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Bull. Spec. CORESTA Congress, Lisbon, 2000, p. 129, P9

A new model for tobacco pest control in Bulgaria

DIMITROV A.; DIMANOV D.; KOTCHEV I.
Inst. for Tobacco and Tobacco Products, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The Model for tobacco protection against diseases, pests, weeds and parasites (predators) was developed as a result of the investigations carried out throughout 20 years. The model ensures the achievement of the preset task, namely growing healthy, high quality and ecologically sound tobacco. The model comprises: (1) Differentiated approach to pest diagnostics, plant damage assessment and to selecting specific means of control for each tobacco growing region; (2) A method for short-term forecasting based on the proved combination of the values of individual climatic factors and the biotic potential, which are, essentially, the modifier values in the determination of the level of risk to the crop and the timing of control measures; (3) The proved relationship between the noxious species and the entomophages in tobacco biocenosis; (4) A practical assessment of the behavior of pests to the different Nicotiana species and N. tabacum varieties; (5) The established most general objective laws of the formation of fauna in tobacco stands; (6) The proved build-up of resistance in suctorial pests to a specific group of pesticides and the side-effects of some insecticides; (7) The identified and confirmed food plants, serving as intermediate hosts of the economically most important diseases and pests. The newly developed Model has contributed to the elucidation of some plant protection problems that were not well enough studied in Bulgaria and in the world as a whole. Essentially, the suggested new Model avoids the commonplace approach to pest control in Bulgaria. The new Model has found its level in the application of specific integrated control programs comprising efficient agrotechnical, biological and chemical means of control.