Research

An umbrella scientific topic for the Department of Plant Protection is fairly broad: improvement of integrated plant protection to decrease pesticide use and increase natural regulatory mechanisms through improving phytosanitary monitoring and implementing the best control techniques based on a good understanding of population dynamics of pest organisms and conditions under which they become damaging to crops. It is based on the prior work by professors V. F. Boldyrev, A. A. Savzdarg, M. S. Dunin, G. S. Gruzdev, K. V. Popkova, V. A. Shkalikov, V. A. Zinchenko, V. V. Isaichev, N. N. Tretyakov, Yu. A. Zakhvatkin, S. Ya. Popov, and F. S.-U. Dzhalilov.                    

The research is being carried out by Department staff and graduate students, as well as by undergraduate students working on their capstone projects. It has always been taken very seriously at the Department. The list of recent accomplishments is provided below.

Professor Fevzi S.-U. Dzhalilov, Head of the Department of Plant protection, is an expert in the fields of microbiology, mycology, and plant pathology. His researches are devoted to protection of vegetable crops against diseases, particularly by means of biological control. Prof. Dzhalilov is deeply involved in teaching at BSc, MSc and PhD levels. His main teaching activities are Plant pathology, Biological pest control, Introduction to agronomy, Plant Immunity, Tool research methods. He was a scientific supervisor for 8 PhD students, who defended PhD theses successfully. Prof. Dzhalilov has published 15 textbooks and about 135 papers; he is a co-author of basic textbooks on biological plant protection and plant pathology. He delivers lectures and offers advices to agronomists at large farms, farmers either allotment holders and pensioners on questions related to plant disease diagnostics and safe pest control. He also involved in conducting further vocational training courses for the staff of the Russian agricultural centre, the state body on plant protection in Russia. As a well known expert in plant pathology and plant protection, he has close contacts with various employers: greenhouse complexes, large farms, and research institutes, governmental bodies in agriculture and plant protection, and biological control companies.

During the last 15 years, Professor Gritsenko and his graduate students tested effects of different chemical and biological products and the timings of their application on Colorado potato beetles, other pests of potato, and beneficial arthropods. Over 25 different chemical and biological products belonging to 11 mode of action groups were investigated. Results of those trials were used to develop a flexible integrated pest management plan that employs temporal and special rotations of chemical and biological insecticides according to the levels of pest infestations. Starting 2008, Gritsenko’s group is conducting entomological surveys of long-term cereal trials maintained by the University. Species compositions were determined for arthropod communities inhabiting winter wheat, rye, triticale, and summer barley, and their multi-year dynamics were recorded. Influence of plowing, crop management, and field location on cereal pests were determined in precision agriculture trials. Similar data were collected for crop rotations, liming, and fertilization in long-term agroecology trials. In particular, the effects of timing and amounts of nitrogen fertilization on arthropod fauna were investigated. Resistance of different varieties of winter triticale, summer wheat, and summer barley to insect pests is also being investigated, with an emphasis on cereal aphids. Several promising varieties have been identified.

