Plant Protection Laboratory

Main Areas of Activity

The Plant Protection Laboratory conducts research, diagnostic, methodological, and advisory activities aimed at ensuring the phytosanitary safety of agroecosystems, maintaining the productivity of agricultural crops, and improving integrated plant protection systems.

1. Phytosanitary Monitoring and Diagnostics

• determination of species composition and identification of pests, plant pathogens, and weeds affecting agricultural crops;
• phytosanitary surveys of crops and assessment of their condition;
• monitoring the distribution, abundance, and damage levels of major pests and phytopathogens;
• assessment of the severity of plant diseases and the extent of pest damage;
• monitoring the dynamics of harmful organism development and forecasting phytosanitary conditions;
• detection of emerging and potentially hazardous pests and pathogens.

2. Evaluation of Plant Protection Products

• testing new chemical and biological plant protection products;
• assessment of their biological and agronomic efficacy;
• studying the effectiveness of plant protection products against major pests, diseases, and weeds;
• determining optimal application rates, timing, and methods;
• assessment of product phytotoxicity and safety for agricultural crops;
• evaluating the potential for integrated application of chemical and biological plant protection products.

3. Development of Integrated Plant Protection Systems

• development and improvement of plant protection systems against harmful organisms;
• justification of the need for plant protection measures based on economic thresholds of harmfulness;
• integration of agronomic, biological, chemical, and other plant protection methods;
• development of measures to prevent the development of pesticide resistance in harmful organisms;
• optimization of plant protection systems with regard to soil and climatic conditions and crop production technologies.

4. Phytosanitary Safety

• development of preventive measures to prevent the introduction and spread of dangerous and quarantine pests and pathogens;
• phytosanitary risk assessment;
• monitoring potential threats to agricultural crops;
• development of recommendations for the containment and prevention of the spread of pest and pathogen outbreaks;
• contribution to the development and implementation of measures aimed at ensuring phytosanitary safety in agricultural production.

5. Plant Protection under Climate Change

A key emerging area of the Laboratory’s work is the study of the impact of climate change on the phytosanitary condition of agroecosystems, including:

• assessment of the effects of rising temperatures, droughts, changes in precipitation patterns, and other climatic factors on the development and distribution of harmful organisms;
• investigation of changes in the species composition and population dynamics of pests and phytopathogens;
• assessment of the risks associated with the expansion of the geographic ranges of harmful organisms;
• improvement of methods for forecasting phytosanitary conditions;
• development of adaptive plant protection systems for changing climatic conditions;
• development of environmentally safe and resource-efficient plant protection technologies.

6. Scientific, Advisory, and Information Services

• phytosanitary diagnostics of agricultural crops;
• identification of the causes of plant stress, disease, and pest damage;
• provision of expert advice to agricultural producers on crop protection;
• development of practical recommendations on the selection and application of plant protection products;
• organization of seminars, consultations, demonstrations, and scientific outreach activities;
• scientific support for crop production technologies with regard to the protection of crops against harmful organisms.

 

Key Scientific and Practical Achievements

The Laboratory’s activities have resulted in:

• systematic phytosanitary monitoring of major agricultural crops;
• diagnosis and identification of pests, diseases, and weeds, including assessment of their distribution and damage levels;
• evaluation of the biological efficacy of new chemical and biological plant protection products;
• identification of promising plant protection products and technological solutions for the control of major harmful organisms;
• improvement of key components of integrated crop protection systems;
• development of scientific and practical recommendations for the rational use of plant protection products;
• development of measures aimed at reducing pesticide loads on agroecosystems and improving the environmental safety of agricultural production;
• provision of scientific support to agricultural enterprises and farms in phytosanitary monitoring and plant protection;
• development of scientific approaches to adapting plant protection systems to changing climatic conditions;
• application of research findings to improve crop production technologies under the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine.

 

Future Research Directions

The Laboratory’s future activities will focus on the development of climate-smart plant protection systems, improvement of early diagnostic and phytosanitary risk forecasting methods, increased use of biological plant protection products, reduction of pesticide loads, and implementation of environmentally sustainable technologies adapted to the current conditions of agricultural production in Southern Ukraine.