Snow_mold_Microdochium

Snow mold is a severe plant disease caused by psychrophilic or psychrotolerant fungi and oomycetes. The disease is developed under snow cover at or shortly below the freezing point. Although snow mold disease is of great economic importance, snow mold-causing pathogens, including M. nivale, are poorly investigated. The snow mold-related pathocomplex and its dynamic during the disease progression are poorly characterized in the environment. Our study was aimed at the characterization of the community of snow mold-causing Microdochium species within a given geographical location and particular crop culture (winter rye). For the first time, fungal and bacterial communities were analyzed by NGS technique by the example of snow mold-damaged plants shortly after the snowmelt.