Phytosanitary Inspection Research Articles

Inferring fruit infestation prevalence from a combination of pre-harvest monitoring and consignment sampling data

International trade in horticultural produce happens under phytosanitary inspection and production protocols. Fruit inspection typically involves the sampling and inspection of either 600-pieces or 2% of packed product within a single consignment destined for export, with the purpose of certification (typically with 95% confidence) that the true infestation level within the consignment in question doesn’t exceed a pre-specified design prevalence. Sampling of multiple consignments from multiple production blocks in conjunction with pre-harvest monitoring for pests can be used to provide additional inference on the prevalence of infested fruit within an overall production system subject to similar protocols. Here we develop a hierarchical Bayesian model that combines in-field monitoring data with consignment sample inspection data to infer the prevalence of infested fruit in a production system. The results illustrate how infestation prevalence is influenced by the number of consignments inspected, the detection efficacy of consignment sampling, and in-field monitoring effort and sensitivity. Uncertainty in inspection performance, monitoring methods, and exposure of fruit to pests is accommodated using statistical priors within a Bayesian modelling framework. We demonstrate that pre-harvest surveillance with a sufficient density of traps and moderate detection sensitivity can provide 95% belief that the prevalence of infestation is below 1×10-6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1 \ imes 10^{-6}$$\\end{document}. In the absence of pre-harvest monitoring, it is still possible to gain high confidence in a very low prevalence of infestation (<1×10-5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$<1 \ imes 10^{-5}$$\\end{document}) on the basis of multiple clean samples if the inspection sensitivity during consignment sampling is high and sufficient consignments are inspected. Our work illustrates the cumulative power of in-field surveillance and consignment sampling to update estimates of infestation prevalence.

Systemic determinants of learning in public administration. A case study of phytosanitary inspection

Systemic determinants of learning in public administration. A case study of phytosanitary inspection

DEVELOPMENT OF A LOGISTICS SCHEME FOR CROSSING THE BORDER WITH THE EU BY TRAILER TRAINS WHEN TRANSPORTING GRAIN GROUP LOADS

Purpose. One of the problems that arises when crossing the land border with the EU countries by rail or road, when transporting grain cargo, is the need for phytosanitary control. It involves taking samples of cargo and performing laboratory analyzes. Customs clearance of cargo without this procedure is impossible in Ukraine. The need for phytosanitary inspection of grain cargo after crossing the border is a requirement of EU legislation for import or transit through the territory of these countries. The organization of combined transportation of grain cargo in interstate traffic in transit through Eastern European countries towards seaports is certainly an urgent task. This is confirmed by the redistribution of grain exports with an increasing share of these cargoes moving through western crossings. The organization of combined containerized transportation is conditioned by the limited processing capacity of transshipment points and railcar change points at border stations. The purpose of this article is to build a logistics chain for crossing the border by container trains running from Khyriv station of the regional branch of Lviv Railway to Przemysl-Bakonczyce station of Polish State Railways, subject to preliminary phytosanitary control directly at Khyriv station under the control of the Polish side. The article also solves the problem of building a train schedule with the coordination of the duration and schedule of working hours of the locomotive crews of the freight locomotives of the Polish State Railways at Medyka or Przemyśl stations. Methods. Methods of production process control and methods of schedule theory were used. Findings. The sequence and duration of technological operations performed at the Khyriv station, which are 1.2 hours, provided that cars are ready for departure in an amount sufficient to fill all train platforms, have been developed. The consumption of locomotive hours for running a counter-railer train between the initial and final stations is calculated, which is 4.7 hours. It is established that during a 12-hour work shift of the locomotive crew of Polish State Railways, two trains can be serviced with a departure interval between them in the range of 5...7 hours. Practical value. The results of this work can be used in the development and construction of schedules for the movement of container trains in cross-border traffic.

