Studies on plant pathogens, arthropods, weeds, and pesticides with a view to developing the methods of biorational plant protection and safe food production

Subject: 1) Characterising pathogens (fungi Ph. infestans, A. solani, F. graminearum, V. fungicola, M. perniciosa, C. dendroides, Trichoderma spp; bacteria C. m.subsp. michiganensis, C. m. subsp. insidiosus, P. syringae pv. tomato, X. campestris pv. vesicatioria, P. tolaasii; Aster yellows and other phytoplasmas), investigating epidemiology and defining the control measures; 2) Characterising the sensitivity/resistance to pesticides and studying the effects of biopesticides (B. subtilis, B. pumilis, oil of M. alternifolia, essential oils, etc.) on fungi and bacteria; 3) Characterising the sensitivity/resistance to pesticides and studying the effects of natural pesticides (spinosad, azadirachtin, herbal oil emulsions, essential oils, B. bassiana, etc.), physical control and other measures on phytophagous arthropods (Aleyrodidae, Aphididae, Tetranychidae)and their parasitoids and predators; 4) Elaborating the strategy for management of resistance to pesticides in pathogenic fungi and phytophagous arthropods; 5) Studying basic biological properties of weeds; 6) Studying efficiency and selectivity of latest herbicides, their biological effects and behaviour in soil, and development of methods for determination of their residues in soil and plants products; 7) Studying genotoxicity of herbicides due exposure at workplace. Objective: to integrate knowledge and technologies into a unique system for biorational control of plant pathogens, phytophagous arthropods, and weeds.