Specialists from the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the Oryol and Kursk Regions have conducted inspections of potato plantings in the Kursk Region. The monitoring took place in private farms within the Sovetsky District, specifically in areas previously designated as quarantine phytosanitary zones for golden potato nematode. A total of 378 soil samples were collected and analyzed at the Kursk branch of the FGBU “VNIIZJ” (Federal Center for Animal Health). Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cysts of this dangerous pest — a microscopic worm measuring less than 1 millimeter in length, known for its rapid reproduction rate. The golden potato nematode poses a severe threat to crops in the nightshade family, with potatoes being the most vulnerable, while tomatoes and eggplants are affected to a lesser extent.
The nematode causes the most damage in household plots where potatoes are grown on the same land year after year. Infected plants turn yellow prematurely and produce very few tubers. The pest spreads easily from contaminated fields through soil, seed tubers, seedlings, gardening tools, agricultural machinery, and even floodwaters. To curb its spread, a comprehensive set of measures is essential: farmers must avoid using infected potatoes for seed purposes, strictly follow crop rotation practices, and carry out specialized soil treatments. Authorities urge local growers to take these recommendations seriously to protect future harvests from this persistent and destructive pest.
