RESISTANCE OF HORSE CHESTNUT AESCULUS TAXA TO THE HORSE-CHESTNUT LEAF MINER (CAMERARIA OHRIDELLA)

Due to the leaf damage by Cameraria ohridella, horse chestnut plants lose their decorative qualities and vitality. The solution to this problem is introducing other species and forms of horse chestnut into landscaping, which are not affected by the Ohrid miner. The purpose of our study is to determine the biochemical leaf parameters during the development of the pest, which determine the resistance of Aesculus species to the Ohrid miner. The work was done on mature trees of Ae. glabra, Ae. × carnea, Ae. pavia and Ae. hippocastanum in 2019–2020. The content of phenolic compounds, free sugars and phenol carboxylic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic) was determined. Statistical processing of the data revealed a negative correlation between the sum of phenolic compounds in leaves and the degree of their damage by the Ohrid miner (r = –0.33 and –0.27). Also, a significant negative correlation was found between the ratio of chlorogenic and caffeic acids and the level of damage by the miner (r = –0.35). As a result of the study, resistant species were identified: Ae. glabra and the hybrid Ae. carnea.