The article presents the results of studying the predatory bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Asopinae) in Moscow Oblast of the Russian Federation. The biological characters and nutritional spectrum of 5 of the 7 species detected in Central Russia were studied. Similar representatives of the local fauna Troilus luridus and Picromerus bidens have been suggested as a substitute for the introduced from North America entomophages of the Colorado potato beetle predatory bugs Perillus bioculatus and Podisus maculiventris. In terms of biological characters, Troilus luridus is very similar to Podisus maculiventris and can easily replace this entomophage of American origin in laboratory culture and when used to control leaf-eating pests in protected ground. Both Troilus luridus and Podisus maculiventris overwinter at the imago stage, these bugs do not have an obligate diapause, so they can be continuously cultivated, but it is difficult to accumulate in quantities sufficient for use on large areas in open ground, in particular, on potatoes. Picromerus bidens has an obligate embryonic diapause, from which the entomophage eggs require treatment with low temperatures. At the egg stage, Picromerus bidens can be accumulated in any quantities, transported and used to control plant pests in protected and open ground, including with the mechanization facilities. FGBU “VNIIKR” created a laboratory culture of Picromerus bidens with characters modified in comparison with the natural population. Picromerus bidens can be used as a universal entomophage, and is also an alternative host for the maintenance and production of entomophagous egg-eating bugs Eurygaster integriceps and herbivorous bugs.

A system for monitoring winter wheat diseases in the Central Non-Black Earth Zone of Russia has been developed and has been in operation for over 20 years. The composition of pathogenic complexes has been studied. Wheat crops in the region are affected by over 20 diseases of fungal, viral and bacterial etiology. The most widespread are root and basal rots of fusarium etiology (Fusarium spp.), septoria leaf spot (Zymoseptoria tritici (Desm.) Quaedylieg & Crous), brown rust of wheat (Puccinia triticina (Erikss.), powdery mildew of cereals (Blumeria graminis (D) Speer.), glume blotch of wheat (Parastagonospora nodorum (Berk.) Quaedvlieg, Verkley & Crous). They occur almost every year. Somewhat less common are snow mould of cereals (Microdochium nivale (Fries) Samuels & I.C. Hallett), root rot of cereals (Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.), tan spot of wheat (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Drechs) Roberge ex), Fusarium spp. and black mould of cereals (Alternaria spp., Cladosporium herbarum (Pers.) Link). On monitoring test plots (All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, Federal Research Center “Nemchinovka”), using a specially developed methodology, the features of the development of the most dangerous leaf-stem and ear infections on winter wheat varieties zoned in the region were studied. The frequency of manifestation of different classes (levels) of disease development was determined: epiphytoties, moderate development, depression; numerical indices of development classes were calculated – the number of manifestations over 10 years of observations. The varieties were characterized by different “resistance” to epiphytotic development of diseases. The epiphytotic index of leaf septoria varied from 2 (Nemchinovskaya-85) to 10 (Inna), of brown rust – from 0 (Nemchinovskaya-24, etc.) to 6 (Pamyati Fedin, etc.), of ear septoria – from 0 (Moskovskaya-27, etc.) to 2 (Inna, etc.). Different susceptibility of a particular variety to epiphytotic development of diseases requires different intensity of its protection. Using the developed mathematical models, grain yield losses due to diseases were calculated. Average yield losses by variety ranged from 9.8 (Moskovskaya-82) to 17.2% (Pamyati Fedin); with variations in the testing years – from 2.0 to 29.0%. Ratings of varieties zoned in the Central Non-Black Earth Region were compiled based on yield, incidence of the most dangerous diseases, and grain yield losses. The highest and most stable yields during the years of research were shown by the varieties Moskovskaya-27, Nemchinovskaya-57, Moskovskaya-82, Nemchinovskaya-85, Nemchinovskaya-24. The average yield of these varieties was from 67.3 to 75.3 c/ha; in some years it reached 100 c/ha and more. These varieties were characterized by lower disease incidence and yield losses. Their cultivation as part of multi-varietal polygenic cenoses (variety mosaics) will reduce the risk of epiphytotic development of both endemic (local) and exodemic infections brought from other regions of the country or from other countries.

The article presents the monitoring results of the quality of spring wheat grain cultivated in seven districts of Tomsk Oblast in 2024. 384 grain samples were examined for 14 quality indicators, using standard research methods. The wheat class was determined by the worst value of one of the indicators. As a result of the studies, it was found that the bulk of the 2024 wheat harvest belongs to class 5, which is due to the unfavorable weather conditions that developed in Tomsk Oblast during harvesting. During the herbological analysis of grain samples carried out by the visual method, diaspores of 46 weed species were isolated and identified. The most common species, the diaspores of which were detected in the samples of most districts, are Avena fatua L., Cannabis sativa L., Chenopodium album L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv., Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski, Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn., Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve, Galeopsis sp., Galium vaillantii DC., Panicum miliaceum ssp. ruderale (Kitag.) Tzvelev, Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Delarbre s.l., Setaria pumila (Poir.) Schult., Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv., Stachys palustris L., Vicia cracca L. Some of the detected species (Conium maculatum L., Echinochloa crus-galli, Echium vulgare L. and Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray) belong to the invasive plants in Tomsk Oblast. During the herbological analysis of spring wheat grain samples from the 2024 harvest, no diaspores of quarantine weeds included in the Common List of Quarantine Pests of the EAEU, as well as weeds regulated in wheat grain by the phytosanitary requirements of the People’s Republic of China – the main importer of Tomsk grain, were identified.

