DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTIVE DOSE OF INTERFERON FOR THE CONTROL OF VIRUSES ON WINTER GARLIC

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of various concentrations of Interferon on the winter garlic degeneration. Methods. Field, biometric, weighing, statistical. The study was conducted at the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of NAAS. Domestic cultivar ‘Merefianskyi Bilyi’ included in the Register of Varieties approved for growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was used in the tests. The experiments were carried out in accordance with the "Methods of Experimentation in Vegetable Melon Growing" in four replications. The record plot area was 10 m2. The plots were arranged according to a 70x8 cm scheme. The planting rate was 1.5-1.8 t/ha. The forecrop was is early potato. The effect of foliar treatment with Interferon at concentrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, and 0.150% was assessed. Two-year data (2017-2018) are presented. Results. There was a significant mitigation in the manifestation of viral diseases upon cascade treatment of the winter garlic plantation with Interferon. Interferon concentrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, and 0.150% were tested. In almost all investigated variants, a stimulating effect was observed as manifested as improved biometric parameters of garlic plants. In particular, the plant height and the number of leaves were increased, boosting the photosynthetic activity. There was a significant rise in the yield (by 0.5-0.9 t/ha) attributed to the use of Interferon, with the yield 3.3 t/ha in the control. However, the maximum yield of 4.2 t/ha was harvested at the 0.100% Interferon. Conclusions. The data indicate the absence of symptoms of damage to the garlic seed plantation by viral diseases after foliar treatment with 0.100% Interferon. At the same time, there was an increase in basic biometric indicators and an increase in the yield by 26.3-27.3%, depending on the agent concentration.