Аssessment of phytosanitary conditions for the production of basic seed potatoes in the Southern Polissya region of Ukraine

To monitor the population and species composition of potato virus carriers in the Polissia region of Ukraine and assess the phytosanitary conditions for the production of basic seed potatoes. Methods. Field, laboratory-analytical, entomological, and statistical. Results. In 2021–2023, monitoring on seed potato plantings in the southern part of the Polissia region of Ukraine, using yellow water traps, identified 41 to 52 aphid species. Of these, 6 to 7 species were carriers of potato viruses; these aphid species constituted 43.14–84.15% of the total number of aphids caught. The remaining 37–45 aphid species, which were attracted by the yellow traps, were associated with vegetable, fruit, and berry crops, weeds, trees, and shrubs surrounding the seed potato fields. Aphid species composition and population levels depended on weather conditions and insecticide treatments. Up to seven aphid species that are carriers of potato viral diseases were recorded on potatoes, namely: Aphis fabae Scop., Aphis nasturtii Kalt., Aphis frangulae Kalt., Aulacorthum solani Kalt., Macrosiphum еuphorbiae Thom., Myzus persicae Sulz., Rhopalosiphum padi Lin. The most numerous vectors for transmitting potato viral infection were the species: Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thom., Aphis fabae Scop, Aphis frangulae Kalt., and Aphis nasturtii Kalt., with relatively low PVY transmission indices of 0.2, 0.1, 0.53, and 0.4, respectively. The cumulative vector load index of potato viral infections was 47.18 points in 2021, 69.48 points in 2022, and 52.12 points in 2023. Conclusions. A trend toward increased population and damage potential of aphid species that carry potato viruses was identified, which could lead to a higher spread of viral diseases in basic seed material.