The study aimed to evaluate the possibility of the combined use of phytoseiid mites and neonicotinoids in agricultural production. To answer this question, laboratory tests were performed. The research objects were the polyphagous phytoseiid species Neoseiulus californicus and N. agrestis, which are widely used for the protection of vegetable and ornamental crops in greenhouses. Laboratory experiments showed that treatment with the neonicotinoids Actara and Confidor at recommended field concentrations had no negative effect on the longevity or fecundity of adult mites. However, when treatments were applied to juvenile developmental stages, high contact toxicity of the preparations was observed, especially toward protonymphs, whose mortality reached 70 %. For larvae and nymphs, this показатель averaged 30–40 %. When treatment was applied at the egg stage, viability of the tested phytoseiids remained at the control level. The obtained results will serve as a methodological basis for optimizing the combined use of phytoseiids and neonicotinoids in integrated pest management systems in greenhouses.
The ability of three strains of entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius to endophytic colonization was studied in beans, tomato and acanthus. In beans, phytoregulatory activity of the fungus was revealed. Watering soil with spore suspensions of strains Vl 21 and Vl 61 resulted in increase of green mass, plant length, and root mass (for Vl 61). Strain G-033 VIZR colonized beans most effectively when sprayed on leaves, occurrence in leaves and stems was 66 % and 40 %, respectively. Occurrence of Vl 61 in leaves and stems was 11–16 %. It was also found in roots and leaves after seed soaking in spore suspension, unlike other strains, which only colonized stems. The occurrence of Vl 21 was highest in leaves when sprayed (15 %). Colonization of beans with A. muscarius negatively influenced aphids feeding on these plants. On Vl 21-colonized plants, aphid fecundity was 26 % lower than in control and mortality reached 19 %. Vl 61 showed a fecundity decreasing trend and 50 % mortality of aphids. Strain G-033 VIZR didn’t affect aphid fecundity but caused 57 % mortality. Occasional aphid specimens displayed cases of mycoses. When the soil under tomato plants was watered with fungal spore suspension, the isolates predominately colonized the tomato stems, while colonization rate of leaves and roots did not exceed 8 %. The ability of green fluorescent protein-labeled strains Vl 61* and Vl 72* to colonize perennial acanthus plants was shown. Both strains were isolated from all parts of the acanthus, most frequently from leaves and stems.
The spread of the dangerous pest of coniferous plants, the four-eyed fir bark beetle Polygraphus proximus, beyond its historical range, poses a serious threat to fir plantations in the regions of invasion. This research provides information on the distribution of the species in the Sverdlovsk Province based on the results of surveys conducted in 2025. The increase in the number of locations where the four-eyed fir bark beetle was found indicates that the species has successfully adapted almost to the entire territory of the Sverdlovsk Province. Currently, the main foci are concentrated in the south-west of the region. The research results indicate that since the discovery of the invader in the Sverdlovsk region in 2023, the increase in the area of foci with the death of fir plantations has been very intense.
Hyperspectral sensing data processing pipeline, originally developed for the early diagnosis of rust diseases in grain crops, was assessed for its applicability for the task of phenotyping of healthy plants of wheat Triticum aestivum, barley Hordeum vulgare, and rye Secale cereale. Hyperspectral images of healthy plants, obtained under laboratory conditions using a Cubert Ultris 20 camera (450–874 nm range, 106 channels), were utilized. The effectiveness of various preprocessing schemes was compared: full (including normalization, smoothing, calculation of derivatives, and identification of extreme features), reduced, and minimal. Machine learning models were exploited for classification: logistic regression, support vector machine, and gradient boosting, trained on averaged spectra. It is shown that the use of a full pipeline optimized for phytopathological diagnostics leads to reduced classification accuracy in phenotyping tasks. The best results (F1 = 0.97 ± 0.025) were achieved using the original averaged spectral curves without additional transformations. It is concluded that for healthy wheat, barley, and rye phenotyping, absolute reflectance levels are informative, whereas for disease diagnostics, changes in the shape of the spectral curve are more important. The obtained results clarify the applicability limits of pipelines developed for phytosanitary purposes and can inform the development of remote monitoring and phenotyping systems for cereal crops.
