Assoc. Prof. Dr. Audrius Kačergius

ORCiD iD: 0000-0002-6552-7271
E-mail: audrius.kacergius@lammc.lt
Žalioji Sq. 2, LT-02232 Vilnius, Lithuania

Education

1988–1993 Vilnius University, Faculty of Life Science, diploma biologist

Academic degrees and pedagogical titles

21 July 2000 Doctor of Biomedical Sciences (B 000), biology (01B), dissertation “Mycobiota of weeds in Lithuania, species diversity and some biological peculiarities”. Institute of Botany–Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

Research fields

• Soil Microbiology
• Plant Pathology
• Molecular Biology

Professional experience

Since 1^st March 2017 up to now Senior Researcher in Vokė Branch of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry

2013–30^th April 2017 Researcher in Vokė Branch of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry

2007–2012 Senior Research in lab of Phytopathogenic Microorganisms of Institute of Botany (since 2010 – Nature Research Centre)

2000–2007 Researcher in lab of Phytopathogenic Microorganisms of Institute of Botany

1995–2000 Doctorant in lab of Phytopathogenic Microorganisms of Institute of Botany

1993–1995 assistant in lab of Phytopathogenic Microorganisms of Institute of Botany

Memberships and affiliations with professional organizations

• Member of Society of Lithuanian microbiologists
• Member of Society of Lithuanian phytopathologists

In-service training

• Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. Research fields: molecular biology, forest pathology.
• Federal Research Centre of Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany. Research fields: molecular biology, plant pathology.
• Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Achersleben, Germany. Research fields: molecular biology, plant pathology.

Other activities

• Teaches a Plant Pathology course to III–IV bachelor students of Vilnius University Life Sciences Center.

• 2015–2019 COST Action FP1406 “Pine pitch canker – strategies for management of Giberella circinata in greenhouses and forests” (PINESTRENGHT). Member of Management Committee from Lithuania.
• 2011–2015 COST Action FP1102 “Determining Invasiveness And Risk of Dothistroma” (DIAROD). MC Substitute from Lithuania.
• 2010–2012 participant in bilateral agreement between Lithuanian AS and Bulgarian AS “Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Phomopsis/Diaporthe species on cultivated and wild growing plants in Bulgaria and Lithuania”.

Involvement in programmes and projects

2013–2015 Scientific project supported and co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Lithuania under the Grant “Selection and creation of bio-accelerators for bio-gas generation and their use for the control of biomass conversion process” (BIOKONVERSA) Nr. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-10-V-02-018 under the Operational Programme for the Development of Human Resources 2007–2013, priority axis 3 “Strengthening researchers abilities”, measure VP1-3.1-ŠMM-10-V “Promotion of high level international researchers”.

2008–2014 Three Scientific projects supported by the Research Council of Lithuania National Research Programme “Ecosystems in Lithuania: Climate Change and Human Impact”.

2004–2005 Two Scientific projects supported by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation as groups of scientists.

2003–2009 Two Scientific Projects supported by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation.

Supervision of PhD studies                  

• 2019–2023 supervisor of PhD student Diana Sivojienė. Topic of the PhD project “Successions of soil microbial communities in light soil using various organic fertilizers”.
• Member of the Council of Defence of one dissertation (S. Supronienė), defended in 2009, rewiever of dissertation (J. Ramanauskienė), defended in 2013.

MAJOR RESEARCH OUTPUTS

Articles in journals indexed in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database

