Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects.We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives. Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) and DIVERSITAS, the TRY database (TRY-not an acronym, rather a statement of sentiment; https ://www.try-db.org; Kattge et al., 2011) was proposed with the explicit assignment to improve the availability and accessibility of plant trait data for ecology and earth system sciences. The Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC) offered to host the database and the different groups joined forces for this community-driven program. Two factors were key to the success of TRY: the support and trust of leaders in the field of functional plant ecology submitting large databases and the long-term funding by the Max Planck Society, the MPI-BGC and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, which has enabled the continuous development of the TRY database.

Цель. Определить региональные особенности пыльцевого спектра воздушной среды г. Самары по итогам пятилетнего мониторинга, составление календаря пыления аллергенных растений для г. Самары. Материалы и методы. Пыльцу улавливали волюметрическим методом с использованием ловушки-импактора оригинальной конструкции на предметные стекла, покрытые смесью вазелина и воска. В полученных препаратах подсчитывали пыльцевые зерна и определяли их принадлежность к различным систематическим группам. Результаты. В 2013 г. в воздушном бассейне г. Самары зарегистрирован 21 таксон (12 древесных и 9 травянистых), в 2014 г. отмечено 20 таксонов (13 древесных и 7 травянистых), в 2015 г. - 20 таксонов (12 древесных и 8 травянистых), в 2016 г. - 21 таксон (13 древесных и 8 травянистых), в 2017 г. - 18 таксонов (10 древесных и 8 травянистых). Суммарно за исследуемый период (5 лет) доминировала пыльца амброзии (24,3), тополя (12), березы (11,5), сосновых (7,5), вяза (6,3), клена (6,3), крапивы (5,8), злаков (4,7), полыни (3,7). Определено 10 доминирующих таксонов, которые формировали от 90 до 95 ежегодного объема пыления. Преобладающие таксоны значительно варьировали год от года по удельному весу. только три вида пыльцы присутствовало в спектре ежегодно в количестве более 4 от годовой суммы: пыльцевые зерна тополя, березы и амброзии. Заключение. Выявлены региональные особенности аэропалинологической ситуации, характерной для региона, составлен календарь пыления аллергенных растений для г. Самары.Aim. To determine the regional characteristics of the pollen spectrum of the air environment by the end of the five-year monitoring to create the pollen calendar of allergenic plants in Samara, Russia. Materials and methods. Pollen was sampled using the volumetric method with a self-engineered pollen impactor into glass slides, covered with a mixture of petrolatum and wax. The pollen grains were counted and classified according to the systematic groups. Results. IIn 2013 the Samara urban air basin contained pollen of 21 taxa (12 woody taxa and 9 herbaceous taxa) in 2014 - 20 taxa (13 woody and 7 herbaceous) in 2015 - 20 taxa (12 woody and 8 herbaceous) in 2016 - 21 taxa (13 woody and 8 herbaceous) in 2017 - 18 taxa (10 woody and 8 herbaceous). During the five-year survey the dominant taxa were ragweed (24.3), poplar (12,0), birch (11.5), pine (7.5), maple (6.3), elm (6.3), nettle (5.8), willow (4.8), Gramineae (4.7), and wormwood (3.7). 10 dominant taxa were determined, which formed from 90 to 95 of the annual pollen volume. The prevailing taxa varied considerably from year to year by specific weight. Only three pollen species were present in the spectrum annually in the amount of more than 4 of the annual amount: poplar, birch and ambrosia pollen grains. Conclusion. Regional features of aeropalynological situation was revealed and pollen calendar of allergenic plants in Samara was created.

The possibility of seed genetic banks creating is associated with the ability of many plants seeds (the so-called orthodox ones) to maintain germination ability for a long time, being in a dormant state. This opens up wide prospects for the formation of a reserve seeds fund of rare species that are threatened with extinction in natural communities. Botanical gardens in different countries of the world, including the Russian Federation, are working on the creation of such seed banks. To assess the quality of seeds in relation to agricultural crops, as well as natural flora species, radiography is used. It is this kind of non-damaging express assessment of the quality of seeds that turns out to be the most informative technique for seed material obtained in botanical gardens. The article presents the preliminary results of an X-ray study of the seeds quality of some Samara region rare plants - four species ofthe Iris genus - Iris aphylla L., I. halophila Pall., I. pumila L., I. sibirica L.

