MONITORING OF POTATO CYST NEMATODES (GLOBODERA SPP.) IN SOUTHWEST BULGARIA

The potato cyst nematodes, Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis, can cause significant economic damage to potato production and their conduct is a difficult process. They are quarantine pests for Europe, which are regulated by different directives specific to different regions. The main objective of the study was to provide data of the determination of the spread of potato cyst nematodes in Southwest Bulgaria in order to limit their further dissemination outside the infected areas. In the period 2015-2016, the monitoring of potato cyst nematodes was carried out in six major potato-producing regions in Bulgaria (Samokov, Pernik, Kyustendil, Pazardzhik, Blagoevgrad and Smolyan). The monitoring has covered seed production areas and potato areas intended for human consumption and/or for processing. The results confirm the presence of both species in the observed potato-growing areas. The distribution and density of nematodes of the genus Globodera varies between regions. G. rostochiensis was the most common species in all areas. The species was found by itself in a higher level than in joint populations of G. pallida