1. Bridžiuvienė D., Raudonienė V., Švedienė J., Paškevičius A., Baužienė I., Vaitonis G., Šlepetienė A., Šlepetys J., Kačergius A. 2022. Impact of soil chemical properties on the growth promotion ability of Trichoderma ghanense, T. tomentosum and their complex on rye in different land-use systems. Journal of Fungi, 8 (1): 85.  IF – 5,724
2. Mullett M. S., Drenkhan R., Adamson K., Boroń P., Lenart-Boroń A., Barnes I., Tomšovský M., Jánošíková Z., Adamčíková K., Ondrušková E., Queloz V., Piškur B., Musolin D. L., Davydenko K., Georgieva M., Schmitz S., Kačergius A., Ghelardini L., Kranjec Orlović J., Müller M., Oskay F., Hauptman T., Halász Á., Markovskaja S., Solheim H., Vuorinen M., Heinzelmann R., Hamelin R. C., Konečný A. 2021. Worldwide genetic structure elucidates the Eurasian origin and invasion pathways of Dothistroma septosporum, causal agent of Dothistroma needle blight. Journal of Fungi, 7 (2): 111. IF – 5,724
3. Sivojiene D., Kacergius A., Baksiene E., Maseviciene A., Zickiene L. 2021. The Influence of organic fertilizers on the abundance of soil microorganism communities, agrochemical Indicators, and yield in east Lithuanian light soils. Plants, 10 (12): 2648. IF – 4,658
4. Motiejūnaitė J., Kačergius A., Kasparavičius J., Taraškevičius R., Matulevičiūtė D., Iršėnaitė R. 2021. Response of ectomycorrhizal and other Pinus sylvestris root-associated fungi to the load of allochthonous material from a great cormorant colony. Mycorrhiza, 31: 471–481. IF – 3,856
5. Markovskaja S., Raitelaitytė K., Kačergius A., Kolmakov P., Vasilevich V., 2020. The occurrence of Dothistroma needle blight in Lithuania and Belarus, risk posed to native Scots pine forest stands. Forest Pathology, 50 (5): e12626. IF – 1,363
6. Ioos R., Aloi F., Piškur, B.,Guinet C.,Mullett M.,Berbegal M.,Bragança H., Cacciola S.O., Oskay F., Cornejo C., Adamson K., Douanla-Meli C., Kačergius A., Martínez-Álvarez P.,Nowakowska J.A., Luchi N., Vettraino A.M., Ahumada R., Pasquali M., Fourie G., Kanetis L., Alves A., Ghelardini L., Dvořák M., Sanz-Ros A., Diez J.J., Baskarathevan J., Aguayo J. 2019. Transferability of PCR-based diagnostic protocols: An international collaborative case study assessing protocols targeting the quarantine pine pathogen Fusarium circinatum. Scientific Reports9, Article number: 8195 (2019). IF – 3,998
7. Lujanienė G., Li H-C., Mažeika J., Paškauskas R., Remeikaitė-Nikienė N., Garnaga-Budrė G., Levinskaitė L., Jokšas K., Bugailiškytė D., Šemčuk S., Kačergius A., Stankevičius A., Stirbys V., Povinec P. P. 2018. Carbon isotopes as tracers of organic and inorganic carbon in Baltic Sea sediments. Radiocarbon, 60 (5): 1493–1505. IF – 1,531
8. Adamson K., Mullett M. S., Solheim H., Barnes I., Müller M. M., Hantula J., Vuorinen M., Kačergius A., Markovskaja S., Musolin D. L., Davydenko K., Keča N., Ligi K., Priedite R. D., Millberg H., Drenkhan R. 2018. Looking for relationships between the populations of Dothistroma septosporumin northern Europe and Asia. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 110: 15–25. IF – 3,314
9. Lujaniene G., Levinskaite L., Kačergius A., Gavutis M. 2017. Sorption of plutonium to bacteria and fungi isolated from groundwater and clay samples. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 311 (2): 1393–1399. IF – 1,282
   
