Plant Protection News (Vestnik Zashchity Rasteniy)

Contribution of Russian and Soviet scientists to the taxonomy of Fusarium fungi

2025-08-19T21:04:12+00:00

This review presents information on researchers of Russian origin that have made significant benefaction to the taxonomy of Fusarium fungi, who described new species or contributed to their classification, whose names are included in the list of Fusarium taxa authors. Scientists worked in previous centuries did not have modern methods, but had deep scientific views, and their professional competence formed a globalizing basis for taxonomic achievements in the current mycology. The value of the legacy they left behind, including principles and methods of work, publications, and hundreds of herbarium specimens, is noted. Modern taxonomy of Fusarium fungi is a synthesis of information obtained by previous scientists based on the analysis of morphometric diversity and new data received using phylogenetic analysis of multilocus DNA sequences. As a result, the classification is undergoing a period of rapid development, new phylogenetic species are being actively described, many previously identified taxa have lost their legitimacy, which does not reduce the value of the information obtained at the initial stages of the development of the taxonomy of this group of fungi. Although there is extensive taxonomic work on Fusarium fungi, fungal diversity and genus structure remain poorly understood, and little is known of the distribution, biology, genetics of the vast majority of species, despite the well-known important role of these organisms in nature. Formally described Fusarium taxa represent only a small proportion of the expected species diversity, and future studies will significantly expand our understanding of the biodiversity of fungi and their ecological functions.

Prospects for cooperation between Russia and China in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying arthropod pests’ resistance to pesticides

2025-08-19T21:04:11+00:00

This mini-review focuses on the prospects and key areas of cooperation between Russia and China in studying the molecular nature of resistance in mite and insect pests to pesticides. Information on the most harmful species is presented for both countries, including their area and molecular genetic approaches to understanding resistance. The latter include examination of pesticide target gene polymorphism and pesticide detoxification gene expression. Such research is essential for monitoring the spread of pesticide resistance in insect and mite populations, as well as for selection of effective management strategies in both countries. In addition to scientific collaboration, an important objective is the joint training of scientific and pedagogical personnel in this research field. Collaborative efforts between the two countries, through joint research, experience exchange, and technology development, should result in a more efficient pesticide usage, reduced application costs, and increased crop yields, ultimately contributing to economic growth.

Overview of the Diseases of Dracaena trifasciata (Asparagales: Asparagaceae)

2025-08-19T21:04:11+00:00

Ornamental plants play a vital role in everyday life, offering joy and appreciation to people from all walks of life. Decorative plants have become a familiar sight, which helps add life and color even in the smallest of spaces. Among these plants, the snake plant Dracaena trifasciata is trendy among households. Despite its reputation as a hardy plant, D. trifasciata is still susceptible to leaf and root diseases, damaging its overall health and aesthetic value. In tropical regions, where frequent rainfall and high humidity produce ideal proliferation conditions for bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, plant diseases can become important problems that could affect the plant’s aesthetics and health. This paper reviews the diseases of D. trifasciata and other Dracaena species, their current management, and perspectives on using already-known disinfectants for indoor management of D. trifasciata diseases. Leaf spots, leaf blight, anthracnose, viral, and bacterial diseases are the common diseases reported to be associated with D. trifasciata. In addition to pruning, managing Dracaena diseases includes sterilizing tools and equipment to prevent cross-contamination. Finally, this paper discusses the significance of generating knowledge on the diseases of D. trifasciata and their associated pathogens, which benefits relevant stakeholders. The knowledge could help consumers understanding common leaf diseases found in snake plants, allowing them to make better decisions whenever they purchase these plants. Plant health research encourages better plant care practices within households, which helps promoting flourishing gardens across the country.