Linking farmers to markets: Assessing small-scale farmers' preferences for an official phytosanitary regime in the Kyrgyz Republic

Small-scale farmers are integral to Kyrgyz agriculture, contending with challenges such as low productivity, market entry barriers, and financial constraints. Most of these farmers are hindered by phytosanitary restrictions preventing direct exports of their products. Granting smallholders direct access to regional markets could significantly enhance their economic prospects. However, the specific policy measures that can encourage smallholders to participate in the official phytosanitary regime remain unclear. This study employs a randomized conjoint experiment, creating a hypothetical policy to measure the preferences of Kyrgyz fruit farmers regarding an official phytosanitary regime. Presenting choice sets with two randomly generated policy alternatives and an opt-out option, we collect data from 378 farmers across five villages. Each policy alternative comprises six attributes: (1) type of service provision, (2) provision of production inputs, (3) provision of interest-free loans, (4) provision of market information, (5) provision of phytosanitary inspection frequency, and (6) annual fees. The results reveal that attributes such as market information, interest-free loans, and production inputs—particularly virus-free seedlings—significantly increase farmers’ participation probability in systematization. However, farmers prefer the private sector as service provider over the government. Additionally, higher annual fees negatively impact the favorability of systematization. Overall, farmers express a preference for the hypothetical policy and are willing to pay at least 14,000 Kyrgyz som to participate in systematization. This study addresses the practical challenges faced by Kyrgyz farmers in meeting stringent phytosanitary standards, indicating the potential of a systematization policy to enhance market access. It lays the groundwork for future research investigating the economic impacts of specific policy attributes for Kyrgyz farmers.

Morphological and Molecular Identification Protocols for Bactrocera dorsalis: A Joint Validation Study

Bactrocera dorsalis is considered among the most destructive and economically important invasive fruit flies worldwide. Native to Southeast Asia, in just a few years, it has spread almost throughout all of sub-Saharan Africa, causing fruit loss in several commercially grown crops. In Europe, it is frequently intercepted as larva on imported fruits during phytosanitary inspections. In recent years, adult specimens have been caught in traps in Austria, Italy, and France, increasing the level of attention to this species. Rapid and unambiguous identification by European plant health laboratories is important to effectively prevent its introduction and establishment in Europe. The harmonized use of validated diagnostic protocols is essential. However, in entomology, unlike other disciplines, diagnostic protocols often lack validation data to support their suitability as adequate identification tools. In this study, tests from two international diagnostic protocols for the identification of B. dorsalis underwent a thorough validation process to assess their performance characteristics (analytical and diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility). A novel process of a joint validation of morphological and molecular identification protocols is reported. The novelty of this approach arises from the fact that morphological and molecular tests are validated in the same study, based on the same panel of samples, also allowing a two-way control on the assigned values of samples. Potential critical issues that could represent weaknesses of the protocols are also discussed in detail. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

A Lab-on-a-Chip Approach for the Detection of the Quarantine Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida.

The potato cyst nematode (PCN), Globodera pallida, has acquired significant importance throughout Europe due to its widespread prevalence and negative effects on potato production. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnosis of PCN is critical during surveillance programs and for the implementation of control measures. The development of innovative technologies to overcome the limitations of current methodologies in achieving early detection is needed. Lab-on-a-chip devices can swiftly and accurately detect the presence of certain nucleotide sequences with high sensitivity and convert the presence of biological components into an understandable electrical signal by combining biosensors with microfluidics-based biochemical analysis. In this study, a specific DNA-probe sequence and PCR primers were designed to be used in a magnetoresistive biosensing platform to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA of G. pallida. Magnetic nanoparticles were used as the labelling agents of asymmetric PCR product through biotin−streptavidin interaction. Upon target hybridization to sensor immobilized oligo probes, the fringe field created by the magnetic nanoparticles produces a variation in the sensor’s electrical resistance. The detection signal corresponds to the concentration of target molecules present in the sample. The results demonstrate the suitability of the magnetic biosensor to detect PCR target product and the specificity of the probe, which consistently distinguishes G. pallida (DV/V > 1%) from other cyst nematodes (DV/V < 1%), even when DNA mixtures were tested at different concentrations. This shows the magnetic biosensor’s potential as a bioanalytical device for field applications and border phytosanitary inspections.