Professor Popov recorded multi-year dynamics of the abundance of spider mites on strawberry, developed a method for predicting their outbreaks, constructed reproductive life tables for overwintered and summer generations of Atlantic spider mites, collected dominant spider mite species in genus Tetranychus (Acariformes) and clarified their distribution in different habitats in Europe and Russia, demonstrated the existence of new species in genus Tetranychus based on morphological analyses and results of laboratory crosses, improved method for constructing K-factor life tables for natural insect populations, built multi-year K-factor life tables for strawberry weevil (Anthonomus rubi Herbst), described life history strategies for contrasting species of phytophagous arthropods as related to their control, expanded the list of host plant species for Atlantic spider mite, and created a quick method for evaluating antifeedant and acaricidal properties of new food sources for that species. He also did a large amount of work on comprehensive physiological diagnostics of damage to strawberry photosynthesis by the Atlantic spider mite in collaboration with scientists from the Federal Research Center on Vegetable Production. They developed a novel approach to determining economic injury level for T. atlanticus based on fluorescence of damaged strawberry leaves. Professor Popov also optimized methods for monitoring strawberry pests, developed in collaboration with his graduate student, A.D. Denisov, a new system for calculating economic injury levels for fruit-damaging pests on different strawberry varieties, and developed a method for relative ranking of different strawberry varieties based on their susceptibility to spider mites in collaboration with his graduate student, E. K. Ponomarenko. Professor Popov discovered a number of new facts in biology of insects and mites, which are summarized in a book “Ecological Aspects of Limiting Damage Caused y Insect and Mite Populations” published in 2013 in Russian and English. In strawberry weevil, previously unknown diapause was discovered in the third instars, new behavioral elements were uncovered in fixed action pattern of ovipositing females, duration of stereotypical memory for cutting bud pedicel (behavior critical for success of developing larvae) during oviposition was established. Also, it was discovered that males of this species are more thermophilic compared to females. Professor Popov found that southern biotypes of spider mites in genus Tetranychus develop faster than northern biotypes at low temperatures (15-16°С), but slower at optimal temperatures (25-26°С); he suggested that ectothermal standard can be used to reconstruct geographical and ecological habitats of little-known species of spider mites and, possibly, other arthropods. Contrary to the previously prevailing opinion, diapause induction by short-day photoperiod was observed in unfertilized females  of Tetranychus atlanticus McGrergor and Tetranychus sawzdargi Mitrofanov; such unfertilized females could successfully overwinter in Moscow region. `In collaboration with A. Veerman, professor Popov proved experimentally that unfertilized females of Tetranychus urticae Koch enter overwintering shelters later than fertilized females. In T. atlanticus, diapause was terminated without a period of chilling and regardless of photoperiod. Elevated relative humidity (55-85% compared to 40-45%) expedited the termination of diapause in that species, implying the presence of a specialized organ detecting increase in humidity. Non-diapausing species (or strains) in genus Tetranychus had higher hybridization success with diapausing species compared to the hybridization success among diapausing species or strains. Non-diapausing Tetranychus had lower daily fecundity compared to diapausing species held at the same temperatures. Interspecies Tetranychus hybrids had the lowest survivorship (0.8%) and the lowest proportion of females in F2 generation, but survivorship increased starting the F3 generation, eventually reaching 85% in F10 generation. In the same time, such hybrids are significantly more sensitive to desiccation compared to the naturally occurring species.  Forced migration of T. urticae adults from damaged substrates results in the aggregation of excited individuals in narrow bands along leaf margins. Observations of their behavior suggested migratory induction, when excitation spreads from one mite to another over a distance.

Professor Beloshapkina improved and tested a system of reducing viral infection of strawberry propagation materials through molecular diagnostics and using antiviral substances and immunomodulators in cell cultures of apical meristems.  In collaboration with professor I. V. Popova and research associate I. V. Zharkova, selection process for those cultures was optimized by using crosses between disease-free parents. Consequences of long-term cloning of plantlets in vitro were investigated. Subsequent improvements in propagation technology allowed production of high-quality virus-free propagation materials for the major strawberry growers. Together with senior research associate N. D. Romanenko, professor Beloshapkina studied species composition and pest status of associations between viruses and their nematode vectors in seed and table stock potato production. Effectiveness of modern molecular diagnostic methods and reduced-risk chemicals for suppressing viruses on potatoes were evaluated. Tested materials did not eliminate viruses but reduced their titers and promoted plant growth. Protection of orchards from fungal diseases was improved while reducing applications of chemical fungicides and expanding the use of low-risk biological materials. Effectiveness of tank mixes of fungicides with plant growth regulators for suppressing powdery mildew on roses has been proven, especially for resistant varieties. Biofugicide and growth regulator were tested to reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals used to control apple scab. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate their effects on the apple scab pathogen.

Professor Smirnov studies late blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes and the role of sexual and asexual phases in life cycle and infectivity of Phytophthora infestans. Structure and epidemiological significance of oospores of different origins were investigated, and the oospores were typified under natural and laboratory conditions. Those studied built up on earlier work of Russian and foreign scientists and started a new scientific school in Timiryazev Academy. Professor Smirnov’s work in the Toluca Valley in Mexico, which is one of the centers of origin for the late blight of potato and tomato, was particularly valuable. Collected data allowed developing a concept of reproductive strategies and survivorship of P. infestans and related organisms. Professor Smirnov also developed a concept of increase in pathogenicity of phytopathogens through related species of introduced plants. Created framework is useful for both theoretical and applied phytopathology, forecasting disease progress in space and time, and intensive agriculture. Improvements were made for methods for laboratory and field studies of phytopathogens compatible with existing field monitoring techniques, as well as for methods for studying their population genetics and general biology. Some pathways of P. infestans resistance to fungicides were elucidated. Minimum number of isolates that need to be tested for determining fungicide resistance was determined.

