RESEARCH CARRIED OUT BY THE PLANT PROTECTION DEPARTMENT – FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTRE THE SUBTROPICAL SCIENTIFIC CENTRE OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: CURRENT ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

Plant protection is one of the important directions in agricultural science. Research on plant protection on the Black Sea coast of the Russian Caucasus was started at Sochi Garden and Agricultural Experimental Station in the early 20th century. In the post-war period, S.A. Zagainy laid the foundations of the scientific school for plant protection in the humid subtropics of Russia. Throughout the existence of Plant Protection Department, the main tasks were to study the species diversity and biology of pests and pathogens of agricultural plants and to develop measures for controlling them, as well as to assess the effectiveness of plant protection products. The current tasks of the department's team today are as follows: studying the dynamics of the phytosanitary state of agrocenoses of perennial crops and ornamental plantings in the south of Russia, identifying and studying alien species of harmful organisms, developing elements and systems for plant protection using resistant species and cultivars, biological agents, growth regulators based on knowledge of the biology of the "plant – pest – second-order parasite" complex. Research is constantly being conducted in the Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region and in the Republic of Abkhazia. The team sets itself the following tasks: broadening the regional coverage of the conducted research (the Republic of Crimea, Stavropol Krai and the Republics of the North Caucasus), attracting and training new staff, providing closer cooperation with manufacturers of plant protection products (both chemical and biological), developing scientific and methodological provisions for the ornamental gardening industry, promoting the results of scientific research, as well as replenishing the department's laboratory with modern scientific equipment and devices.