The article is devoted to the identification of phytosanitary important species of the genus Tyrophagus in the fauna of Russia, primarily, T. putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781), T. longior (Gervais, 1844), T. vanheurni Oudemans, 1924, T. perniciosus Zachvatkin, 1941, which damage plant products during storage: grain, root crops, bulbs, seeds of agricultural crops, peanuts, etc.; vegetable crops in protected ground, including when used as a trophic substrate for predatory mites – biocontrol agents, and (less often) open ground, industrial fungi crops; in phytopathological laboratories they can destroy mycological cultures causing damage to biocollections of fungal organisms. This paper summarizes information on the fauna of mites of the genus Tyrophagus common in Russia, and provides new records on T. fanetzhangorum Klimov&OConnor 2009 from the European part of Russia. An assessment of the variability of some diagnostic characters of T. putrescentiae from different geographic localities is made. The variability of the characters is shown: the shape of the apex of the solenidium ω1 on tarsi I; the shape of scx; the location of the suckers on tarsi IV of males. Diagnostic characters are presented that allow distinguishing T. putrescentiae from other Tyrophagus species in the fauna of Russia. The study revealed that the “absence of eyespots” is typical of the following species: T. formicetorum, T. molitor, T. mixtus. A key to the phytosanitary important species of the genus Tyrophagus in the fauna of Russia is provided, taking into account previous studies on the taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus under discussion. The article contains original illustrations of key diagnostic characters. The information presented may be useful in the practical work of specialists of plant protection, including biocontrol, quarantine phytosanitary laboratories, agronomists, etc.

Solanum viarum Dunal. is a pantropical plant of South American origin. It is a perennial herbaceous vegetatively mobile plant with powerful thorns. Every year it forms many large leathery fruits containing up to 50 thousand seeds on one plant, which allowed it to spread over large areas of warm frost-free regions of the Earth. It prefers to populate open light habitats, forming impassable thorny thickets. It contaminates pastures, forage lands, crops, uncultivated lands, urban areas. The weed is extremely drought-resistant due to its thick rhizomes that penetrate deeply into the soil, but are sensitive to low positive temperatures. It can grow on various soil types. It is considered an invasive species in many countries. Its main pathways are seeds dispersed by people, animals and birds.

In recent years, cases of S. viarum detections along roadside have been reported in protected areas in France (Christians and Maglio, 2020). The pest risk analysis for EPPO countries conducted in 2024 showed that the invasive potential of this species for the EPPO area has not yet been fully realized and the species was provisionally placed on a list for further observations (EPPO…, 2022). However, this information cannot but raise concerns in terms of possible phytosanitary  threats.

Solanum viarum is quite popular in ornamental gardening in Russia, as evidenced by offers to sell its seeds by various online retailers. As has been repeatedly noted, a significant number of alien species were initially cultivated as ornamental plants and only much later did characters indicating their invasive potential were known. And although this species populations are most likely not yet present on the territory of the Russian Federation, the question arises whether it can adapt in certain natural and climatic conditions of Russia, especially in connection with the ongoing global climate change.

Quarantine pests pose a global threat to agriculture, causing annual crop losses of up to 30%. Due to climate change and developed international trade, the emergence of new large suppliers of seeds and planting material, as well as finished products, it is necessary to promptly respond to new challenges – to improve existing approaches and develop new solutions to ensure food security, analyze pest risks with the most accurate and rapid methods. Traditional detection methods, such as microbiological culture and serological tests, require significant time (up to 14 days) and are often not specific enough. Molecular genetic approaches based on DNA / RNA analysis can solve these problems, providing early detection of pathogens before symptoms appear, differentiation of strains at the genome level, monitoring resistance to antibiotics and pesticides, the ability to assess the effectiveness of protective equipment, and detection of latent pathogens in the absence of external manifestations. Modern molecular genetic technologies are revolutionizing the diagnosis of quarantine pests, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes and viruses. The article presents an analysis of methods, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), isothermal amplification (LAMP), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and CRISPR systems, with an emphasis on their unique advantages, existing limitations and practical applications. Particular attention is paid to the integration of these technologies into phytosanitary monitoring to prevent the spread of quarantine and agriculturally significant organisms. Practical results obtained using molecular genetic methods demonstrate that a combination of methods significantly improves the accuracy of diagnostics, and the development of portable platforms expands the possibilities of field research.