Damage to winter and spring soft wheat grains by the Sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps and the wheat thrips Haplothrips tritici in the forest-steppe zone of the Lower Volga Region

2025-08-19T21:04:10+00:00

The work aimed at determination of winter and spring soft wheat grain damage by the Sunn pest and wheat thrips in the forest-steppe of Samara Province, depending on weather conditions and wheat variety. The wheat varieties – Povolzhskaya 86, Povolzhskaya niva, Konstantinovskaya (winter); Kinelskaya 59, Kinelskaya otrada and Kinelskaya yubileynaya (spring), were examined in 2015–2017 at the Volga Research Institute. Temperature fluctuations and changes in precipitation in the spring and summer had a significant impact on the development of phytophagous insects. Low temperatures and excessive precipitation served as unfavorable factors for these pests in winter and spring wheat crops. At the same time, an increase in temperature and a lack of moisture contributed to the activation of pests, increasing their harmfulness. The greatest decrease in the mass and number of grains damaged by the Sunn pest and larvae of the wheat thrips was observed in the dry and hot year of 2015 in the winter wheat variety Konstantinovskaya; the least – in the wet and cool year of 2017 in the variety Povolzhskaya Niva, spring wheat – in the varieties Kinelskaya Otrada and Kinelskaya Yubileynaya. Over the years of research, new varieties of winter wheat, such as Povolzhskaya Niva, and spring wheat, such as Kinelskaya Yubileynaya, have been affected by phytophagous insects to a lesser extent. These varieties can be recommended for use in immunity breeding.

Development and application of multiplex PCR for identification of three fungal species of the genus Parastagonospora widespread in Russia

2025-08-19T21:04:10+00:00

A multiplex PCR system has been developed and validated for the specific detection of three prevalent in Russia cereal pathogens, belonging to the genus of Parastagonospora: P. nodorum, P. avenae, and P. pseudonodorum. The target region selected was a fragment of the YPEL (Yippee-like protein) gene, which exhibits sufficient interspecies polymorphism for designing highly specific primers. Primer specificity was confirmed in silico and in vitro using a collection of reference isolates. The developed primers functioned effectively in a multiplex format, enabling species-specific detection. The system demonstrated high sensitivity (detection limit: 1 pg of genomic DNA per reaction). This assay can be utilized for phytosanitary monitoring and research on the epidemiology of Septoria diseases in cereal crops.

The first report of the fungus Septogloeum sojae on soybean in Russia

2025-08-19T21:04:09+00:00

Soybean seed samples from 11 regions of Russia were screened for fungal infection. Nine out of 26 samples from Amur Province contained fungi similar to the soybean sleeping blight causal agent Septogloeum sojae, absent in other regions. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was 100 % identical to homologous sequences of the representative S. sojae strain. The strains formed yeast-like, reddish-brown colonies of limited growth and abundant sporulation, 6.8 mm in diameter on potato-sucrose agar on 7th day of growth. Soybean laboratory inoculation with conidial suspension after three weeks at high humidity caused typical sleeping blight symptoms: plant top bending and rotting, pinpoint brown or blurred chlorotic spots on leaves and necrosis on petioles, leading to drying out of leaves. After five weeks, yellowish-white powdery sporodochia were formed on symptomatic shoots and petioles, and the fungus was re-isolated. This is the first report of S. sojae in Russia.

Evaluation of Lucilia sericata (Diptera, Calliphoridae) eggs as a food for the predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera, Miridae)

2025-08-19T21:04:09+00:00

Under laboratory conditions, life cycle parameters of the predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus were compared when fed with an alternative (eggs of the common green bottle fly Lucilia sericata) and the standard feed (eggs of the Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cereallella). Bugs were kept individually to prevent mortality due to the cannibalism. The nymphal development, the survival rate of adults, the lifespan of males and females, their weight and the proportion of females in the culture fed with the alternative feed didn’t differ from those obtained using the standard feed. The difference of female fertility between the experimental and standard variants were not statistically significant as well. In general, the fly eggs could be considered a suitable feed for the predatory bug M. pygmaeus and recommended for partial substitution of the lepidopteran insect eggs.

Rearing of the beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) under laboratory conditions using an artificial diet

2025-08-19T21:04:08+00:00

The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis is an economically important polyphagous pest causing serious damage to many agricultural crops. The work is devoted to the development of the methodology of propagation of beet webworm on an artificial diet. The peculiarities of the beet webworm maintenance at all stages of development are described. The weight of L. sticticalis pupae obtained from the larvae fed on natural feed (leaves of the burdock Arctium lappa) and artificial diet was compared. The results showed that there were no decrease in pupal weight after transferring insects to the artificial diet and maintenance for 50 generations. This indicates a sufficient accumulation of reserve substances during larval feeding with the diet. We have developed the method of continuous rearing the beet webworm on artificial diet, which allows continuously obtaining insects in laboratory conditions.