Первое сообщение о Cephalotrich um asper ulum как патогене картофеля в России

During the phytosanitary inspection of a lot of stored potatoes of cv. Zhukovskiy ranniy in the Orel region of Russia, tubers showed signs of lesions in the form of local darkening of the flesh without apparent softening and fungal structures on the surface (coremia). A pure culture of the pathogen was isolated and the morphological characteristics of the conidial sporulation structures in the extracted isolate were described; the average sizes of vegetative mycelium, conidia, conidiophores and coremia were given. Pathogenicity testing of the isolate on leaves and tuber discs showed symptoms in the form of localised chlorosis and necrosis. Subsequent identification of the isolate by PCR and sequencing showed that the isolate analysed was most closely related to the species Cephalotrichum asperulum of the genus Cephalotrichum. The resulting sequence was deposited in GenBank (accession number ON364353). Although these fungi are described in the literature as endophytic, this study emphasises their parasitic effect on the potato plant with certain semeiologies. This is probably the first report of C. asperulum causing local necrosis of potato leaves and tubers during storage in Russia.

SPRING WHEAT PROTECTION TECHNIQUES IN ARID CONDITIONS OF THE LOWER VOLGA REGION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Justification. The article presents studies on the influence of the new generation of chemical and biological drugs for yield and quality of grain of spring wheat in the Nizhny Volga conditions. The object of research is the variety of spring wheat Kamyshinskaya 3, the E-lectures of the Federal Tax Service of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia, Volgograd).Studies were wrapped in the experimental field of the Federal Tax Code of the Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences according to the thematic plan. It was experimentally obtained that the processing of seeds of spring wheat with a tank mixture of BSKA-32.0 l/t+ potassium humate 1.0 l/t allows you to obtain the highest yield of spring wheat grain in the conditions of the experimental field of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences – 1.34 t/ha s. profitability of 69.0%.&#x0D; The purpose of the work is to study the techniques of plant protection in adaptive systems of agriculture using the new generation chemical and biological drugs in conditions of light brown soils of the Lower Volga region.&#x0D; Materials and research methods. The soil of the experimental site is light chestnut, with low gross nitrogen, the average content of movable phosphorus and an increased metabolic content. The content of organic broadcasts in the soil reaches 1.2-2.0%, pH = 7-8. All agrotechnical measures were performed according to the set deadlines. The main soil processing was carried out in the first decade of September to a depth of 20-22 cm. Intercession harrowing in two traces and pre-sow cultivation (spring). Sitting was carried out in early April, as the physical ripeness of the soil occurs, the norm of sowing 3.5 million pcs. seeds per 1 ha, Szhelka SZ 3.6. Phytosanitary inspection of plants was carried out in a way of the work program and the NIIR methodology in accordance with the recommendations [12].&#x0D; Results. Processing of seeds with inshur perform, CS 0.5 l/t + biogumatekoss 0.25 l/t and BSKA-32.0 l/t + potassium humate 1.0 l/tmicated to increase the germination of seeds by 7% compared to with a control sample. The use of BSKA-3 2.0 l/t+ potassium humate 1.0 l/t decreased the amount of root rot to 16.5 % (control-21.6 %). Studies revealed the effectiveness of the use of Inshur Permor, CS 0.5 l/t + biogumatekoss 0.25 l/t and BSKA-32.0 l/t + potassium humate 1.0 l/t in an increase in yield indicators of 1.5 times. The same options turned out to be the most profitable in comparison with other prototypes.&#x0D; Conclusion. The results of the studies indicate that during the production of spring wheat, the use of a bio-guum in a mixture with chemical retirers allows you to create optimal conditions for the growth and development of this culture. Scientific research has established that the use of a chemical retirement with biological products is a reserve to increase the biological and economic efficiency of the use of plant protection products, increasing the profitability of grain production.

