In keeping with tradition, on 16 January 2019 representatives, scientists and friends of the plant protection sector gathered once again in Plovdiv to mark 123 years since the establishment and professional development of plant protection in Bulgaria. The event was held under the motto: „Innovations in Plant Protection“.
At the official opening, an address was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Yanko Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. He greeted those present and reminded them that plant protection is one of the most important and responsible sectors in agriculture. The Deputy Minister emphasized that Bulgaria, as part of the plant protection community of the European Union, is faced with the serious challenge of protecting the external borders of the EU from invasive species.
At the Plant Protection Forum, held in Auditorium 7 of the Agricultural University, scientific reports were presented in the field of innovations in plant protection on the following topics:
„2020: International Year of Plant Health“ – Prof. Dr. Vili Kharizanova, Dean of the Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Agricultural University – Plovdiv
“Opportunities for the control of root-knot nematodes in greenhouse cucumbers with dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in Bulgaria” – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhenya Ilieva, Institute for Plant Protection and Agricultural Research (IPAZR)
“Potential of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) for the control of soil-borne pathogens in cucumber in Bulgaria” – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tsenko Vachev, Institute for Plant Protection and Agricultural Research (IPAZR)
„Rootstocks from the family Cucurbitaceae – an alternative approach for the control of root-knot nematodes and soil-borne pathogens“ – Dima Markova, Vinelina Yankova, Stoyka Masheva, Nikolay Velkov, Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute “Maritsa” – Plovdiv
„Phyllocnistis vitegenella Clemens, 1859 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) – a new species and a new pest on Vitis vinifera L. in Bulgaria“ – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katya Trencheva, Head of the Department of Plant Protection, University of Forestry (LTU)
„New methods for the identification of diseases caused by phytoplasmas – challenges and solutions“ – Chief Assistant Dr. Zhelyu Avramov, Department of Plant Protection, University of Forestry (LTU)
„Influence of plant protection activities on soil mesofauna in different agroecosystems“ – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lilyana Markova Koleva, Department of Plant Protection, University of Forestry (LTU)
„Use of fertilizer products with biostimulant action to overcome herbicide phytotoxicity in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo)“ – Ralitsa Ruseva, winner of the student competition for „Innovative Development in the Field of Plant Protection“
The celebration was organized by the Bulgarian Association for Plant Protection (BAPP) and the Association Crop Protection Industry in Bulgaria (APhIB), with the kind assistance of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) and the Agricultural University – Plovdiv.
