MONITORING
The article presents studies on the dispersal of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus L., 1758, as a possible vector of phytopathogenic organisms (bacteria, fungi, nematodes). The migration directions of the Ips genus bark beetles are important for assessing the risks associated with their spread and impact on the ecosystem. Two methods were used to mark the bark beetle imagoes: marking with fluorescent powder and marking with a notch on the elytra slope. Collection of imagoes in the forest cenosis and a secondary collection of the marked bark beetles were carried out using pheromone traps of the barrier-funnel type, inside which a species-specific attractant was placed to attract the bark beetle. The experiment was performed in the Republic of Karelia in open biocenoses during the active flight period. Both fluorescent powder-marked and notched adults were recorded in traps during the secondary collection. When studying the dispersal of bark beetles, pheromone traps were placed in the southwest direction up to 5 pieces at intervals of 2 km over a length of 12 km. In total, as a result of the two-year experiment, out of 2132 marked individuals of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (notch 1350, fluorescent powder 782), 137 beetles (7%) were recaptured. The greatest number of beetles, both powder-marked and notched, were captured at a distance of 1–2 km in the southwest direction, and the maximum flight range was recorded in a trap installed in this direction at 6 km. Bark beetles are largely oriented towards flying in the southwest direction, which is due to the prevailing wind rose in the area where the studies were conducted. Fluorescent powder and notches on the the beetles’ elytra slope are an acceptable method of marking bark beetles for their identification.
PHYTOSANITARY CONTROL
Convolvulus arvensis L. (field bindweed) – a perennial root-suckering weed included in the phytosanitary requirements and quarantine lists of some countries in the Middle East and North America. In Russia, field bindweed is practically cosmopolitan, occupying vast territories from the southern steppes to temperate latitudes. Its distribution area coincides with key crop-growing regions, including the Volga region, the North Caucasus and the Central Black Earth Region, where it competes with grain and industrial crops. The deep root system (up to 2–3 meters) provides the weed with exceptional resistance to mechanical processing and most herbicides, and high seed productivity (up to 500 seeds per plant) and their durability (retain germination for up to 50 years) form an extensive soil bank of diaspores. This leads to long-term economic losses due to a decrease in yield by 20–30% and an increase in the cost of control measures for C. arvensis. Effective control requires multi-year integrated measures: a combination of crop rotation with competing crops (e.g., alfalfa), and targeted application of slow-release herbicides. Of particular importance is the control of bind-weed diaspores in regulated articles, including strict analysis of batches, registration of phytosanitary certificates and handling of cargo in order to prevent the unintentional introduction of the species into the weed free regions, where it can disrupt local natural ecosystems and agrocenoses. The paper considers phytosanitary aspects of grain exports with a possible risk of contamination with bindweed. For eight countries, bindweed is a quarantine or regulated pest. An original map of C. arvensis distribution in the Russian Federation has been compiled. A range of the main types of products contaminated with C. arvensis L. seeds has been identified and a list of regulated articles subject to laboratory examination to identify diaspores of this weed has been compiled.
АНАЛИТИКА
The paper analyzes the dynamics of soybean production in Russia, export volumes and phytosanitary requirements of the main countries importing Russian soybeans. The top three countries importing Russian soybeans include the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Based on the results of a survey of this crop in Altai Krai and Primorsky Krai, experimental data on the detection of mycobiota associated with soybean plants are presented. These data are supplemented by generalized literary information on phytopathogens that have become widespread in the country, in particular in the Far East – the main soybean-growing region of Russia.
