results of 10-year monitoring based on the graph supplemented by barcoding and metabarcoding.

"Peatlands around the world are very changed, and in our region they have remained intact. This is important for global understanding of how fungi communities are organized in different ecosystems," said Nina Filippova. She also said that at the Congress they managed to discuss several joint projects with their colleagues.

The congress ended with a section on mycological societies around the world, how they work, what areas they are involved in, and what the future holds for coordination and collaboration.

"We also have the Siberian Mycological Society. We can be an associate member. I told about the fact that now the Museum of Nature and Human is holding a festival of fungi. September and October are the most active in attracting audiences, the best time to draw attention to their diversity and why they are so important in nature and our human life," said the head of the laboratory.

We would like to add that more than 150 mycological scientists from Europe, Africa, Asia, South and North America, who represented more than 30 countries, took part in the Congress.

Material and video about the work of the youth laboratory of molecular-genetic methods of analysis at YuSU.