In the conditions of changing climate and emergence of new virulent pathotypes of pathogens, advanced breeding for resistance is of primary importance. Its strategy includes both studying the pathogen by virulence, tracking new pathotypes, migration routes, determining effective resistance genes; and analysis of resistance of varieties and lines, identification of known resistance genes, search for new genes and introduction of effective resistance genes into adapted germplasm. Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the most important grain crops for humans. In Russia, the main grain-producing regions are Western Siberia, Krasnodar Krai and, of course, the Volga region. Stem and leaf rust, powdery mildew and tan spot are dangerous diseases of wheat, common in the Volga region, causing crop losses and reducing grain quality. The causative agents of the diseases are basidiomycetes Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (stem rust), P. triticina (leaf rust) and ascomycete fungi – Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Drechslera tritici-repentis) (tan spot) and Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Erysiphe graminis) (powdery mildew). This review systematizes modern data on the harmfulness of these pathogens, the features of their biology and pathogenicity factors. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of world and Russian studies of the population structure of phytopathogens based on virulence and DNA markers. Data on the racial composition of the Volga region fungal populations, R-genes effective against them, and the resistance of wheat varieties approved for cultivation in the Volga region are presented. The article summarizes information on the genetics of resistance of bread wheat to the diseases under consideration, including a description of known resistance genes and their sources. The problems and prospects of using these genes in breeding programs to create resistant varieties are considered.
Molecular marking of 54 strawberry varieties (Fragaria × ananassa) for resistance loci to Colletotrichum acutatum (FaRca1, Rca2) and C. gloeosporioides(FaRCg1) was carried out. At least one of the studied resistance loci is present in 73.7 % of the analyzed strawberry varieties. Resistance alleles to C. acutatum of the pathogenicity group 1 (FaRca1) and the pathogenicity group 2 (Rca2) were detected in 40.3 % and 12.3 % of the analyzed varieties. All identified varieties – carriers of the FaRca1 and Rca2 alleles have a heterozygous genotype. The FaRCg1 resistance locus to C. gloeosporioides is present in 40.3 % of samples. A statistically significant predominance of the FaRCg1 locus was noted in Russian strawberry varieties. The identified varieties – carriers of the FaRCg1 allele can have a homozygous or heterozygous genotype. Two loci out of three in three variants of the combination of resistance alleles (FaRca1+FaRCg1, FaRca1+Rca2, FaRCg1+Rca2) were detected in 15.8 % of samples, and in most cases (77.8 %) this is a combination of the FaRca1 and FaRCg1 loci. Among Russian strawberry samples, this allelic combination has been identified in the varieties Zenit, Neznakomka, Urozhaynaya TSGL, and Flora; among foreign samples – in the varieties Korona, Salsa, and Vicoda. The combinations FaRca1+Rca2 and FaRCg1+Rca2 characterize the varieties Aprica and Sudarushka, respectively. Three resistance alleles were identified in the strawberry variety Borovitskaya (1.7 % of the total number of samples). The indicated strawberry varieties are promising complex genetic sources of alleles of resistance to anthracnose caused by C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides.
The widespread use of chemical insecticides in agriculture is associated with numerous adverse effects, which substantiates the necessity of biological plant protection development. Entomopathogenic fungi are considered as promising biocontrol agents against arthropod pests. This study aimed to isolate and characterize new natural isolates of Lecanicillium-like fungi discovered in Russia and to evaluate their virulence against two dangerous sucking pests: the peach aphid Myzus persicae and the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Thirty isolates collected from various regions of Russia in 2019–2022 were identified using molecular genetic methods targeting the ITS, TEF, and NAD1 loci. The isolates were identified as Akanthomyces lecanii, A. muscarius, A. attenuatus, A. uredinophilus, Flavocillium bifurcatum, and Simplicillium lanosoniveum. Flavocillium bifurcatum being recorded in Russia for the first time. Laboratory bioassays revealed high variability in isolate virulence. Twenty two isolates demonstrated over 90 % biological efficacy on the 7 day against M. persicae, among them 16 isolates achieved 100 % efficacy. From 22 tested isolates 15 showed over 80 % efficacy towards T. vaporariorum. The most promising isolates belong to the species A. uredinophilus, A. muscarius, A. attenuatus, and F. bifurcatum. The latter was tested against both target pests for the first time. Consequently, 15 highly virulent isolates were selected as promising agents for the control of aphids and whiteflies.