During the phytosanitary monitoring, 82 samples of soybean plants were selected, 239 isolates of cultivated micromycetes were isolated, and the species composition was determined using morphological (macro- and microcharacters) and genetic (determination of nucleotide sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) methods. The species structure of the pathogenic mycocenosis of vegetative soybean plants, which is represented by fungi of the genera Fusarium (43%,), Alternaria (23%), Diaporthe (6,5%), Colletotrichum (6,5%), Sclerotinia (4%) etc., is described. Such species as Сolletotrichum lineola as Colletotrichum incanum have been reported for the first time on soybean plant in Russia. Another detection made during the survey of the Altai Krai is Diaporthe cf. cucurbitae. The article provides illustrations of the disease symptoms, macro- and microscopic characters of the main phytopathogens. It is shown that fungal pathogens of soybeans, regulated by importing countries, are widespread in soybean crops in the Russian Federation, which may negatively affect export opportunities.
DIAGNOSTICS
Wheat streak mosaic virus, or Tritimovirus tritici; acronym – WSMV, is a harmful pest of wheat, corn, oats, millet, rye, sorghum, triticale, barley and numerous species of perennial cereal grasses. It can lead to wheat yield losses of up to 100%. WSMV is spread by contact, seed and the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella Keifer. 16 countries importing Russian grain products include the absence of this virus as a prerequisite in the phytosanitary requirements.
To develop methodological guidelines for the detection and identification of WSMV, three ELISA test systems from leading manufacturers, four RT-PCR test systems in “real time” (real-time RT-PCR) and 8 pairs of primers for classical RT-PCR were tested. A sufficiently high level of specificity to the target object was established for the ELISA test systems for WSMV from Agdia, DSMZ and Loewe. The coincidence of the results of serological tests with the test system of Agdia and the results of molecular tests was 90.5–100%, which allows us to recommend this test system for screening tests for the presence of WSMV. It was established that reagent kits for RT-PCR to WSMV from Russian manufacturers can be recommended for screening tests for the presence of WSMV during phytosanitary monitoring of crops and for the analysis of grain seeds intended for use within the Russian Federation. For the analysis of grain products intended for export, an alternative to the ELISA method may be a test in the format of a 1-stage real-time RT-PCR with primers and probe WSMV F1/WSMV R1/WSMV P. For conducting confirmatory tests for the presence of WSMV, a protocol of 1-stage classical RT-PCR with primers PMB-70/PMB-71 has been developed, which is not inferior in sensitivity to tests using the PCR method in “real time”. The possibility of using primers WSMV-F/WSMV-R and WSMVL2/WSMVR2 as confirmatory tests has been established. To study the genetic characteristics of the detected isolates, it is advisable to use the primers WSMV-CP-AM-F2/WSMV-CP-AM-R and WSMV-CP-Czech-F/WSMV-CP-Czech-R as additional tests, which amplify the complete nucleotide sequences of the coat protein genes of the isolates of the WSMV-D and WSMV-B strains, respectively.
IDENTIFICATION
This study is devoted to the development of an identification key to pseudopupa of whiteflies of the genus Aleurodicus (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) playing an important role in phytosanitary control and subject to control by countries importing Russian agricultural products. Within the framework of this work, four key types are considered: Aleurodicus cocois Curtis, 1846; Aleurodicus destructor Mackie, 1912; Aleurodicus dispersus Russell, 1965 and Aleurodicus floccissimus (Martin, Hérnandez-Suarez & Carnero, 1997). These species pose a significant threat to crop production in import regions (Quaintance, 1908).
Based on the original material provided by the entomology laboratory of the Testing Laboratory Center of the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center and the insect taxonomy laboratory of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ZIN RAS), a detailed comparative analysis of the morphological characteristics of the above species at the pseudopupa stage (4th larval stage) was carried out. Particular attention was paid to the creation of an illustrative key, which significantly simplifies the process of identifying pests by quarantine service specialists.
The obtained results include updated and detailed information on the external features and structure of pseudopupa of the studied species. The work reflects original photographs that clearly demonstrate the key diagnostic characters of each species, a comparative table is presented, focusing on the main pseudopupa morphological characters. This approach helps to increase the accuracy of diagnostics and minimize the risks of erroneous pest identification.
The developed key is an important tool for ensuring phytosanitary safety and compliance with international phytosanitary standards, ensuring effective protection of the plant world from invasive species.