Associate professor Ilya M. Mityushev has a strong expertise in agricultural entomology and plant protection. His research explores the pheromone monitoring and control of pests of fruit crops. Pheromone preparations are widely used in integrated pest management systems both for monitoring and control, more so, they are allowed for pest control in organic agriculture. He investigates how to improve using pheromones for monitoring and controlling Lepidoptera pests in orchards. Together with colleagues, he developed methods for conducting field tests of new pheromone formulations and new pheromone traps. That included a new slow-release synthetic pheromone preparation for codling moth that allows dispersing the attractant over entire growing season. Dr. Mityushev is looking for new codling moth lures that include additional components, including kairomones. In addition, he also works on improving pheromone-mediated monitoring for other pest, such as plum fruit moth, leaf rollers, and clearwing moths. Together with professor Tretyakov and other collaborators, Dr. Mityushev tested insecticide-pheromone dispensers for implementing attract-and-kill method in apple and plum orchards and confirmed that they can be successful in reducing pest populations below economic thresholds. Using pheromone traps also allowed studying codling moth ecology in Central Russia. Economic injury was detected when three individuals per trap per week or ten males per trap per season were captured. Significant (up to two-fold) variation in the number of degree-days accumulated before flight was observed. Late apple cultivars (e.g., Spartan, Lobo, Antonovka, Pepin) suffered most damage, compared to early and middle cultivars (Kitayka, Melba, Narodnoe, September). In 2008 and 2016 he was awarded with Erasmus Mundus grants and did his studies at the section of entomology of the University of Udine in Italy; he has a broad experience of working in international research team in a foreign country. Dr Mityushev has published more than 20 textbooks and 120 papers; few textbooks were awarded with diplomas within the All-Russian contest “Agricultural textbook”. He is an author of “English-Russian terminological dictionary and handbook on plant protection” which is the first attempt in the Russian Federation to make a comprehensive collection of English terms related to plant protection with corresponding equivalents of the Russian language. Dr Mityushev has close contacts with research institutions on plant protection and biological control companies. Dr Ilya M. Mityushev is also well known as a scientific photographer: a significant number of original photos of pests and crops are contributed to the EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int) and are available online. The photos are also frequently used by FAO and the EU bodies for publications and presentations.

Associate professor Chebanenko studies effects of cultural methods on the spread of cereal diseases and manifestation of their symptoms on sloping ground in Moscow region.

Associate professor Deniskina evaluates susceptibility of different hybrids of Chinese cabbage to pests. Together with S. Ya. Popov and T. A. Popova, she also investigates options for using K-factor life tables to evaluate cabbage susceptibility to Lepidoptera pests. Initial population density of pests on a food source appears to be a critical parameter. On susceptible hosts, it can experience large variation among the years of study. On resistant hosts, it is low and much more stable. Evaluations need to be corrected for density-dependent factors.

Every year, Department of Plant Protection conducts pesticide trials and provides recommendations regarding their registration. Over 60 testing programs were completed in recent years.

Department participates in annual University-wide scientific conferences, where it organizes a plant protection section comprised of about 20 presentations. The section is dedicated to the memory of distinguished former colleagues, such as K. E. Lindeman, V. F. Boldyrev, M. S. Dunin, E. E. Savzdarg, G. S. Gruzdev, and K. V. Popkova.

Department has a diverse and vibrant program. It has its own post-graduate curriculum and a dissertation council in plant protection. Every year, it has 10-12 Ph.D. candidates. It also provides additional training to plant protection professionals employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rosselkhozcentr, and other organizations. In addition, the department organizes scientific conferences on current aspects of plant protection.

Our industry partners help with improving research and teaching. August Company donated a computer cluster, installed multimedia equipment in a lecture hall, and gifted five microscopes. For that, we are grateful to its CEO A. M. Uskov, marketing and sales director M. E. Danilov, and lead manager A. Yu. Shurkin. Bayer Corporation sponsored international summer school on integrated and biological plant protection that hosted more than 30 undergraduate and graduate students from agricultural universities in Russia and CIS.

Departmental Student Scientific Society has 40-50 students as its members. During the last five years, our undergraduate students made over 130 oral presentations and 10 posters. We also host seminars by outside speakers. Those included the Russian Academy of Sciences M. S. Sokolov, S. S. Sanin, Yu. Ya. Spiridonov, and professor from the University of Maine (USA) A. A. Alyokhin.

Clearly, research tree at the Department of Plant Protection remains true to its roots while producing a plethora of rigorous and diverse green shoots.

Translated by
Prof. A.V. Alyokhin