Plant Protection Methods Research Articles

Insecticidal proteins and their potential use for Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say, 1824]) control

Plants respond to pest attack, among other mechanisms, by producing specific proteins with insecticidal properties. Proteins with toxic effects on insects have also been discovered in many other organisms, especially fungi and bacteria. Due to their biological function, insecticidal proteins represent an important potential in the development of more environmentally friendly plant protection methods. Increasing knowledge about the mode of action of insecticidal proteins and the identification of genes encoding their synthesis enable the breeding of transgenic plants resistant to insect pests and the development of new bioinsecticidal agents. The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is one of the most important pests of potato, so the study of such control methods is crucial for the development of sustainable integrated pest management strategies of potato. This review highlights the properties of some groups of insecticidal proteins and their modes of action, and summarizes examples of studies of their use for the control of Colorado potato beetle.

Ecologically safe methods of pest control in modern agricultural technologies

The issue of agricultural crop protection against pests remains constantly relevant. Annual crop losses in the world are 18–20%, estimated at more than 470 billion US dollars because of the harmful effects of arthropods. Most part of the losses of the grown crop occurs under the field conditions before harvest and requires a number of measures to protect plants from pests. The chemical method of plant protection against pests continues to be used by most agricultural producers, which is confirmed by the positive dynamics of the pesticide market development in the world with an annual growth of 2.5–3%. Among the range of chemical plant protection products, sales of insecticides account for 25.3% of world sales. Despite the use of about 3 million tons of pesticides per year, the level of crop losses from harmful entomofauna remains significant. At the same time, deterioration of the phytosanitary condition of agroecosystems caused by a number of abiotic and biotic factors requires a qualitative estimation of the condition and determination of ways of complexes changing of pest organisms in agrobiocenoses and development of new innovative, environmentally safe measures to control their number. Alternative environmentally friendly methods of pest control which meets the principles of integrated plant protection and replacement of chemical insecticides with biological preparations or other environmentally safe methods in modern agrotechnologies for growing crops are increasingly used. This is evidenced by the positive dynamics in the development of the global market for biopesticides with a forecast of annual growth by 14.7%, which may reach $ 8.5 billion US dollars by 2025. 47% of preparations in the range of biopesticides by functional purpose on the world market are preparations against phytophagous insects. Effective control over the pest number in modern agrotechnologies is based on the use of biological control, microbial pesticides, chemical compounds produced by living organisms and can change pest behaviour, secondary metabolites of plants (eg, phenols and polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids), on formation of stable plant varieties and plant immunization, etc.

Эффективность приемов возделывания кукурузы на зерно в условиях Среднего Поволжья

The article presents results of the studies carried out in a 3-factor field experiment to assess the comparative productivity of grain corn hybrids, methods of plant protection from weeds and the effectiveness of leaf feeding with nitrogen and zinc-containing products. Studies showed that NK Gitago FAO 200 and SI Fenomen FAO 220 hybrids are distinguished by higher productivity. In protecting plants from weeds, the application of herbicides is more effective in comparison with mechanical treatment of corn row spacing, while the yield increased by 0.59 - 1.10 t / ha or 7.9 - 14.7%. Leaf dressing with Isagri Nitrogen at a dose of 2 l / ha at the phase of 3-5 leaves increased the yield by 0.18 t / ha or 2.3%, the variant with Izagri Nitrogen at a dose of 2 l / ha + Izagri Zn at a dose of 1 l / ha - by 0.58 t / ha or 7.4%. Relations between the grain yield and the duration of interfacial periods were established, as well as adic factors and conditions of growth and development of corn plants in agrocenoses (content of productive moisture in the soil, plant density, number and weight of weeds before harvesting).

Implementation of a Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Eradication of Plant Pathogens from a Surface of Economically Important Seeds.