Изучена способность трех штаммов энтомопатогенного гриба Akanthomyces muscarius к эндофитной колонизации культурных растений – бобов, томата и аканта. В отношении бобов обнаружена фиторегуляторная активность штаммов. Внесение в почву споровой суспензии штаммов Vl 21 и Vl 61 приводило к увеличению зеленой массы, длины растений и массы корня (для Vl 61). Наиболее эффективно колонизировал бобы штамм Г-033 ВИЗР опрыскиванием листьев, встречаемость составила 66 %, а в стеблях – 40 %. Встречаемость штамма Vl 61 в листьях и стеблях составила 11–16 %. Этот штамм также был обнаружен в корнях и листьях при замачивании семян в споровой суспензии в отличие от других штаммов, которые колонизировали только стебли. Встречаемость Vl 21 была наиболее высокой в листьях при опрыскивании (15 %). Колонизация бобов штаммами A. muscarius негативно влияла на особей персиковой тли, питающихся на этих растениях: плодовитость тлей, подсаженных на листья растений, колонизированных Vl 21, была ниже на 26 % по сравнению с контролем, смертность тли составила 19 %. Обработка штаммом Vl 61 вызывала тенденцию к снижению плодовитости, смертность тли составила около 50 %. Штамм Г-033 ВИЗР не влиял на плодовитость тли, но вызывал до 57 % ее смертности. Отмечены единичные случаи проявления симптомов микозов тлей. При колонизации томатов внесением в почву споровых суспензий установлено, что стебли колонизировались лучше всего, колонизация листьев и корней не превышала 8 %. Для меченных зеленым флюоресцентным белком штаммов Vl 61* и Vl 72* доказана способность к эндофитной колонизации многолетних растений аканта. Оба штамма выделялись из всех частей аканта, наиболее часто грибы встречались в листьях и стеблях.
Исследования направлены на оценку возможности совместного применения фитосейидных клещей и неоникотиноидов сосущих вредителей в производственных условиях. Для этого в лабораторных условиях смоделировано воздействие инсектицидов на фитосейид. Объекты исследований – многоядные виды хищных клещей Neoseiulus californicus и N. agrestis, которые широко используются для защиты овощных и цветочных культур в теплицах от таких вредителей, как обыкновенный паутинный клещ. В ходе лабораторных опытов выявлено, что прямое опрыскивание неоникотиноидными препаратами Актара и Конфидор в производственных концентрациях не оказывает негативного влияния на продолжительность жизни и плодовитость взрослых особей. При обработке на ювенильных стадиях развития выявлена высокая контактная токсичность препаратов, особенно в отношении протонимф, смертность которых достигала 70 %. Для личинок и дейтонимф этот показатель в среднем составлял 30–40 %. При обработке на стадии яйца жизнеспособность у тестированных фитосейид сохранялась на контрольном уровне. Развитие ювенильных особей N. californicus приходило в контрольные сроки. Результаты исследований послужат методологической основой для оптимизации совместного применения фитосейид и неоникотиноидов в системах интегрированной защиты растений в теплицах.
