Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation

The importance of berry crops in human nutrition is well known. They are a valuable dietary food, have a high content of essential vitamins. Black currant (Ribes Nigrum L.) outperforms all other berries in terms of the nutritional benefits for human health. Black currant berries are rich in vitamins content, the complex of other vitamins and biologically active substances, namely: A, B1, B2, B3, PP, coumarins, fudocoumarins, nitrogen, tannins, essential oils, mineral salts, sugars (up to 12%), and organic acids. The Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine is characterized by the most favorable soil and climatic conditions for the commercial cultivation of black currant (Ribes Nigrum L.), but pests can cause considerable damage to plantations. Among the dominant phytophages of black currant, the most common and dangerous are intrastem pests: jewel beetle (Agrilus ribesi Schaefer) and currant clearwing (Synanthedon puliformis Cl.). For effective protection of plantations from pests, special attention is paid to phytosanitary monitoring. Phytosanitary monitoring of black currant plantations will allow to detect pests in me, to monitor their development and spread in a certain area. By conducting phytosanitary monitoring of plantations with pests during 2-3 years and understanding the factors influencing their development, it is possible to build a phenological calendar of pests, which will provide an opportunity to predict their further appearance in the agrocenosis. As these pests are intrastem, this means that the damage is caused mainly by larvae. These pests control is rather challanging, because the use of pesticides can’t achieve high efficiency. That is why the development of biological control is important. The current literature reviewed results indicated that the use of entomophages and entomopathogenic nematodes are the most promising approaches in the biocontrol of these pests

black currant; intrastem pests; Agrilus ribesi Schaefer; Synanthedon puliformis Cl.; monitoring; entomopathogenic nematodes; entomophages