MYCOBIOTA OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE GADABAY REGION (AZERBAIJAN): TAXONOMIC STRUCTURE AND ECOLOTROPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Medicinal plants constitute an essential component of traditional and modern medicine; however, their therapeutic value may be significantly compromised by microbial and fungal contamination. Although numerous studies worldwide address mycobiota associated with medicinal plants, region-specific investigations in Azerbaijan remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the diversity, taxonomic structure, and ecolotrophic roles of microscopic fungi colonizing selected medicinal plants-Urtica dioica L., Stellaria media L., and Cephalaria gigantea (Ledeb.) Bobrov-naturally growing in the Gadabay region. Mycological analyses were conducted using standard cultivation, microscopic, and statistical methods. More than 15 species of micromycetes were isolated and identified. Fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota dominated the mycobiota (66%), while Zygomycota accounted for 34%. The most frequently encountered genera included Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Mucor, and Rhizopus. Plant-fungal interactions were classified into parasitic, saprotrophic, and occasionally mutualistic relationships. Pathogenic species were predominantly associated with senescent, stressed, or mechanically damaged plant tissues. The findings emphasize the necessity of mycological monitoring to ensure the hygienic quality and biological safety of medicinal plant raw materials.