Проблемы организации ввоза и доcмотра импортной подкарантинной продукции на территории Аcтраханcкой облаcти

Today one of the important tasks is flexible, competent and effective planning of measures for phytosanitary control in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union of the EAEU, including in Russia. The solution of this problem is significantly hampered by the lack of funding and the lack of highly qualified personnel, insufficient equipment of laboratory quarantine phytosanitary diagnostics. Modern cargo transportation of regulated products between countries depends on geographical, political, economic and many other factors, which necessitates the search for more efficient and shorter routes. The presence of such a transport opportunity as sea transportation between the ports of the Caspian Sea makes it possible to analyze new routes for transporting products to Russia from Iran, Azerbaijan and other countries. Quarantine products imported to Russia in 2021 are listed. The importance of organizing importation and inspection of imported regulated products in the territory of the Astrakhan region is justified. The functions of the phytosanitary inspection are listed. Possibility of easy passing the customs check-in and reducing the idle time for the vehicles during phytosanitary inspection are considered. A twelve-point algorithm is recommended for use including the cargo inspection procedures before transportation. The detailed steps are proposed to speed up transport operations of organizing a sanitary inspection in the port of Olya, in particular, introducing the innovative technologies and the IRIS mini-robot. The model of a mini-robot is illustrated and the prospects of the economic efficiency of the region and food supply of the population are considered. Economic analysis of using the innovative technologies in organizing transportation of the quarantine products has been carried out.

Threats and challenges in the control of quarantine pathogens in the state of Roraima Brazil

Plant diseases can negatively impact the production and sale of agricultural crops in a given region. Because it is a border state, Roraima is a potential entry route of quarantine pathogens that can threaten Brazilian agriculture. Constant health surveillance is an essential tool to mitigate the risks of the introduction and spread of important pathogens. In order to avoid or reduce the negative impacts caused by diseases resulting from the introduction or occurrence of a pathogen, a well-structured phytosanitary inspection program and technical guidelines for producers are necessary. The combined efforts of research institutions and state agencies aim to reduce production losses caused by diseases. Thus, the objective of this review is to address the main threats and challenges in controlling quarantine pests in the state of Roraima based on the experience of research and extension institutions in monitoring, pest detection and mitigation strategies. In this respect, contextualizing the events discussed may contribute to guiding plant defense measures, thus mitigating the risks of quarantine pathogen introduction and spread in Roraima.

Contaminated consignment simulation to support risk-based inspection design.

Invasive nonnative plant pests can cause extensive environmental and economic damage and are very difficult to eradicate once established. Phytosanitary inspections that aim to prevent biological invasions by limiting movement of nonnative plant pests across borders are a critical component of the biosecurity continuum. Inspections can also provide valuable information about when and where plant pests are crossing national boundaries. However, only a limited portion of the massive volume of goods imported daily can be inspected, necessitating a highly targeted, risk-based strategy. Furthermore, since inspections must prioritize detection and efficiency, their outcomes generally cannot be used to make inferences about risk for cargo pathways as a whole. Phytosanitary agencies need better tools for quantifying pests going undetected and designing risk-based inspection strategies appropriate for changing operational conditions. In this research, we present PoPS (Pest or Pathogen Spread) Border, an open-source consignment inspection simulator for measuring inspection outcomes under various cargo contamination scenarios to support recommendations for inspection protocols and estimate pest slippage rates. We used the tool to estimate contamination rates of historical interception data, quantify tradeoffs in effectiveness and workload for inspection strategies, and identify vulnerabilities in sampling protocols as changes in cargo configurations and contamination occur. These use cases demonstrate how this simulation approach permits testing inspection strategies and measuring quantities that would otherwise be impossible in a field-based setting. This work represents the first steps toward a decision support tool for creating dynamic inspection protocols that respond to changes in available resources, workload, and commerce trends.

