Resistance of citrus crops in Abkhazia to damage by the woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell)

Abstract

Abstract Citrus crops are the most important among subtropical crops in the Republic of Abkhazia. In 2019-2020 a new pest was discovered in the citrus agrocenosis of Abkhazia – the woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell). The pest has been identified in all regions of the country. The degree of damage to mandarin on industrial plantations reaches 50% and more. An assessment of the resistance of 79 varieties of citrus crops from the collection of the Institute of Agriculture of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia to damage by a woolly whitefly (Gulrypsh district of the Republic of Abkhazia) was carried out. The degree of damage to citrus genotypes was different. It was found that the most affected varieties are Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, as well as C. × meyeri and C. aurantifolia Sw. Tangerine, orange varieties (Hamlin, Maro and Grushevidny Koroliok) and pompelmus varieties (Mato Buntan, Natsu mican, Meteleva) are the least damaged.