Plant pathogenic bacteria cause significant economic losses in the global food production sector. To secure an adequate amount of high-quality nutrition for the growing human population, novel approaches need to be undertaken to combat plant disease-causing agents. As the currently available methods to eliminate bacterial phytopathogens are scarce, we evaluated the effectiveness and mechanism of action of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTAPP). It was ignited from a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operation in a plasma pencil, and applied for the first time for eradication of Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp., inoculated either on glass spheres or mung bean seeds. Furthermore, the impact of the DBD exposure on mung bean seeds germination and seedlings growth was estimated. The observed bacterial inactivation rates exceeded 3.07 logs. The two-minute DBD exposure stimulated by 3–4% the germination rate of mung bean seeds and by 13.4% subsequent early growth of the seedlings. On the contrary, a detrimental action of the four-minute DBD subjection on seed germination and early growth of the sprouts was noted shortly after the treatment. However, this effect was no longer observed or reduced to 9.7% after the 96 h incubation period. Due to the application of optical emission spectrometry (OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), we found that the generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), i.e., N2, N2+, NO, OH, NH, and O, probably led to the denaturation and aggregation of DNA, proteins, and ribosomes. Furthermore, the cellular membrane disrupted, leading to an outflow of the cytoplasm from the DBD-exposed cells. This study suggests the potential applicability of NTAPPs as eco-friendly and innovative plant protection methods.

Influence of plant protection methods on weediness and seed yield of meadow clover varieties in Primorskiy region

In the field of fodder production, in most cases, low-yielding, old-age grass stands are used. One of the reasons for this is the low availability of grass seeds. For example, over the past 20 years, the production of grass-clover seeds has reduced by 3.4 times. Therefore, priority should be given to the seed production of leguminous grasses (including meadow clover). A large infestation of the arable soil layer with seeds and buds of annual and perennial weeds in almost all arable land in the Primorskiy Region is the most critical factor in reducing the yield of cultivated crops. The development of practical techniques for clearing fields of weeds is one of the vital links in the technology of increasing the output of fodder crops. The research aims to establish the effect of agronomic practices of cultivation and means of protection on the seed yield of meadow clover in the natural and climatic conditions of the Primorskiy Region. Clover is a crop sensitive to herbicides, with a limited period of their application. Therefore, inter-row treatments were carried out before the rows were closed, and chemical treatments were applied before the budding phase to preserve wild pollinators and bees. The varieties Ogonek, SibNIIK-10 and regionalised Kommandor were evaluated. Experimental data on the impact of agronomic practices of meadow clover cultivation and plant protection methods on the weediness of its crops and the yield quality of seeds under the conditions of the Primorskiy region were obtained. The use of herbicides against the background of inter-row treatment during the second year of clover planting helped reduce the weed infestation from 58.3 to 70% and increase the seed yield by 1.1-1.3 times depending on the variety.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ МАСЛИЧНЫХ КУЛЬТУР В СЕВООБОРОТАХ ЛЕСОСТЕПНОЙ ЗОНЫ ПОВОЛЖЬЯ

An increase of biological diversity of field crops is relevant for modern agriculture. The aim of our study was comparative assessment of productivity of oilseeds (oil flax, white mustard and spring rape) and substantiation of primary soil tillage technology and plant protection during crop cultivation in the foreststeppe zone of the Volga region. The research results showed that the growing season of white mustard was 87-99 days, oil flax - 97-106 days and spring rape - 97-103 days. The period from harvesting to winter wheat sowing was 12-20 days for oil flax, white mustard - 20-30 days, for spring rape - 14-20 days, which makes it possible to use these crops as forecrops for winter grain crops. When cultivating oil flax, white mustard and spring rape, combined system of soil tillage in crop rotation is more effective, where, in comparison with the minimum tillage of the soil, the seed yield increased (by 8.4-23.7%), as well as vegetable fat (by 16.9- 30.5%). The adaptive integrated plant protection system (a combination of agrotechnical, biological and chemical plant protection methods) was more effective in comparison with herbicide usage. Evaluation of economic efficiency showed that cultivation of spring rape provides a higher level of income in comparison with other crops. Combined tillage and the protection level of standard agricultural technologies (only herbicide usage) ensured an increase of net operating profit per hectare, therefore, the substantiation of plant protection system should be carried out with egad to economic limits of harmfulness.

Changes in the root fungal microbiome of strawberry following application of residues of the biofumigant oilseed radish

Biofumigation has been proposed as an environmentally friendly method of plant protection against soil-borne pathogens, but its effects on microbial communities are still incompletely understood. Using high throughput DNA sequencing, we investigated the effects of oilseed radish residues on the root fungal microbiome of strawberry in the presence of a soil-borne fungal pathogen, Verticillium dahliae. Results of our greenhouse study show that early flowering occurred in response to residue addition, suggesting a plant stress-response and there was a significant decrease in berry yield. The fungal microbiome of roots was significantly restructured by both biofumigation and inoculation with Verticillium. In particular, the abundance of root endophyte- and arbuscular mycorrhizal functional guilds was reduced significantly as a result of biofumigant and V. dahliae addition, whereas the abundance of saprotrophs increased significantly when both treatments were applied together. Alpha diversity analyses of fungi associated with roots indicated a significant increase in species richness following Verticillium inoculation, whereas the biofumigant alone or in the presence of V. dahliae resulted in no significant effect, suggesting that apparently some rare taxa may have been enriched/stimulated in the presence of the pathogen. Further investigations should reveal whether negative effects of biofumigation on potentially beneficial root associated endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are host genotype- or soil-dependent.

