Plum pox virus, PPV, is the most harmful viral pathogen of stone fruit crops. PPV is characterized by high genetic variability and its world population is divided into 10 strains, which are monophyletic groups of genetically closely related isolates. A characteristic feature of the PPV population in the Russian Federation is the presence of endemic strains and the highest genetic diversity in the world, due to the presence of 7 strains of this virus (PPV-C, PPV-D, PPV-M, PPV-Rec, PPV-W, PPV-CR and PPV-CV) out of 10 known. PPV strains vary in antigenic and epidemiological properties, host range, geographic distribution and pathogenicity for different stone fruit species. PPV causes different symptoms on the leaves and fruits of stone fruits, some of which are quite species-specific and can be of important diagnostic value during inspections. Asymptomatic infections are not typical for PPV, but the severity of symptoms can vary significantly depending on the host plant species, virus strain, season and climatic conditions. Reliable immunochemical and molecular analysis methods have been developed for diagnosing PPV, but symptom-based diagnosis is still a fairly effective and inexpensive way to initially identify plants infected with this virus. The article provides an analysis of long-term observations on the symptomatology of the main PPV strains common in the Russian Federation. It has been stated that the symptoms of PPV-D isolates are the most easily diagnosed on all stone fruit crops. The symptoms of PPV-W isolates, as a rule, are invisible in the second half of the growing season. Symptoms of PPV-C and PPV-CR isolates develop more intensively on the root shoots of cherry plants, and less on fruit-bearing trees. Conducting examinations at optimal times, which occur in late spring and early summer, is crucial for the effective identification of PPV symptoms.

The article provides an overview of Lepidoptera collection of Notodontidae family given to the Entomological Fund of the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center by Pavel S. Morozov (Moscow). The collection includes the material from different countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. Notodontidae from Russia are represented by the specimens from the European part, the Caucasus, the Urals, Western Siberia, Altai, the Baikal region, Amur Oblast, Primorsky Krai, as well as from Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands. The total collection size is 1036 specimens, belonging to 125 species from 9 subfamilies. The collection includes the following species of the forest pests for which outbreaks of mass reproduction are known: Peridea anceps (Goeze, 1781), Phalera bucephala (Linnaeus, 1758), Dicranura ulmi (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775), Cerura vinula (Linnaeus, 1758), Cerura przewalskii (Alpheraky, 1882), Notodonta dromedarius (Linnaeus, 1767), Leucodonta bicoloria (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775), Ptilodon capucina (Linnaeus, 1758), Pheosia gnoma (Fabricius, 1776), Pheosia tremula (Clerck, 1759) and Clostera anastomosis (Linnaeus, 1758). The collection also includes rare and endemic species, including recently described ones, such as, Honveda latifasciata Wu & Fang, 2003, Stauropus schaarschmidti Schintlmeister, 2003, Phalera raritas Schintlmeister, 2007, Ptilodon kobayashii Schintlmeister, 2008, Janthinisca joannoui Schintlmeister & Witt, 2015 and Zaranga koreana Beljaev et Choi, 2021. The article contains a complete species list of the collection with an indication of their corresponding subfamilies. Personal observations of mass reproduction are also given for Cerura przewalskii in one of the localities of Northern China.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura,1931 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a quarantine pest damaging both fruit and berry crops. This insect is included in the EPPO List of quarantine pests and in the Common list of quarantine pests which are absent from the EAEU territory. The pest has a high reproduction potential and can easily be introduced to new regions with regulated plant products in the process of international trade. Currently, D. suzukii forms a vast secondary area, so the development of means and methods for detecting this pest is vital. These means include traps with attractive biologically active substances that are technologically easy to manufacture (they do not re­quire expensive materials and complex technological lines), are easy to use, and are sufficiently reliable and effective.

The most effective and least labor-intensive means of detecting imago in the controlled territo­ry, as well as the main means of monitoring and observing the scale of Drosophila suzukii distribution and assessing its numbers, are the “Plastina” sticky traps, which have a combined attractive ability – color and a synthetic food attractant. This trap attracts oth males and females of Drosophila suzukii. Traps with collected insects are stored in the refrigerator for a long time (up to a year or more), while insects that are stuck to the trap remain unchanged and can be identified at any time.

This article presents the results of testing a highly effective and technologically advanced tool for detecting and monitoring the quarantine pest Drosophila suzukii in the form of “Plastina” sticky traps with an attractive mixture of components. The results of the research show that the greatest number of collected insects was recorded in white “Plastina” sticky traps in the variant of the attractive mixture of the following composition: 200 mg of acetoin, 200 mg of methionol, 200 mg of ethyl lactate, 200 mg of acetic acid, 200 mg of methyl eugenol, 400 mg of ammonium acetate. In terms of the number of specimens of the target object captured during the experimental period, the white “Plastina” trap was 1.5 times greater than the red “Plastina” trap and 6.4 times greater than the orange “Plastina” trap. Not a single Drosophila suzukii specimen was collected in the yellow “Plastina” traps.

Tulips have become a traditional cut flower crop in Russia, where they are grown indoors in the winter and spring to produce marketable produce for March 8 and other holidays. Due to the increasing pace of tulip cutting production in Russia, the issue of studying elements of their cultivation technology, in particular the use of fertilizers, is becoming relevant. However, scientifically based recommendations on the technology of using fertilizers and plant protection products when forcing tulips in protected ground conditions have not yet been published. The studies were conducted in protected ground conditions (phytotron of the Remote Hybridization Department of the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences) in the period from December 2022 to March 2023. The objects of study were two varieties of tulips (Tulipa L.) from the Triumph group: Barcelona, Roman Empire and one variety from the early terry group: Presto. The forcing was carried out using 9-degree technology. The use of calcium nitrate fertilizers had a positive effect on the quality of the resulting products. Fertilization of Bullit tulips with 1% and 2% salt solution had little effect on the tulip height during the cutting period (2nd stage of the cup coloring). The use of 3% calcium nitrate solution, as well as double treatment with 1% solution provided a reliable increase in the height of cut products. The use of fertilization allowed to increase the cup length on different varieties from 1 to 3 cm. The fertilizers used did not affect the yield of commercial products (the number of cut stems per 1 m2). The re­sults of the studies indicate that high-quality planting material, expressed in the bulb size, their proper preparation for the forcing period, compliance with the temperature and humidity conditions allows for a reduction in the amount of fertilizers used.

The genus Platanus includes 11 species, which differ from each other by appearance and requirements for climatic conditions. Platanus orientalis and Platanus × acerifolia are present in Abkhazia.

A serious pest of sycamore trees on the territory of Abkhazia is Corythucha ciliata (Say,1832). The article provides a brief overview on the biological characteristics of this pest, as well as data on its distribution and damage on plane trees in Abkhazia. Corythucha ciliata occurs in all the regions of the republic where its host plant grows. The survival rate of Corythucha ciliata is the same in all Abkhazian regions, and the only factor limiting its distribution in humid subtropical conditions in Abkhazia is the annual pruning of sycamore trees. Currently, sycamore trees grow in all cities and towns of Abkhazia. The tree does not form closed forest stands, but thanks to its lush foliage, the plane tree improves the ecological situation in cities, actively enriching the air with oxygen. With massive spread of Corythucha ciliata, sycamore trees may become less desirable in landscaping and other plantings.

During the entire period of observations of the distribution and damage of Corythucha ciliata in the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia from 2010 to 2023, a wide distribution of the pest was noted in all sycamore plantations.

For preventive purposes, insecticide treatments are used to prevent the spread of the pest - Actellic, Actara, Karbofos, etc.