The seedcorn maggot Delia platura (Diptera: Anthomyiidae): An emerging pest of garlic crops in Tunisia

AbstractDuring routine phytosanitary inspections performed in February 2021 on vegetable crops in the region of Sidi Bouzid, Central Tunisia, unusual severe and generalized damage on young garlic, Allium sativum L., crops were observed. The causal agent was later identified as the seedcorn maggot Delia platura Meigen (1826) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) using morphological and DNA‐based approaches. Symptoms on garlic are described and brief notes on diagnostic features of both adult and juvenile instars are presented. Possible phytosanitary risks and control measures are discussed.

DETECTION OF VIRUSES OF THE RUGOSE WOOD COMPLEX ON VINEYARDS OF THE ODESSA REGION

DETECTION OF VIRUSES OF THE RUGOSE WOOD COMPLEX ON VINEYARDS OF THE ODESSA REGION

Phytosanitary assessment of plantings of the memorial site “Klyny” of the “Oleksandria” dendropark of NAS of Ukraine

A phytosanitary inspection of the tree plantations of the memorial composition “integral prismatiod”. The affection of tree diseases was established visually in the presence of pathologies. In the examination of Fraxinus excelsior was used the method proposed by T. Kowalski et al, 2010. 43% of trees are healthy, about 30% of trees have minor pathologies, 21% of trees are very weak, 6% of trees are dry or withering. The main diseases were rot, necrosis and cancer, drying of the crown. The most dangerous disease was halar necrosis of Fraxinus excelsior, which led to the drying up of a large number of trees and affected half of the living trees. The prognosis of Fraxinus excelsior plantations is unfavorable. A change of dominant breeds will take place on the site, Acer platanoides will take the dominant position.

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) and the Brazilian Efforts to Overcome the Disease

Recorded in Brazil since 2004, Huanglongbing (HLB), or simply Greening, is the most impacting disease in citrus production worldwide. It induces qualitative and quantitative losses in production, but also can be lethal to the infected citrus plant. The disease is caused by phloem-limited bacteria with three identified species, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), Ca. L. africanus (CLaf), and Ca. L. americanus (CLam). CLas and CLam are reported in Brazil, being vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. HLB-infected citrus exhibit blotchy mottling with green islands on leaves, and small and lopsided fruits. As the infection progresses, excessive fruit drop and dead branches are frequently observed, shortening the trees' lifespan and reducing fruit yield and quality. HLB occurrence is restricted to the States of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, which corresponds to more than 85% of citrus production in Brazil. Although citrus production is concentrated in these states, commercial citrus groves are present in 85% of the microregions of Brazil, reinforcing the economic and social importance of citrus for the country. Thus, in addition to the economic damage already caused to the national citrus industry, the spread of HLB to other regions of Brazil represents a great risk to the economic and food security of these non-affected regions. For this reason, the management of HLB is supported by legislative force, both at the federal and state levels. In 2008, based on scientific knowledge at the time, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture published a Normative Instruction 53 (IN53) which established criteria related to HLB surveillance and control, imposing the obligation to carry out periodic phytosanitary inspections, eradication of symptomatic hosts and planting HLB-free nursery trees. The implementation of IN53 has already resulted in the eradication of 55.5 million HLB-infected citrus plants in the State of São Paulo alone in the period from 2007 to 2019. In May 2021, IN53 was revoked and Portaria 317 was published. This new policy establishes the National Programme for HLB Prevention and Control. It addresses the problem according to the HLB status in each State, with or without the disease, and sets the general guidelines for local control actions.&lt;br/&gt; In view of the economic importance and complexity of this pathosystem, the disease has required concerted mobilization of the research community and inter-institutional cooperation, which has been working intensively to understand all the components directly and indirectly involved with the pathosystem. Also, a major cooperation effort is needed to gather all the information to develop and/or improve technologies and cultural practices to fight the disease better and reduce its impacts as much as possible. Here we present some of these efforts which are being carried out to develop short, medium and long term solutions for HLB control and management in areas of occurrence, as well as for surveillance and risk mitigation in non-affected areas.