Массовое применение химических инсектицидов в сельском хозяйстве сопряжено с рядом негативных последствий, что актуализирует разработку биологических методов защиты растений. Энтомопатогенные грибы рассматриваются как перспективные агенты биоконтроля многих вредителей. Целью данной работы был поиск и характеристика новых природных изолятов Lecanicillium-подобных грибов, обнаруженных на территории России и оценка их вирулентности в отношении двух опасных сосущих вредителей – персиковой тли Myzus persicae и оранжерейной белокрылки Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Тридцать изолятов, собранных в различных регионах России в 2019–2022 гг., были идентифицированы молекулярно-генетическими методами по локусам ITS, TEF и NAD1. Установлено, что выделенные изоляты принадлежат к видам Akanthomyces lecanii, A. muscarius, A. attenuatus, A. uredinophilus, Flavocillium bifurcatum и Simplicillium lanosoniveum. На территории России F. bifurcatum найден впервые. Лабораторные испытания выявили высокую вариабельность вирулентности изолятов. В отношении M. persicae 22 изолята показали биологическую эффективность выше 90 % к 7-м суткам, причем 16 изолятов достигли 100 %-ной эффективности. Пятнадцать из 22 испытанных изолятов проявили эффективность выше 80 % против T. vaporariorum. Наиболее перспективные изоляты относятся к видам A. uredinophilus, A. muscarius, A. attenuatus, а также F. bifurcatum, впервые испытанный против обоих объектов. Таким образом отобрано 15 высоковирулентных изолятов, перспективных в качестве агентов контроля численности тли и белокрылки.
Проведено молекулярное маркирование 54 сортов земляники садовой Fragaria × ananassa по локусам устойчивости к Colletotrichum acutatum (FaRca1, Rca2) и C. gloeosporioides (FaRCg1). Хотя бы один из изучаемых локусов резистентности присутствует у 74 % изученных сортов. Аллели резистентности к C. acutatum 1-й группы патогенности (FaRca1) и 2-й группы патогенности (Rca2) выявлены у 40 % и 12 % проанализированных сортов, соответственно. Все идентифицированные носители аллелей FaRca1 и Rca2 имеют гетерозиготный генотип. Локус FaRCg1 устойчивости к C. gloeosporioides присутствует у 40 % образцов. Отмечено статистически значимое преобладание локуса FaRCg1 у отечественных сортов земляники. Выявленные носители аллеля FaRCg1 могут иметь гомозиготный или гетерозиготный генотип. Два локуса из трёх в трёх вариантах комбинации аллелей резистентности (FaRca1+FaRCg1, FaRca1+Rca2, FaRCg1+Rca2) выявлены у 16 % образцов, причём в большинстве случаев (78 %) это комбинация локусов FaRca1 и FaRCg1. Среди образцов отечественной селекции данная аллельная комбинация идентифицирована у сортов Зенит, Незнакомка, Урожайная ЦГЛ, Флора; среди зарубежных образцов – у сортов Korona, Salsa, Vicoda. Комбинациями FaRca1+Rca2 и FaRCg1+Rca2 характеризуются сорта Aprica и Сударушка, соответственно. Три аллели резистентности выявлены у сорта Боровицкая (1.7 % от общего количества образцов). Указанные сорта земляники представляются перспективными комплексными генетическими источниками аллелей резистентности к антракнозу вызываемому C. acutatum и C. gloeosporioides.
Распространение опасного вредителя хвойных растений, полиграфа уссурийского Polygraphus proximus, за пределами своего первичного ареала, представляет серьезную угрозу для пихтовых насаждений в регионах инвазии. В данной работе представлены сведения о распространении вида на территории Свердловской области по результатам обследований, проведенных в 2025 г. Увеличение числа локаций, на которых обнаружен полиграф уссурийский, свидетельствует о том, что данный вид успешно адаптировался практически на всей территории Свердловской области. В настоящее время основные очаги сосредоточены в юго-западной части данного региона. Результаты исследований свидетельствуют о том, что с момента обнаружения инвайдера на территории Свердловской области в 2023 г. увеличение площади очагов с гибелью пихтовых насаждений происходит очень интенсивно.