10. Markovskaja S., Kačergius A., Davydenko K., Fraser S. 2016. First record of Neocatenulostroma germanicum on pines in Lithuania and Ukraine and its co‐occurrence with Dothistroma spp. and other pathogens. Forest Pathology, 45 (5): 522–533. IF – 1,547
11. Drenkhan R., Tomešová-Haataja V., Fraser S., Bradshaw R. E.,Vahalík P., Mullett M. S., Martín-García J., Bulman, L. S., Wingfield M. J., Kirisits T., Cech T. L., Schmitz S., Baden R., Tubby K., Brown A., Georgieva M., Woods A., Ahumada R., Jankovský L., I. M. Thomsen, Adamson K., Marçais B., Vuorinen M., Tsopelas P., Koltay A., Halasz A., La Porta N., Anselmi N., Kiesnere R., Markovskaja S., Kačergius A., Papazova-Anakieva I., Risteski M., Sotirovski K., Lazarević J., Solheim H., Boroń P., Bragança H., Chira D., Musolin D. L., Selikhovkin A. V., Bulgakov T. S., Keča N., Karadžić D., Galovic V., Pap P., Markovic M., Poljakovic Pajnik L., Vasic V., Ondrušková E., Piškur B., Sadiković D., Diez J. J., Solla A., Millberg H., Stenlid J., Angst A., Queloz V., Lehtijärvi A., Doğmuş-Lehtijärvi H. T., Oskay F., Davydenko K., Meshkova V., Craig D., Woodward S., Barnes I. 2016. Global geographic distribution and host range of Dothistroma: a comprehensive review. Forest Pathology, 46 (5): 408–442. IF – 1,547
12. Markovskaja S., Kačergius A. 2014. Morphological and molecular characterisation of Periconia pseudobyssoides sp. nov. and closely related P. byssoides. Mycological Progress, 291–302. IF –  1,913
13. Sakalauskas S., Kačergius A., Janušauskaitė D., Čitavičius D. 2014. Bacteria with broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against pathogenic fungi of cereal plants. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 100 (2): 185–192. IF – 0,420
14. Supronienė S., Mankevičienė A., Kadžienė G., Kačergius A., Feizienė D., Feiza V., Semaškienė R., Dabkevičius Z., Tamošiūnas K. 2012. Impact of tillage and fertilization on Fusarium infection and mycotoxin production in wheat grains. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 99 (3): 265–272. IF – 0,567
15. Motiejūnaitė J., Kasparavičius J., Kačergius A. 2011. Boletellus projectellus – an alien mycorrhizal bolete new to Europe. Sydowia, 63 (2): 203–213. IF – 0,4
16. Gabler J., Kačergius A., Jovaišienė Z. 2004. Detection of Phomopsis vaccinii on blueberry and cranberry in Europe by direct tissue blot immunoassay and plate-trapped antigen ELISA. Journal of Phytopathology, 152: 630–632. IF – 0,8

