Observation on the Influence of Apple Woolly Aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm.) on Vegetative Parameters of Grafted Plants in Container Production

The use of fruit-propagated planting material has played a vital role in the growth of the fruit market from both economic and social perspectives. When creating new orchards using a material with unclear phytosanitary conditions, the trees may dry out gradually or rapidly during the early stage. This material leads to significant losses and failure to recoup the investment in establishing and cultivating the orchards. As responsible producers, Bulgaria and other EU member countries adhere to Commission Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU, which enforces Directive 2008/90/EC on marketing fruit trees for propagation purposes. This compliance ensures that we uphold the highest standards in our operations, contributing to the overall health and sustainability of the fruit market. Pests play a crucial role in producing planting material as they can, directly and indirectly, influence the process. Pests can directly damage the quality and quantity of the produced material, while indirectly, they can act as carriers of infection. Observations on woolly apple aphids in Bulgaria's scientific community date back to the end of the last century. According to a 2021 report by CABI, Bulgaria is one of the six countries with a wide distribution of the woolly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm.).