В условиях меняющегося климата и появления новых вирулентных патотипов патогенов, опережающая селекция на устойчивость имеет первостепенное значение. Она основана как на изучении патогена по признаку вирулентности, отслеживании новых патотипов, путей миграции, определении эффективных генов устойчивости, так и на анализе устойчивости сортов и линий, идентификации известных генов устойчивости, поиске новых генов и введении эффективных генов устойчивости в адаптированную зародышевую плазму. Пшеница (Triticum spp.) является одной из наиболее важных для человека зерновых культур. В России основными зернопроизводящими регионами является Западная Сибирь, Краснодарский край и, конечно, Поволжье. В Поволжье к наиболее экономически значимым болезням пшеницы, способным вызывать существенные потери урожая, относят стеблевую (возбудитель Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) и бурую (P. triticina) ржавчину, мучнистую росу (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) и желтую пятнистость (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis). В настоящем обзоре систематизированы современные данные о вредоносности этих патогенов, особенностях их биологии и факторах патогенности. Особое внимание уделено анализу мировых и российских исследований популяционной структуры фитопатогенов на основе вирулентности и ДНК-маркеров. Приведены данные по расовому составу поволжских популяций грибов, эффективным R-генам, устойчивости сортов пшеницы, допущенных к возделыванию на территории Поволжья. Обобщены сведения по генетике устойчивости мягкой пшеницы к рассматриваемым заболеваниям, дано описание известных генов устойчивости и их источников. Рассмотрены проблемы и перспективы использования этих генов в селекционных программах для создания устойчивых сортов.
Hyperspectral sensing data processing pipeline, originally developed for the early diagnosis of rust diseases in grain crops, was assessed for its applicability for the task of phenotyping of healthy plants of wheat Triticum aestivum, barley Hordeum vulgare, and rye Secale cereale. Hyperspectral images of healthy plants, obtained under laboratory conditions using a Cubert Ultris 20 camera (450–874 nm range, 106 channels), were utilized. The effectiveness of various preprocessing schemes was compared: full (including normalization, smoothing, calculation of derivatives, and identification of extreme features), reduced, and minimal. Machine learning models were exploited for classification: logistic regression, support vector machine, and gradient boosting, trained on averaged spectra. It is shown that the use of a full pipeline optimized for phytopathological diagnostics leads to reduced classification accuracy in phenotyping tasks. The best results (F1 = 0.97 ± 0.025) were achieved using the original averaged spectral curves without additional transformations. It is concluded that for healthy wheat, barley, and rye phenotyping, absolute reflectance levels are informative, whereas for disease diagnostics, changes in the shape of the spectral curve are more important. The obtained results clarify the applicability limits of pipelines developed for phytosanitary purposes and can inform the development of remote monitoring and phenotyping systems for cereal crops.
The microsporidium Nosema bombycis is economically important as a causative agent of silkworm pebrine, and also as a potential biological control agent for lepidopteran pests such as Dendrolimus sibiricus. In this study, N. bombycis spores were isolated from diseased Bombyx mori larvae. After artificial stimulation in 0.1 M KOH, they were inoculated into the Sf9 cell line to initiate continuous proliferation of the parasite. After 7 days of initial infection, fresh Sf9 cells were added, establishing a long-term persistently infected culture. We quantified the percentage of infected cells and the dynamics of spore accumulation during primary infection and long-term cultivation, and determined the limits of cell survival and infectivity in the infected culture. Our studies enabled us to propose key parameters for utilizing this host-parasite system as a model for studying nosematosis and resistance mechanisms, as well as for the mass-production of spores for plant protection.
The tomato Solanum lycopersicum ranks among the top three most produced vegetables worldwide, yet it remains vulnerable to various diseases, pests and abiotic stresses. Climate change exacerbates disease severity and abiotic impacts, increasing the demand for adaptive varieties and hybrids. Interspecific hybridization expands genetic diversity via introgression of target trait genes, potentially reducing reliance on chemical protectants, enhancing plant adaptive potential and improving abiotic stress tolerance. Recent studies focus on wild Solanum species as a source of valuable traits for tomato breeding. This review addresses the reproductive barriers between cultivated and wild species, which are of critical significance for plant breeding and examines the methodologies developed to overcome these barriers. Currently, wild species are most actively involved in breeding programs and in the introgression of traits into the cultivated tomato include S. cheesmaniae, S. habrochaites, S. pennellii, S. pimpinellifolium. Species S. peruvianum, S. chmielewskii, S. corneliomulleri, S. sitiens, S. ochranthum, S. lycopersicoides, S. sisybrifolium are difficult to hybridize with cultivated tomato, and have not yet contributed substantially to the introgression of valuable traits. The success of interspecific hybridization with wild relatives largely depends on the choice of compatible tomato genotypes, the utilization of cultivated tomato as the maternal parent, and the application of embryo culture techniques to rescue hybrids in cases of embryo abortion. Somatic hybridization offers an alternative approach for overcoming interspecific crossing barriers. However, its effectiveness in facilitating the introgression of desirable traits into tomato remains insufficiently evaluated.