Integrated Pest Management In Coffee

Coffee (Coffea sp.) Is a crop of great economic relevance, it stands out as one of the most important agricultural commodities for the country. As with any other high value-added crop, coffee crops suffer from the attack of many pests, and proper management of these pests is critical to successful production. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest management system that associates the environment and population dynamics of the pest, considers the use of all available plant protection methods and the integration of appropriate measures to maintain the population level of thepest below the level of damage in an economically, environmentally and ecologically viable way. The purpose of this literature review was to gather information on research involving the integrated management of pests in the coffee crop.

Biological method of plant protection is one of the green economy development directions

The importance of the biological method of plant protection as one of the prospects for the green economic development in Russia and in the world is discussed in the article. The modern directions of the Russian agricultural science development for the transition to environmentally friendly agricultural production are analyzed. The experience of biological preparations and biological agent’s application in Russia and abroad is considered in the historical aspect. A differentiated approach has been proposed for chemical treatments prescribing, carrying them out only in pest proliferation centers, on border land and catching band, which makes it possible to almost halve the pesticides use. The field research results on the study of the spatial distribution of useful entomofauna in irrigated agricultural landscapes are presented, ways of increasing the species diversity and number of beneficial insects (entomophages and parasites) in agrocoenosis due to the redistribution of useful entomocomplex species in agrocoenosis and natural agricultural landscape are shown.

Plant protection technologies: from advanced to innovative

The purpose of this study is to analyze the readiness to use innovative technologies for plant protection. The authors are interested in the readiness of specialists in the agricultural sector, scientists, agricoltors to introduce innovative technologies. The authors are conducting this research as part of the project "Social Research of Science and Technology". The authors review the existing plant protection methods and analyze their effectiveness. The authors reflected the agrotechnical method, the biological method, the chemical method, the physical and mechanical method, the integrative method and the innovative method of plant protection. Agricultural technologies are one of the most interesting sectors for investment. Innovations in science and technology, the availability of modern technologies and equipment make it possible to make agricultural production a high-tech business. In conclusion the authors note that for the full implementation and achievement of effective indicators it is necessary to do a lot of legal, economic, technological and organizational work.

Multivariate Optimization of the FLC-dc-APGD-Based Reaction-Discharge System for Continuous Production of a Plasma-Activated Liquid of Defined Physicochemical and Anti-Phytopathogenic Properties

To the present day, no efficient plant protection method against economically important bacterial phytopathogens from the Pectobacteriaceae family has been implemented into agricultural practice. In this view, we have performed a multivariate optimization of the operating parameters of the reaction-discharge system, employing direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge, generated in contact with a flowing liquid cathode (FLC-dc-APGD), for the production of a plasma-activated liquid (PAL) of defined physicochemical and anti-phytopathogenic properties. As a result, the effect of the operating parameters on the conductivity of PAL acquired under these conditions was assessed. The revealed optimal operating conditions, under which the PAL of the highest conductivity was obtained, were as follows: flow rate of the solution equaled 2.0 mL min−1, the discharge current was 30 mA, and the inorganic salt concentration (ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3) in the solution turned out to be 0.50% (m/w). The developed PAL exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties toward Dickeya solani IFB0099 and Pectobacterium atrosepticum IFB5103 strains, with minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations equaling 25%. After 24 h exposure to 25% PAL, 100% (1−2 × 106) of D. solani and P. atrosepticum cells lost viability. We attributed the antibacterial properties of PAL to the presence of deeply penetrating, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which were, in this case, OH, O, O3, H2O2, HO2, NH, N2, N2+, NO2−, NO3−, and NH4+. Putatively, the generated low-cost, eco-friendly, easy-to-store, and transport PAL, exhibiting the required antibacterial and physicochemical properties, may find numerous applications in the plant protection sector.

