Soil-borne diseases/pest control research in Lithuania

Abstract

Different problems in integrated pest management including soil-borne diseases are investigated at several institutions in the Republic of Lithuania. With reference to scientific publications regarding to soil-borne diseases the most important or prevalent fungal pathogens in Lithuanian soils belonging to the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Verticillium. Sugar-beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii was the most common among plant parasitic nematodes. Various pest management strategies against soil-borne diseases were investigated. Investigating of resistance/susceptibility to the pathogens of different cultivars of plants takes an important part. Several studies on chemical and non-chemical treatment of substrates and seeds were carried out as well. Most of the present publications results of research on chemical plant protection products efficiency. Conditions for biological control are limited in Lithuanian agriculture. Nevertheless, some research is carried out especially concerning pest management of greenhouse plants. The main objective of this study is to review the most important soil-borne pathogens, their incidence and current pest management measures in the country.