<p>The higher plants species during introduction demonstrate their properties, sometimes going beyond their traits in the natural areas. The most striking example may be given in this case is Acer nugundo L. (ash-leaved maple from the North America, a common component of forests in river valleys). In the forest-steppe –steppe landscapes of the Middle Volga region, it became a tree weed that exhibits exceptional resistance to abiotic stress conditions, including droughts.</p><p>Being introduced to alien territories, tree species generate different sorts of  “distortions” into local biogeochemical cycles in natural ecosystems and anthropogenically transformed environment. We would like to list briefly some kinds of such influence expressed in the conditions of the forest-steppe-and steppe ecosystems of our region.</p><p>The direct or indirect effects on water cycle may be connected with:</p><p>- The changes in water balance due to additional transpiration during the overgrowth of previously treeless localities with the transition from grassy to pseudo-forest communities (Ulmus foliaceae L., Acer negundo L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L.).</p><p>- The emission of additional amount of terpenes and other aeroions into the air (various types of coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs), which can act as centers of water vapor condensation.</p><p>The direct or indirect effects on carbon cycle (as well as nitrogen and phosphorus) may be connected with:</p><p>- The formation of leaf mass not eaten by local phytophages, replenishing the fund of leaf litter (Acer negundo L., Aesculus hyppocastanum L., species of Juglans genera.).</p><p>- The influence on the soil biological activity by stimulating or inhibiting the development of soil microbiota members (different tree species including Juglans cinerea L., J. mandshurica Maxim. , J. nigra L. and others).</p><p>- The changes in the soil nitrogen balance, especially pronounced for species with "symbiotic support" (Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Hyppophae ramnoides L.).</p><p>The above effects were detected by us for the few species including named above using various field and laboratory methods. Now we can consider them at the level of their identification as such Their scale assessment at the ecosystem level may become a next stage.</p><p>An analysis of the possibilities of identifying new pseudo-forest communities developing on the grassy deposits was carried out in local conditions by integrating ground-based survey data and remote sensing. This aspect seems to be valuable for our region with highly mosaic combination of natural, cultivated, anthropogenically transformed and other territories.</p>

Aim: to assess the dynamics of mold sporulation in Samara to predict the risk of allergy development and exacerbation. Patients and Methods: mold spore samples were collected from April 1 to September 30 in 2016–2019 using trap impactor and placed on slides coated with Vaseline-wax mixture. Mold spores were calculated and referred to various taxa. Allergy risks were predicted. Thresholds for evoking asthma are estimated to be 100 spores/m3 for Alternaria and 3,000 spores/m3 for Cladosporium. Results: in Samara, average mold vegetative period was 164 days. Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were identified. Their spores were estimated as 34.4% of total atmospheric spores in Samara. Cladosporium spores estimated as 15.3% of total fungal spores were identified during the whole observation period. Maximum concentration was less than 960 spores/m3 having been within the average range. Alternaria spores were estimated as 19.1%. The proportion of days exceeding the threshold value of 100 spores/m3 was 6% to 81% having been the highest in July-September. Conclusion: prerequisites for the development of fungal sensitization were revealed. Regional specificity of sporulation in Samara was illustrated. Major mold taxa were identified. Allergy risks in Alternaria and Cladosporium sensitization were assessed. The highest total average monthly amount of Alternaria spores was during Artemisia and Ambrosia pollination season. This could be challenging for the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from allergic symptom exacerbations during this period. Our findings will improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of allergic disorders in Samara. KEYWORDS: aerobiological monitoring, allergy, mold spores, Cladosporium, Alternaria, fungal sensitization. FOR CITATION: Mazokha K.S., Manzhos M.V., Khabibulina L.R. et al. Important issues of fungal sensitization: aerobiological aspects. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(1):4–9. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-1-4-9.