Role of plant viral infection in the inhibition of potato immune responses to the damage caused by leaf-eating pests

Relevance. There are very few studies on the role of plant viral infection in inhibiting the immune response of potato plants to the damage caused by leaf-eating pests; the available data has a fragmental character. Materials and Methods. The research was carried out in an experimental field of FSBSI “FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki” in 2020-2023. The following potato varieties of Russian and foreign breeding origin were used in the experiment: Belmonda, Sante, Dachnyi, Yantar', Avgustin, Yubilyar, Kazachok, Red Lady, Labella, Queen Anne, Laperla, Smak, Lilly, Arktika, Svitanok Kievskii, Nakra, Dal'nevostochnyi, and Severnyi. The progression of plant viral infection and the degree of the damage caused by Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata were assessed on a point scale. Results. The research established a direct correlation between a decrease in the immune response of potato plants to leaf-eating insects and the accumulation of viral infection without the renewal of planting material. Potato varieties Svitanok Kievskii, Nakra, Dal'nevostochnyi, and Severnyi were observed to have latent viral infection (from 0 to 0.5 points) in the first year of the experiment (2022) and were not susceptible to the potato ladybird beetle. Mixed plant viral infection manifested itself on potato plants in 2023 decreasing the immunity of the plants to phytophagous insects, particularly to the potato ladybird beetle. The progression of plant viral infection on variety Svitanok Kievskii reached four points while the degree of the damage caused by the potato ladybird beetle to potato plants was 1.2 points. The progression of plant viral infection scored about two points on varieties Nakra and Severnyi with a damage degree of one point. Variety Dal'nevostochnyi was the least susceptible to plant viral infection and the degree of damage was minimum as well.