Growth and development characteristics and disease severity in winter wheat as infl uenced by cultivation technology elements in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

To investigate the infl uence of varietal characteristics, a mycorrhiza-forming preparation (applied via winter wheat seed treatment), and foliar nutrition with biostimulants on the growth, development, and disease severity of plants in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. The research was conducted from 2023 to 2025 at the "KoLoSoK" farm (Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, Bila Tserkva district, Kyiv region). A three-factor experiment was designed: Factor A – winter wheat varieties (LG Anerie, RGT Linus, RGT Reform); Factor B – pre-sowing seed treatment with a mycorrhiza-forming preparation (untreated control vs. Mykofrend-T at 1 L/t); Factor C – foliar application of biostimulants (control, Kelpak at 1.5 L/ha, and Aminorost at 1.0 L/ha, applied during the BBCH 25–29 and BBCH 37–39 growth stages). It was observed that autumn weather conditions varied signifi cantly across the years: the sum of eff ective temperatures decreased from 306.8 °C (in 2023) to 181.9 °C (in 2025), while precipitation levels fl uctuated between 55.1 mm and 109.0 mm. Under these conditions, the duration of the "sowing–emergence" period was determined by weather factors and the genetic characteristics of the varieties (10–14 days). The development of powdery mildew increased from the BBCH 13–14 growth stage (1.6–2.6 %) to the BBCH 59–65 stage (10.5–23.0 %). The variety LG Anerie showed the highest susceptibility (up to 23.0 % in the control), while the variety RGT Reform was the most resistant. The combined application of Mycofriend-T and Kelpak demonstrated the highest protective effi cacy: during the fl owering stage, disease incidence was reduced by 4.7–6.5 % compared to the control, reaching a minimum value of 10.5 % in the RGT Reform variety. The incidence of Septoria increased throughout the growing season from 0.9–1.5 % to 3.5–8.0 %, showing a similar varietal pattern (maximum in LG Anerie at 8.0 %, minimum in RGT Reform at 3.5 %).