Protection Elements for Safflower Oilseeds

Agricultural techniques for growing safflower, adaptive to the natural and climatic zone, is an important and necessary measure for increasing yields and improving the quality of oil seeds of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L). Biological and morph physiological characteristics of the culture and its variety determine the technological methods for its cultivation and production of oil seeds. Safflower is a crop that is of great value and is able to replace sunflower. The agricultural technology of its cultivation in the Lower Volga region is constantly being studied; however, safflower plant protection methods are not well understood. Experiments to study the effectiveness of safflower protection methods were carried out in 2017-2019 on the territory of the experimental field of the Federal Research Center for Agro-Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where light chestnut soils with a humus content of 1.2-2.0% and pH = 7.8 predominate. Ways of protecting safflower were considered and the effectiveness of seed dressing with a mixture of Vincit 1.5 l/t + Fertigrain Start 0.5 l/t was revealed. This option was the most profitable (16.5%), with a yield of 1.2 t/ha. The control option using a mixture of Vincit + Azotovit + Phosphatovit 1.5 l/t + 2.2 l/t + 2.2 l produced a yield of 0.8 t/ha and was not profitable.
 Keywords: agricultural technology, safflower, productivity, oil content of seeds, plant protection, root rot, pesticides, agrochemicals

Pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat and spring barley seeds with the extremely high frequencies electromagnetic field

The increase in the yield capacity of cereal spike crops under the current change of the climatic conditions in Ukraine will have a positive tendency in the nearest future. However, sustainable grain production under sharp weather fluctuations is possible only with the agro-technological systems' improvement. The pre-sowing seed treatment with chemical synthesis pesticides remains the primary method in the agricultural industry today. However, pesticides inevitably have a negative influence on the ecosystem of any level. A more environmentally friendly seed treatment method under the intensive technology is the combination of microwave seed irradiation and seed incrustation with the plant growth regulators that increase the cereal crops' yield capacity up to 15–20 %. It is possible to reduce the negative influence of chemical measures on the quality of the cereal crops seeds by using for the seed treatment a mixture of a treatment agent with the preparations having the stimulating properties. The most promising among all physical methods of the pre-sowing seed treatment is the microwave technology, which suppresses the entire complex of the seed infection and can become an alternative to the chemical method of plant protection. The universal character and practical importance of MW technologies combined with the growth-regulating substances consist not only in the increase in the yield capacity of the field crops but also in reducing the technogenic load on the environment. The peculiarity of EMF of EHF application in agricultural production is the necessity to consider the crops' specific electro-physical, technological, and biological properties. High heterogeneity greatly influences the electromagnetic action energy and the final result.

History and main directions of research on plant protection in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens

The article provides information on the history of the creation and development of the Department of plant protection in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens and the results of modern theoretical and applied research on the protection of native and introduced plants for 2000-2020. The main concepts, directions and methods in the development of integrated plant protection systems for fruit and park plantations are considered. There are five stages in solving the main task of plant protection-the rational management of the phytosanitary state of agrobiocenoses: 1. use of agrotechnical methods of control, including mechanical destruction of phytophages; 2. chemical method of plant protection using polytoxic broad-spectrum pesticides; 3. integrated control in the form of the concept of a reduced treatment scheme, taking into account the economic thresholds of abundance and harmfulness and combining all existing methods of control; 4. managing the growth of populations of harmful organisms using biologically active substances of the information type according to integrated indicators; 5. development of a post-genomic approach to limiting the number of phytophages, based on the use of fragments of natural polymers of nucleic acids, development of contact DNA insecticides based on short antisense fragments of genes, as well as preparations based on double-stranded RNA fragments. Modern research has a high theoretical and applied significance for the development of integrated protection systems for fruit, ornamental, and forest crops in the Russian Federation and Crimea. It allows us to objectively assess the phytosanitary state of the garden and park agrobiocenosis, identify the dominant types of pathogens and pests, predict their development trends, and select environmentally safe, cost-effective methods for controlling their numbers.

Physical Crop Postharvest Storage and Protection Methods

Sustainable and organic plant production uses natural products and natural self-regulation processes occurring in the ecosystem. The awareness is growing and the demands of consumers are higher and higher. One solution is to use various methods, as an alternative to pesticides. It is also very important to care for the stored crops after harvesting especially using non-chemical methods. The physical method of plant protection consists in treating the harmful organism with physical factors such as temperature, its same light and radiation, controlled atmosphere, special packaging, pressure, various sounds, ozone, and low-temperature plasma. The availability of effective application techniques opens up new possibilities for the storage of crops in order to maintain their health and quality for a long time. This review focuses on the analysis of physical methods of postharvest protection, especially the latest methods using ozone and low-temperature plasma. As a result, consumers of agricultural crops will be able to consume food free of insects, mycotoxins and pesticide residues.

