Sucking Pests and Diseases Actively Affect Sunflower Crops in Ukraine

This is reported by AgroReview

Sunflower fields in Ukraine continue to be significantly impacted by sucking pests, including the goldenrod aphid, various species of bugs, and sporadic thrips. According to monitoring results, these pests have been found on 18-51% of surveyed areas, indicating a high level of their spread.

Situation with Pests in the Regions

Damage to sunflowers by sucking pests and their harmfulness is recorded at levels of 2-7%, and in some cases, up to 12-20% of plants in the fields of Mykolaiv, Rivne, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, and Kherson regions. In addition to the main pests, in some regions, sunflower plants are also damaged by wireworms, armyworm caterpillars, and the meadow moth, although the population of these pests currently does not exceed the economically dangerous threshold, causing harm to 2-4% of plants.

In Kherson region, specialists have recorded the beginning of flight, egg-laying, and the hatching of sunflower moth caterpillars. On average, these pests have damaged up to 2% of plants, with an average caterpillar density of 0.4 individuals per plant.

Spread of Sunflower Diseases

In addition to pests, various diseases continue to develop in sunflower fields. Progression of septoria, downy mildew, phoma, alternaria, and rust is observed on the leaves of the lower tier. In some areas of Rivne, phomopsis has been detected, while in Odesa region, white rot has been found.

The overall level of plant disease damage averages 2-10%, with some outbreaks reaching 12-22%. In particular, septoria predominates in Kirovohrad region, while alternaria is more common in Rivne region.

“Sunflower crops continue to be inhabited by sucking pests (goldenrod aphid, bugs, sporadic thrips), which were found on 18-51% of surveyed areas”