The environment plays a crucial role in disease development and their outbreaks. Understanding the pattern of disease progression requires close examination of environmental factors, which are strongly associated with disease severity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between severity of the citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, and ecological variables specifically maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall, and relative humidity using correlation and regression analysis. The analysis showed a significant correlation between the disease severity and these environmental factors. Correlation and regression equations were employed to develop a predictive model for disease progression. Results indicated that environmental conditions significantly influenced symptom expression, contributing to disease severity. The coefficient of determination (R²) values in regard to temperature dependence for the three citrus varieties i.e. Kinnow, Feutrell’s Early, and Mosambi were 75 %, 82 %, and 83 %, respectively. These findings confirm that environmental factors play a substantial role in the progression of Huanglongbing. The developed model can be applied to guide effective disease management strategies.
Smut fungi of the genus Tilletia are widespread and harmful pathogens of wheat all over the world. In the last decade, due to the expansion of organic farming zones, there has been an increase in their importance, which determines the need for increased attention to this problem. A review of the literature data on fungi of the genus Tilletia (T. caries, T. laevis, T. controversa), pathogens of common and dwarf bunt of wheat is presented. The biological and ecological features of pathogens, morphology of spores, symptoms of diseases and historical aspects of their study in Russia and abroad are analyzed. Phytopathological and molecular diagnostic methods for the causative agents of smut diseases of the genus Tilletia are discussed. The limitations of phytopathological diagnostics related to the morphological similarity of teliospores of the causative agents of hard and dwarf smut are shown. A critical analysis of the development of molecular approaches to identification has been carried out, from biochemical methods and analysis of conserved genetic loci (ITS, IGS, etc.) to methods of random genomic profiling (RAPD, ISSR, etc.), MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry, isoteric amplification (LAMP), and next-generation sequencing). Special attention is paid to the problem of insufficient specificity and reproducibility of many molecular methods, including SCAR markers. The analysis of the literature data is supplemented by original experiments of the germination of T. caries and T. controversa spores and the use of a SCAR marker to identify the pathogen of dwarf wheat smut.
The predatory anthocorids Orius laevigatus and O. strigicollis were released against the Western flower thrips on Saintpaulia spp. in a greenhouse. In the winter-spring period, the thrips population decreased to 0.1 thrips per flower, and the biological efficiency was 94 and 96 % when O. laevigatus and O. strigicollis were used, respectively. In the summer, the thrips population decreased to 0.1±0.07 and 0.04±0.04 thrips per flower, and the biological efficiency was 95 % and 98 %. The efficiency depended on the season: bugs were more voracious in the summer, when the temperature was higher, which is confirmed by the observations of other researchers.
The mycorrhization effect was analyzed concerning gene expression including GO:0050832 (defense reaction to fungal infection) and GO:0042742 (defence reaction to bacterial infection) groups of gene ontology under conditions of effective symbiosis in the model system “Medicago lupulina + Rhizophagus irregularis”. Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE-Seq) was applied. Under conditions of low phosphorus level, the 44 and 42 genes from defense response to the fungal and bacterial infections, respectively, were downregulated in M. lupulina leaves at the stage of 2nd leaf development and flowering. Significantly lower expression levels of genes (orthologs Medtr1g021100, Medtr1g021110) encoding powdery mildew resistance protein RPW8 were shown during mycorrhization by the fungus R. irregularis in both the vegetative and reproductive stages of development of the plant. The role of the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus in the formation of a nonspecific reaction to pathogenic microorganisms during the development of effective symbiosis is discussed.
