INFLUENCE OF PLANT IMMUNITY INDUCERS INCLUDED IN THE APPLE SCAB PROTECTION SYSTEM ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF APPLE IN THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA

Plant immunity inducers are able not only to activate the protective mechanisms of plants to the effects of phytopathogens, but also to stimulate growth and production processes. In 2018–2020, in the conditions of Abkhazia (Gulrypshsky district), the size of the vegetative growth of apple trees of the ‘Aidared’, ‘Golden Reinders’, ‘Early Red Van’ and ‘Red Chief’ cultivars was estimated when immunoinducers (Albit, Immunocytofite and Ecogel) were included in the apple scab protection systems. The analysis of biometric data showed that in the control variant, the lowest values of growth were noted in 2020, which is associated with a long dry period since the autumn of 2019. The use of plant immunity inducers Albit, Immunocytofite and Ecogel leads to the stimulation of vegetative growth of apple shoots. The greatest increase in growth compared to the control in all variants was noted on the ‘Aidared’ cultivar (34.0–41.4 % in the years of using plant immunity inducers and 28.7–29.9 % – the next year after the termination of treatments). The Immunocytofite has the least growth-stimulating effect. The increase in the growth of shoots after its application did not exceed 25 % compared to similar values of the control variant.