The results of a three-year monitoring (2019–2021) of wheat crops and grain samples in Penza Oblast are presented. When examining 27 fields of wheat of milk, milk-wax and wax ripeness, located on the territory of 10 districts, 147 plant species were noted. At the same time, most of them grew along the edges of the fields, but there were also crops heavily contaminated in their main part, with a significant abundance of weed species. Unsatisfactory agricultural practices lead to a significant regular replenishment of the soil bank of weed seeds, which remain viable for a long time. It should be noted that the seeds and fruits of many weed species present in wheat fields were not observed in the studied grain samples. In order to predict the probability of detecting fruits or seeds of weed species in products, it is necessary to take into account the phenophase of development of weeds, the stage of wheat ripeness and the expected date of harvest when describing the fields. 475 samples of wheat grain harvested in 2018–2020 were analyzed from 15 districts of the region. Fruits and seeds of 84 weed species were detected in the studied grain samples. Of these, Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve and Сonvolvulus arvensis L. fruits and seeds were the most common. Among the plants detected both in crops and in grain, there is a quarantine species, Cuscuta campestris Yunck.; Ambrosia trifida L. achenes were found only in wheat grain. The data obtained on wheat weeds from specific areas of Penza Oblast can be used for a preliminary assessment of wheat compliance with the phytosanitary requirements of specific importing countries when considering potential markets for crop products.

Pasmo is a dangerous disease for cultivated and wild flax species, its pathogen, Mycosphaerella linicola Naumov (Septoria linicola (Speg.) Garass.), has a quarantine status for some countries importing flax products from Russia. For flax seed products exported from Russia to meet modern phytosanitary requirements, they must be free from dangerous plant pathogens, including Mycosphaerella linicola, which, despite its wide distribution, is included in the quarantine lists of countries such as Egypt, Uzbekistan, the Republic of Korea, China and Belarus. Therefore, understanding the biological processes of the vital activity of the pasmo flax disease pathogen and the related issues of detection and identification are of particular importance. Modern diagnostics of phytopathogens includes a set of measures based on a combination of molecular genetic and classical methods. The article considers issues related to the biological method of pathogen identification, based on knowledge of the biological characteristics of the disease development and cultural and morphological analysis. In the studies conducted by the authors in 2021 on the basis of FGBU “VNIIKR”, important aspects of the life cycle of Septoria linicola are identified and clearly illustrated on agar nutrient media, allowing identification of the causative agent of flax pasmo disease in the laboratory in a short time. The article also discusses the history of the spread of the disease and changes in the taxonomic status of the pathogen.

Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) are serious pests of Solanaceae in open and protected ground. Yield losses of tomato and pepper as a result of infection with these pathogens can reach 100%. Early detection of infected seed lots and outbreaks of these viruses is essential to prevent their rapid spread. In the course of the research, the specificity of seven test systems for enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) to TMV, ToMV, TMGMV and PMMoV of  leading manufacturers was evaluated. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was tested with 21 pairs of universal and species-specific primers. Primers have been identified that allow universal detection of the tobamovirus complex on Solanaceae crops. Two methods of multiplex PCR were tested to detect and identify several viruses simultaneously. The primers were screened for their specificity for TMV, ToMV, TMGMV and PMMoV. Proprietary primers with high specificity for TMV and ToMV were developed.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola is a phytopathogen affecting cruciferous plants worldwide. P. s. pv. maculicola is regulated by the phytosanitary requirements of the following countries: China, Israel, Mexico, Egypt, Sudan and Indonesia. Thus, there was a need to establish the compliance of the places of production and export products with the requirements of the countries, Russia’s trading partners, using laboratory diagnostics methods. Due to the high genetic similarity of P. syringae pathovars, when conducting laboratory diagnostics, of particular interest is the need to distinguish maculicola pathovar from tomato pathovar. These bacteria can simultaneously be present on plants of the Cruciferous (Cabbage) family and cause bacteriosis. It is also difficult to identify the causative agent of bacteriosis on cruciferous plants, the bacterium P. cannabina pv. alisalensis. This species has a wide range of host plants, including cruciferous plants. In addition, host plants areas and symptoms of P. s. pv. maculicola and P. с. pv. alisalensis coincide, which can also lead to confusion in the identification. In order to analyze the genetic differences of some Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, as well as the search for specific genetic markers that can be used in laboratory diagnosis of P. s. pv. maculicola, we searched for a potential target by studying proteins corresponding to 293 available genomic assemblies of some P. syringae pathovars, as well as 43 genomic assemblies of closely related species P. cannabina and P. savastanoi. The analysis showed a high similarity of most of the analyzed sequences with the sequences of P. c. pv. alisalensis pathovar.

In 2017–2018, there was detected a new invader of European origin, eight-toothed spruce bark beetle Ips amitinus, in some Siberian pine forests near settlements in Western Siberia. This invader has by now formed outbreaks in Siberian pine forests on an area of 1.3 thousand hectares in Tomsk Oblast and on an area of 1.5 thousand hectares in Kemerovo Oblast. In Russia, it was previously detected only in the forests of the most western regions. In Europe, this xylophage is related to spruces Picea abies and Picea omorika, pines Pinus cembra, Pinus heldreichii, Pinus mugo, Pinus peuce and Pinus strobus. It was also detected on Abies alba and Larix decidua, without causing great damage. In Western Siberia, though, it propagated on Pinus sibirica and forms intensively developing outbreaks. No outbreaks on other conifers widespread in Western Siberia were detected. In Ips amitinus outbreaks, there is a massive breeding of Ips typographus and Ipssexdentatus. Some trees are damaged by root rot of conifers (causative agent – fungus Heterobasidion annosum). On the needles of trees inhabited by stem pests, pathogenic fungus Lophodermium pinastri, causing its death, develops. Measures to protect Siberian pine forests in such outbreaks have not yet been developed, and the formation of outbreaks in Siberian pine forests near settlements, which are specially protected natural areas in Tomsk Oblast, makes their implementation difficult. This situation contributes to the expansion of the invasive range of Ips amitinus in Western Siberia.