Structure-Activity Relationship of Phytotoxic Natural 10-Membered Lactones and Their Semisynthetic Derivatives.

Ten-membered lactones (nonenolides) demonstrate phytotoxic, antimicrobial, and fungicidal activity promising for the development of natural product-derived pesticides. The fungus is able to produce phytotoxic stagonolides A (), J (), K () and herbarumin I () with high yield. The aim of this study was to create a set of structurally related nonenolides and to reveal the structural features that affect their biological activity.

Isolation and Bioactivity of Secondary Metabolites from Solid Culture of the Fungus, .

The fungus, is considered to be a potential agent for the biocontrol of perennial sowthistle (). A new chlorinated xanthone, methyl 8-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-chloro-9-oxo-9-xanthene-1-carboxylate () and a new benzophenone derivative, 5-chloromoniliphenone (), were isolated together with eleven structurally related compounds (-) from the solid culture of the fungus, which is used for the production of bioherbicidal inoculum of . Their structures were determined by spectroscopic (mostly by NMR and MS) methods.

Nutrient and metal pollution of the eastern Gulf of Finland coastline: Sediments, macroalgae, microbiota.

The anthropogenic pollution along the coastline of the eastern Gulf of Finland was studied through a range of methods, including analyses of metal contamination in water, surface sediments, accumulated algal biomass and its correlation with resistant microbiota. According to concentrations, the main pollutants in water were copper and manganese. Influence of Nuclear Power Plant was remarkable in adjacent areas and was expressed in high concentrations of molybdenum, nickel, copper and other elements in the water.