Bacterial volatile compound-based tools for crop management and quality.

Bacteria produce a huge diversity of metabolites, many of which mediate ecological relations. Among these, volatile compounds cause broad-range effects at low doses and, therefore, may be exploited for plant defence strategies and agricultural production, but such applications are still in their early development. Here, we review the latest technologies involving the use of bacterial volatile compounds for phytosanitary inspection, biological control, plant growth promotion, and crop quality. We highlight a variety of effects with a potential applicative interest, based on either live biocontrol and/or biostimulant agents, or the isolated metabolites responsible for the interaction with hosts or competitors. Future agricultural technologies may benefit from the development of new analytical tools to understand bacterial interactions with the environment.

Rapid Detection of Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method.

The walnut twig beetle Pityophthorus juglandis is a phloem-boring bark beetle responsible, in association with the ascomycete Geosmithia morbida, for the Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of walnut trees. The recent finding of TCD in Europe prompted the development of effective diagnostic protocols for the early detection of members of this insect/fungus complex. Here we report the development of a highly efficient, low-cost, and rapid method for detecting the beetle, or even just its biological traces, from environmental samples: the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. The method, designed on the 28S ribosomal RNA gene, showed high specificity and sensitivity, with no cross reactivity to other bark beetles and wood-boring insects. The test was successful even with very small amounts of the target insect’s nucleic acid, with limit values of 0.64 pg/µL and 3.2 pg/µL for WTB adults and frass, respectively. A comparison of the method (both in real time and visual) with conventional PCR did not display significant differences in terms of LoD. This LAMP protocol will enable quick, low-cost, and early detection of P. juglandis in areas with new infestations and for phytosanitary inspections at vulnerable sites (e.g., seaports, airports, loading stations, storage facilities, and wood processing companies).

Phytosanitary state of sugar beet agrocenosis in 2019 and forecast of the number of phytophages in the current year

Purpose. To generalize and analyze the data provided by state phytosanitary inspections of the Department of Phytosanitary Safety of the State Veterinary Service of Ukraine on the dynamics of development of the main pests in sugar beet stands in Ukraine in 2019 and to forecast their appearance and possible damage in the current year.&#x0D; Methods. Field, accounting, analytical.&#x0D; Results. In 2020, sugar beet crops may be damaged by beetroot weevil, grey beetroot weevil, beet stalk borer, beet flea, beet leaf miner, beetroot aphids and other pests. According to the results of autumn field monitoring, 57% of beet areas was colonized by beetroot beetle with an average number per 1 m2 of 0.5–1.0 (beetles, pupae) with the maximum number of 2–9 in Volyn, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy regions. During the autumn excavations, the beetles in the population were 75%, pupae 20% and larvae 5%. In respect to grey beetroot weevil, it made the greatest damage to sugar beet crops in Kyiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Sumy, Volyn, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytsk, and other regions, where it colonized 24–100% of stands with an average number of 0.1–0.6 with a maximum of 0.6–1.0. It damaged, on average, 2–6% of stands with the maximum of 7–12%. Autumn monitoring of the pest found a significant number of the pest in all beetroot regions with an average number of 0.5–0.7 with the maximum of 1.0–4.0. In addition, autumn monitoring revealed a significant number of beet stalk borer (average 0.1–0.7, maximum 0.7–1.0 specimens) in farms of Poltava and Cherkasy regions. Beet tortoise beetles were detected on 10–100% of the monitored area with an average number of 0.1–0.4, which is lower than in long-term observations. In the majority of areas, goosefoot tortoise beetles dominated (33–100%). On average, the ratio was 54% of goosefoot and 46% of beet root tortoise beetles. The wintering stock of beet beetle was slightly lower than in the last year and amounted to an average of 14–54, with the maximum in Vinnytsia, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi regions (76–100). Autumn inspections of host plants (red bilberry, snowball tree, jasmine) revealed 12–36, maximum 150 wintering eggs of leaf aphids per 1 meter of a branch. The wintering stock of beet leaf miner was 0.8–1.8, somewhere 2.9 (in Ternopil, Vinnytsia Khmelnytsk regions), which is at the level of the last year’s numbers. &#x0D; Conclusions. The wintering stock of harmful sugar beet insects exceeds the generally accepted economic thresholds for harmfulness. The timely prognosis of the development and reproduction of sugar beet pests and the application of a complex of organizational, economic, biological and chemical measures to control their numbers will create conditions for the preservation of root harvest, improving root quality and reduce unreasonable pollution of the environment with chemicals.

