White mold of carrot is mainly caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, while Sclerotinia nivalis is rarely reported. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of S. nivalis on carrot in Russia, expanding knowledge of its global distribution. rDNA-ITS sequencing (100% identity with reference strains) and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the isolate as S. nivalis. The growth, sclerotia formation, temperature response, pathogenicity, and fungicide sensitivity of four Sclerotinia strains (S. sclerotiorum from carrot, rapeseed, and soybean, and S. nivalis from carrot) were compared. S. nivalis showed slower growth, smaller but more numerous sclerotia (2–5 mm), and an optimal temperature of 15 °C, lower than S. sclerotiorum (25 °C). The soybean strain S. sclerotiorum SC382 was the most aggressive, causing 62% necrosis of carrot leaves and complete root decay within 9 days, while S. nivalis and the carrot isolates showed moderate aggressiveness. The S. nivalis SM8 strain was four times less sensitive to fluazinam (EC₅₀ = 0.0107 µg/mL) than S. sclerotiorum, whereas sensitivity to boscalid and pyraclostrobin varied. These findings confirm S. nivalis as a new causal agent of carrot white mold in Russia and demonstrate the potential of Sclerotinia strains from soybean and rapeseed to infect carrot, emphasizing the need for species-level monitoring and adapted control strategies.

The article provides an assessment of the current state of production of the grain sub-sector of crop production, provides analytical indicators of the acreage, gross harvest and yield of cereals and legumes in grain-producing regions of the country. The sown area and the structure of the area of sowing of grain and leguminous crops in all categories of farms in Russia are given. The impact of the grain sub-sector of crop production on the country’s food security has been determined in the research work. The main directions that significantly affect the sustainable development of the grain sub-sector of crop production on an innovative basis are highlighted and justified. As a result of an analytical assessment of the main types of crop production, it was found that the largest volume is occupied by grain and grain products. During the study of this topic, it was determined that grain and grain products are a strategically important product in the global agri-food market. Problems related to the production of the main types of agricultural products have been identified. The main problem is that the acreage for cereals is increasing, violating the basic principles of the crop rotation system. The study noted the transition of agricultural producers to the cultivation of monoculture of winter and spring wheat. The article notes the negative impact on the environment and ecology, due to the violation of the scientifically sound management of the farming system. Recommended and proposed measures for the sustainable and effective development of the grain sub-sector of crop production in the long term. The paper shows the effect of the intensification process on the restoration and increase of the economic fertility of the soil.

Multiplex real-time PCR with TaqMan^® probes has been developed for the simultaneous detection of soybean pathogens Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens. The method specificity has been confirmed using 25 strains of target bacteria and 18 strains of other bacteria common to soybean seeds as endophytes. The multiplex real-time PCR developed has been shown to have high sensitivity - a positive result was achieved at 0.01 ng/µl of DNA for both target organisms, and at 100 CFU/ml of bacteria in soybean seed homogenate. The robustness of the multiplex real-time PCR developed has been verified by the detection of the pathogens in 25 commercial seed stocks, in comparison with previously published PCR protocols. In all tests, three seed stocks were positive and 22 were negative. The multiplex real-time PCR can be applied in diagnostic practice for the simultaneous detection of two important pathogens of leguminous plants.

Sugar beet cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, is among the most economically important diseases of sugar beet, and the effectiveness of chemical disease management depends on the susceptibility of pathogen populations to fungicides. In this study, isolates of C. beticola from the Russian Federation were characterized based on QoI resistance, molecular detection of the G143A mutation, and phenotypic variability in radial growth, colony morphology, and aggressiveness. A total of 46 leaf samples were surveyed, and 196 isolates were obtained, from which a representative subset of 48 isolates was selected for detailed analysis. The selected isolates were characterized for in vitro radial growth and colony morphology, assessed for aggressiveness on sugar beet leaves, and tested for sensitivity to azoxystrobin based on EC50 values. The G143A mutation was detected by allele-discriminating real-time PCR and confirmed by sequencing of the cytB region. The G143A mutation was identified in 41 of 48 isolates (85.4%). In the mycelial bioassay, all isolates had EC50 values above 0.2 µg/mL, and 38 of 48 isolates (79.2%) had EC50 values exceeding 100 µg/mL. Additional validation with SHAM in a subset of 35 isolates did not alter the qualitative interpretation of resistance. Considerable variability was also observed in radial growth rate, aggressiveness, and colony appearance among isolates. These findings indicate widespread QoI resistance in the analyzed Russian isolate collection and provide a structured baseline for regional resistance monitoring and for more cautious use of FRAC 11 fungicides in integrated sugar beet disease-management programs.

Vascular bacteriosis of cabbage caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris remains a significant threat to cabbage cultivation, especially in the context of stricter restrictions on the use of chemical plant protection products. The paper presents the results of characterization of the new Murka bacteriophage, which is active against 64.3% of the studied strains of the pathogen, including those circulating in Central Europe and Russia. Model experiments in a multi-channel bioreactor allowed us to determine the temperature dependence of the phage-bacterium interaction in the range of 15–45 °C. It was found that the greatest lytic activity and accumulation of phage particles are achieved at a culture temperature of 20–30 °C. This indicates the promising use of the Murka phage in various climatic zones. The phage showed resistance to chloroform, stability in the pH range of 6–10, and loss of activity at temperatures above 50 °C. Morphologically, Murka belongs to the genus Mioviruses, genetically to the genus Foxunavirus. The 43,277 bp long phage genome contains 83 ORF genes, of which 41 have a proposed function, and 42 are hypothetical proteins. Additional tests have shown that even with temperature fluctuations, the phage is able to effectively control bacterial growth. Special attention is paid to the possibility of using phage in the early stages of plant vegetation, for example, during pre-sowing seed treatment, when conditions contribute to maximum stability and effectiveness of phage therapy. In the future, it is planned to conduct in-planta tests in open ground conditions, which will determine the optimal regulations for the use and integration of phage use into a comprehensive cabbage protection system against vascular bacteriosis.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a dangerous, highly specialized necrotrophic phytopathogen that infects approximately 400 plant species, including economically important crops such as sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, and others. This fungus causes white mold (syn. sclerotiniosis), one of the most destructive diseases, especially in regions with cool and humid climates. The pathogen S. sclerotiorum has a simple life cycle, where infection occurs either via mycelium from dormant sclerotia in the soil or by ascospores from apothecia. The pathogen can penetrate through the stem base or aerially through flowers and dead plant tissues. Soybean cultivation in Russia is continuously expanding,and therefore the pathogen poses a particular problem, leading to significant yield losses. This review summarizes current data on the biology of S. sclerotiorum, its mechanisms of pathogenicity and interaction with the host plant, dissemination pathways, and impact assessment. It also covers methods for monitoring and diagnosing soybean white mold, existing control methods (agronomic, biological, and chemical), as well as achievements and challenges in soybean breeding for white mold resistance. In conclusion, promising research directions are discussed, aimed at developing more effective and environmentally safe methods for protecting soybeans from S. sclerotiorum.