SUMMARY
Until now, there is a little number of scientifically investigated phages, in comparison to other biological representatives of the micro and macro world. Their properties are well studies only for a small number of so-called model bacteriophages. At the same time, the extraction of phages from ecosystems that function in low temperatures represents considerable scientific interest and has some methodological difficulties.The aim of the research was to study the diversity of viruses of bacteria isolated from the moss and soil of Antarctic plants. Methods: isolation ofbacteriophages from moss and soil specimens, titration by the Gratia method, accumulation of phages in a liquid nutrient medium with forcedaeration, electron microscopy, statistical methods. Results: The isolation of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) from moss and soil biotops hasbeen carried out. The morphology of negative colonies and viral particles of obtained phage isolates is described. Start of the negative coloniesformation was observed in 5–7 days, in others after 7–10 days. Their formation was completed after 10–12 days. The longest formation of negative colonies occurred precisely on strains of Antarctic bacterial cultures. Their taxonomic diversity is established. The detected viral particles were represented by different morphotypes, which are typical for the viruses of the families Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae of the Caudovirales order. Conclusions: isolates of phages to sensitive bacteria were extracted. A description of the diversity of bacteriophages has been made, which shows the taxonomic diversity of bacteriophages in the terrestrial biotopes of the islands of the Argentine archipelago and collection according to their characteristics was created.