Characteristics of pest infestation in the collection of endemic wheat species at the Russian state agricultural university – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy

The purpose of the study – to conduct a differentiated assessment of the infestation by major pests of the collection of endemic wheat species at the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, highlighting promising varieties that are least affected by pests. One of the main directions in the protection of cereal crops is the identification, development, and use of varieties that are resistant to pests. The collection of endemic wheat species included 15 samples, 12 of which were represented by various varieties and origins of Persian wheat, while 3 samples represented varieties of Turanian wheat. Each sample was arranged in triplicate according to a complete randomization scheme. The assessment of the overall composition of the entomofauna in the spring wheat stand, along with the evaluation of pest infestation on the varietal samples, was conducted through regular counts using the sweeping net sampling method during the heading and flowering phases of the plants. Upon reaching the milk-wax ripeness phase, visual counts of aphids and thrips on the ears were conducted. The species composition of pests on spring wheat was identified, with Swedish flies, the Grass bug, cereal aphids, and cereal thrips being the most dominant. The analysis of pest infestation revealed that Swedish flies infested Turanian wheat less than Persian wheat. Sucking pests, such as the Grass bug and cereal aphids, primarily showed low infestation levels on Persian wheat, especially the black-eared varieties from Georgia and Dagestan. Two samples of Persian wheat demonstrated consistently low levels of infestation by aphids and thrips, making them promising sources of resistance. The white-eared variety (var. stramineum) was not among the samples with low pest infestation. The reduction in pest numbers on the less infested samples ranged from 43 % to 77 %, which corresponds to a medium level of resistance.