Еconomic efficiency of growing winter wheat varieties depending on the fertilization system and plant protection methods in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Еconomic efficiency of growing winter wheat varieties depending on the fertilization system and plant protection methods in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Development of chemical method of plant protection in Russia

Development of chemical method of plant protection in Russia

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ МЕТОДОВ И ТЕХНИЧЕСКИХ СРЕДСТВ ЗАЩИТЫ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННЫХ РАСТЕНИЙ

Modern intensive highly productive agricultural production should be based on a combination of various types of plant protection measures – quarantine, agrotechnical, chemical, breeding, biological, mechanical and physical methods, taking into account the balance between their effi ciency, minimal negative impact on the environment and economic feasibility. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the listed methods. The chemical method of plant protection, despite its shortcomings, is one of the most widely used productive and eff ective methods. The negative eff ect of the chemical method can be signifi cantly reduced by tightening the requirements for the safety of using pesticides for the environment and human health, ensuring targeted application of the product directly to the treated object, increasing the quality of application and reducing the loss of working fl uid, using productsw with a narrower range of action and short decomposition time. The authors stress that in order to achieve maximum effi ciency of chemical treatment, sprayer nozzles must provide a monodisperse spray and, at the same time, be able to adjust the size of monodisperse aerosol droplets in the range from 10 to 150 microns. Technical means for plant protection should be equipped with means that allow eliminating or minimizing the working fl uid drift as a result of wind exposure and evaporation, and ensuring the forced deposition of aerosol droplets on the treated objects to reduce the loss of working fl uid.

Biological effectiveness of the range of disinfectants winter wheat seeds used in Krasnodar Territory

In the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with drugs against diseases has firmly entered the system of protection of winter wheat. The use of seed dressing agents minimizes the risk of reducing field germination, ensures good overwintering of the crop, while being one of the most environmentally friendly plant protection methods. The idea of the biological efficiency of the seed disinfectants applied in the conditions of the region will allow not only to purposefully select a disinfectant, but also to prevent the resistance of pathogens causing diseases of seeds. An analysis of the range of fungicidal disinfectants used in the Krasnodar Territory in 2019 showed that the range was based on combined disinfectants based on several active substances with a different mechanism and spectrum of action, as well as that the shares of one-component and four-component drugs in it were - 10%, two-component - 20%. Combined dressers based on three active ingredients were the basis of the range used, the share of such preparations was 60%. Analysis of the data obtained allows to conclude that the modern range of dressing agents used in the farms of the Krasnodar Territory is capable of almost completely restraining the development of the pathogenic complex on winter wheat seeds. The maximum biological efficiency at the level of 100% was shown by the preparations in protection against dust and kernel smut, while it was at the level of 96.5% in protection against fusarium root rot.

Pre-sowing seed treatment in winter wheat and spring barley cultivation

The increase in the cereal spike crops yield capacity under the current change of the climatic conditions in Ukraine will have a positive tendency in the nearest future, but the sustainable grain production under sharp weather fluctuations is possible only with the improvement of the agro-technological systems. The pre-sowing seed treatment with chemical synthesis pesticides remains the main method in the agricultural industry today. However, the pesticides inevitably have a negative influence on the ecosystem of any level. A more environmentally friendly method of seed treatment under the intensive technology is the combination of the microwave seed irradiation and seed incrustation with the plant growth regulators that provide an increase in the cereal crops yield capacity up to 15–20 %. It is possible to reduce the negative influence of chemical measures on the quality of the cereal crops seeds by using for the seed treatment a mixture of a treatment agent with the preparations having the stimulating properties. The most promising among all physical methods of the pre-sowing seed treatment is the microwave technology which suppresses the entire complex of the seed infection and can become an alternative to the chemical method of plant protection. The universal character and practical importance of MW technologies in combination with the growth regulating substances consist not only in the increase in the yield capacity of the field crops, but also in reducing the technogenic load on the environment. The peculiarity of EMF of EHF application in the agricultural production is the necessity to take into account the specific electro-physical, technological and biological properties of the crops, which high heterogeneity greatly influences the action of the electromagnetic energy and the final result.