The main stages of development of agricultural nematology

Abstract

Goal. Analyze the biological patterns underlying the principles of creating methods for monitoring and control of nematodes of field crops and woody plants, as well as the possibility of creating biological products based on EPN from local strains identified by the laboratory of nematology. Methods. Analysis of the results of laboratory developments for 30 years of research. Results. The high level of the number of parasitic species of nematodes (200—800 individuals in 100 cm3 of soil) has a significant impact on the growth, development and yield of the main field and flower ornamental crops. Losses can reach 35—55% of biomass (or ornamental) crops and 20—30% of the crop. Agrocenoses are more sensitive than natural coenoses to changes in the environment. Due to this, such agrotechnical measures as crop rotation, species and varietal composition of crops in crop rotation, fertilization system, tillage methods, etc. significantly affect the population density of parasitic nematodes, so they can be used to regulate their numbers. According to the results of laboratory tests in Ukraine, the pine wood nematode B. mucronatus was found, which is the cause of suppression and drying of Scots pine plantations. Methods for monitoring this new species of phytoparasitic nematodes have been developed. Long-term studies of the spread of entomopathogenic nematodes in Ukraine have made it possible to identify three species that quite densely (21.2% of the analyzed samples) inhabit the habitats of Ukraine, show high effectiveness against soil and other pests, so are promising for biopreparations based on entomopathogenic nematodes. Conclusions. The use of methods developed in the laboratory for monitoring and controlling the number of populations of phytopathogenic nematodes will keep the damage from this group of pathogens at a low level, preserving up to 20—30% of the crop, and prevent drying of coniferous forests from bursaphelenchosis.