We aimed to monitor the species diversity and the dynamics of the number of soybean pests using light traps with an original design to develop protection systems against the main phytophages. Traps lured 44 species of insects from eight orders and 27 families. The capture of 15 species of economically important phytophages was recorded—representatives of various orders and families: order Lepidoptera—Noctuidae, Crambidae, Erebidae, and Geometridae; order Hemiptera—Flatidae; order Coleoptera—Elateridae, etc. Insect identification was carried out via morphological methods. Over the study period (93 days), 4955.41 insect specimens were caught on average per one trap. Most of the attracted insects belong to harmful entomofauna: namely the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera, Hübner)—58.9%, the beet webworm (Loxostege sticticalis, L.)—12.74%, the nutmeg moth (Anarta trifolii, Hufnagel)—6.5%, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hübner)—2.68%, and some other species—19.2%. In addition to economically significant phytophages, we registered some indifferent and beneficial species. The summer dynamics of the cotton bollworm and the nutmeg moth were obtained for the entire research period. Then, we calculated the values of the indices of biodiversity and the dominance of insect species. An analysis of the index values allows us to conclude a balanced entomocomplex at the research site.

The accurate recognition of weeds on crops supports the spot application of herbicides, the high economic effect and reduction of pesticide pressure on agrocenoses. We consider the approach based on the quantitative spectral characteristics of plant objects to be the most appropriate for the development of methods for the spot application of herbicides. We made test plots with different species composition of cultivated and weed plants on the experimental fields of the scientific crop rotation of the Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection. These plants form the basis of the agrocenoses of Krasnodar Krai. Our primary subjects are sunflower crops (Helianthus annuus L.), corn (Zea mais L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.)). Besides the test plots, pure and mixed backgrounds of weeds were identified, represented by the following species: ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), California-bur (Xanthium strumarium L.), red-root amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), white marrow (C. album L.) and field milk thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.). We used the Ocean Optics Maya 2000-Pro automated spectrometer to conduct high-precision ground-based spectrometric measurements of selected plants. We calculated the values of 15 generally accepted spectral index dependencies based on data processing from ground hyperspectral measurements of cultivated and weed plants. They aided in evaluating certain vegetation parameters. Factor analysis determined the relationship structure of variable values of hyperspectral vegetation indices into individual factor patterns. The analysis of variance assessed the information content of the indicators of index values within the limits of the selected factors. We concluded that most of the plant objects under consideration are characterized by the homogeneity of signs according to the values of the index indicators that make up the selected factors. However, in most of the cases, it is possible to identify different plant backgrounds, both by the values of individual vegetation indices and by generalized factorial coefficients. Our research results are important for the validation of remote aerospace observations using multispectral and hyperspectral instruments.

Studying the influence of the host plant genotype on the spectral reflectance of crops infected by a pathogen is one of the key directions in the development of precision methods for monitoring the phytosanitary state of wheat agrocenoses. The purpose of this research was to study the influence of varietal factors and disease development on the spectral characteristics of winter wheat varieties of different susceptibility to diseases during the growing seasons of 2021, 2022 and 2023. The studied winter wheat crops were represented by three varieties differing in susceptibility to phytopathogens: Grom, Svarog and Bezostaya 100. Over three years of research, a clear and pronounced influence of the varietal factor on the spectral characteristics of winter wheat crops was observed, which in most cases manifested itself as an immunological reaction of specific varieties to the influence of pathogen development. The nature of the influence of the pathogenic background and the spectral characteristics of winter wheat crops were determined by the complex interaction of the development of individual diseases under the conditions of a particular year of research. A uniform and clear division of the spectral characteristics of winter wheat according to the intensity of the disease was recorded only at a level of pathogen development of more than 5%. Moreover, this gradation was most clearly manifested in the spectral channels of the near-infrared range and at a wavelength of 720 nm.

There have been carried out the route surveys to assess the development and distribution of the main pathogens of wheat and barley in 57 districts ofKrasnodar,StavropolTerritoriesand Rostov Region. The collection, organization and analysis of information on the damage degree of the production and breeding sowings of these grain crops by the main pathogens was conducted using a single spatial information environment designed by the Russian company “NextGIS”. During the field surveys, there have been included the data on the resistance to causative agents of yellow leaf spot of wheat, wheat Septoria leaf spot, powdery mildew on wheat and barley, rust diseases on wheat and barley, net spot of barley, and brown spot of barley into the program. In addition, while filling in the survey card, there were taken into account the date and time of the assessment, the phase of development of the grain crop, the variety; there was carried out a photographic fixation of the examined plants. In the field, there was used the freely distributed NextGIS Mobile software, installed on mobile digital devices (smartphones) running by the Android operating system. According to the results of field surveys using the NextGIS QGIS full-featured desktop geographic information system there were prepared thematic cartographic materials of the main wheat and barley pathogens in the southern region ofRussia. The collected long-term data of phytosanitary surveys will allow conducting a temporary analysis of the spatial distribution of pathogens in the studied area. This information can be useful for specialists dealing with plant protection, for employees of breeding institutions who develop varieties resistant to economically significant diseases of grain crops. The data can be used also by a wide range of specialists engaged in plant breeding who conduct field surveys and account any parameters of plant conditions, harmful facilities and the environment, as well as by the consumers of such information.

Aim. To study the species composition and abundance of anthophilic Hymenopteran insects in the sunflower agrocenosis and the role of its flowers in maintaining biodiversity in the agrocenoses of the Krasnodar Territory. Material and Methods. The studies were conducted during the sunflower growing season in the Krasnodar Territory from 2017 to 2022 in the Kanevsky, Krasnoarmeysky, Krylovsky, Labinsky, Ust‐Labinsky, Tbilisi and Temryuk districts.Results. In sunflower agrocenoses, 53 species of stinging hymenopteran insects from 10 families are found. For each research area, there is an individual insect fauna, which is characteristic of the agrocenosis and actively visits sunflower flowers. The fauna of each district includes mass species, common and rare, most of which are not interested in sunflower flowers, using other resources. The main visitors of sunflower inflorescences are bumblebees, which in a range of circumstances may visit flowers. Most wasp species are casual visitors to sunflower flowers.Conclusion. Most widely represented in the sunflower agrocenosis are insects of the families Halictidae, Andrenidae, Megachilidae, Apidae. In each research area, there are individual situations when common insect species either visit sunflower flowers or completely ignore them. Combining information on all areas, we observe that in the case of certain local conditions, almost all representatives of the fauna can feed on sunflowers, but it is not the principal resources, only complementing the wild flora.