Other peer-reviewed publications

1. Motiejūnaitė J., Markovskaja S., Kutorga E., Iršėnaitė R., Kasparavičius J., Kačergius A., Lygis V., 2017. Alien fungi in Lithuania: List of species, current status and trophic structure. Botanica Lithuanica, 23 (2): 139–152. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515 /botlit-2017-0016
2. Asakaviciute R., Kacergius A., Razukas A. 2017. New Lithuanian potato varieties and their resistance to Phytophthora Infestans (Mont.) de bary. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 23 (1): 107–112.
3. Rodeva R., Kačergius A., Stoyanova Z., 2016: An emerging fungal disease on Lactuca sativa in Bulgaria. Acta Horticulture, 1142: 135–140. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016. 1142.21.
4. Rodeva R., Gabler J., Machowicz-Stefaniak Z., Kačergius A., Zimowska B., Zalewska E., Stoyanova Z. 2016. New, emerging and re-emerging fungal diseases on medicinal and aromatic plants in European domain. In 6th International Symposium Breeding Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (BREEDMAP 6): Session C: Resistance breeding and new phytopathogens, Quedlinburg, Germany, June 19-23, 453: 33–39. DOI: 10.5073/jka.2016.453.010
5. Bakšienė E., Ražukas A., Asakaviciutė R., Kacergius A., Maknickienė Z., Romanovskaja D., Titova J., Tripolskaja L. 2013. Effects of Ecological Farming Systems and Five-years Crop Rotations on Crop Productivity and Properties of Haplic Luvison. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 11 (3&4): 1137–1142.
6. Markovskaja S., Kačergius A., Treigienė A. 2011. Occurrence of new alien pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella dearnessii in Lithuania. Botanica Lithuanica, 17 (1): 29–37.
7. Kačergius A., Jovaišienė Z. 2010. Molecural characterization of quarantine fungus Diaporthe/Phomopsis vaccinii and related isolates of Phomopsis from Vaccinium plants in Lithuania. Botanica Lithuanica, 16 (4): 177–182.
8. Lugauskas A., Repečkienė J., Levinskaitė L., Mačkinaitė R., Kačergius A., Raudonienė V. 2006. Micromycetes as toxin producers detected on raw material of plant origin grown under various conditions in Lithuania. Ekologija, 3: 1–13.
9. Mačkinaitė R., Kačergius A., Lugauskas A., Repečkienė J. 2006. Contamination of cereal grain by Fusarium micromycetes and their mycotoxins under Lithuanian climatic conditions. Ekologija, 3: 71–79.
10. Radaitienė D., Kačergius A., Valiuškaitė A. 2005. Ascospora dieback and stem blight, new diseases of Rubus in Lithuania. Botanica Lithuanica, 11 (1): 51–53
11. Kačergius A., Lugauskas A., Levinskaitė L., Varnaitė R., Repečkienė J., Mankevičienė A., Bakutis B., Baliukonienė V., Brūkštienė D. 2005. Screening of micromycetes producing toxic substances under various conditions. Botanica Lithuanica, Suppl. 7: 65–75.
12. Kačergius A., Mačkinaitė R. 2005. PCR-based detection and identification of trichotecenes producing fungi in food grains. Botanica Lithuanica, 11 (2): 87–99.
13. Mačkinaitė R., Kačergius A. 2005. Distribution of micromycetes, the potential mycotoxin producers, in stored wheat grains. Botanica Lithuanica, 11 (2): 111–118.
14. Kačergius A., Jovaišienė Z., Valiuškaitė A. 2004. Phomopsis vaccinii on Vaccinium corymbosum in Lithuania. Botanica Lithuanica, 10 (1): 75–80.
15. Kačergius A., Gabler J., Jovaišienė Z. 2004. Detection of phomopsis canker and dieback of highbush blueberries and cranberries in Lithuania. Agronomijas Vēstis (Latvia), 7: 71–79.
16. Kačergius A. 2003. The biodiversity of fungi parasiting weeds in Lithuania. Žemės ūkio mokslai, 4: 38–42
17. Radaitienė D., Kačergius A., Radušienė J. 2002. The fungal diseases of Hypericum perforatum L. and H. maculatum Crantz. in Lithuania. Biologija, 1: 35–38.
18. Kačergius A., Radaitienė D. 2002. Greenhouse test for the resistance to root and stem rot of Hypericum perforatum L. accessions. Plant Protection Science, 38 (2): 533–535.

Other publications

1. Kačergius A., Drik. I., Mankevičienė A., Supronienė S. 2008. Distribution of fusaria in Lithuanian food grains in 2005–2007. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica, 55: 204–206
2. Kačergius A., Radaitienė D. 2007. Aviečių ir gervuogių grybinių ligų sukėlėjų grynų kultūrų išskyrimas ir fungicidinių preparatų poveikis in vitro. Gamtamokslinio ugdymo priemonė „Žvilgsnis į mikroorganizmų pasaulį“, 204–210.
3. Kačergius A. 2005. Molecular identification in fungal taxonomy: focus on fusaria. In: Proceedings of the XVI symposium of mycologists and lichenologists of Baltic States: 83–86. Cesis, Latvia.
4. Rubekin K. S., Kačergius A. 2004. Opredelenija nalishija vazneishich metabolitov fitopatogennych gribov in vitro. Materialy VII molodioznoi konferencini botanikov. St. Peterburg, Russia, p. 73.

Popular press articles

1. Labokas J., […], Kačergius A. ir kt. 2008. Biologinės įvairovės tyrėjų kompetencijos plėtra.
2. Motiejūnaitė J., Kačergius A., Kasparavičius J. 2012. Miškas, medžiai, mikorizė ir stresas. Mūsų girios, 10: 12–13.
3. Kačergius A., Radaitienė D. 2002. Šeštoji Europos augalų patologijos organizacijos konferencija “Fitopatologija ir augalų atsparumas ligoms”. Botanica Lithuanica, Suppl. 4: 109–110.
4. Kačergius A. 2000. Mycobiota of weeds in Lithuania, species diversity and some biological peculiarities. Dissertation. Botanica Lithuanica, 6 (3): 335–337.

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