Испытание различных методов идентификации возбудителя бактериальной пятнистости листьев цветной капусты Рseudomonas siringae pv. maculicola (mcculloch) Young et al.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (McCulloch) Young et al. is a pathogen of cauliflower bacterial spot that affects many plants of the Cruciferae family. The need for quality diagnostics of this species arose due to the mandatory phytosanitary inspection of places of production of plant products intended for export. Our research aims at determining a set of methods for the diagnosis of the pathogen of cauliflower bacterial leaf spot and evaluating these methods’ applicability in laboratory practice. The object of the research is P. syringae pv. maculicola – the causative agent of cauliflower bacterial leaf spot.The article presents the test results of two methods for the identification of Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (McCulloch) Young et al. carried out in 2020 at the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center (VNIIKR). The first method is based on the determination of biochemical properties using the API 20E test kit produced by bioMérieux’s (France); the second one – is a conventional PCR. The type bacterial strain CFBP 1657 obtained by specialists of the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center (VNIIKR) from French collection of plant-associated bacteria (Cirm-CFBP) was used in the studies. A comparison of the biochemical properties of 23 bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas showed that there are only two characteristics within this test that distinguish P. s. pv. maculicola from other species pathovars: acetoin products and gelatin hydrolysis. Two pairs of primers with different targets in the P. syringae genome were also tested. PCR with PsyF/PsyR primers demonstrated the highest similarity of the obtained fragments with the NCBI database (97.2 %). The analytical sensitivity of PCR with PsyF/PsyR primers in plant and seed extracts was 105 CFU/ml. Determination of analytical specificity with 33 bacterial strains of the genus Pseudomonas revealed cross-reactions with strains of the following species: P. congelans, P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, P. savastanoi pv. glycinea, P. syringae pv. coronafaciens, P. syringae pv. syringae. Thus, to differentiate the species by means of PCR with PsyF/PsyR primers, the nucleotide sequence of the obtained amplification products should be additionally determined by Sanger sequencing.

Plant protection inspection management in a turbulent world – from stringent control to flexible supervision?

The research issues presented in the article focuses on the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service and its tasks. Its role of phytosanitary inspection is particularly emphasized. This institution is responsible for the control of plant products that are moving across borders and the issuing of phytosanitary certificates. In the deliberations, an attempt is made to verify the thesis that with the current material resources, the method of financing this institution and its complex organizational structure, it will be important to take actions aimed at increasing the effectiveness of its operation. In the context of the export of agricultural products, this can be done by simplifying the procedures for issuing phytosanitary certificates. Global forecasts speak of the growing role of trade in plant products, but also of the difficulties that may be imposed on it. Poland is a significant exporter of such products. To maintain this status, good cooperation between PIORiN – farmers, agricultural producers and exporters is essential. It may require the development of common procedures, the fulfillment of which by manufacturers would pay off with a simplified certification procedure, and PIORIN would allow focusing efforts on other tasks required by the regulations.