Dependence of stolbur harmfulness on the nutrient supply of tomato plants

M.A. Kimov, L.M. Khromova, M.I. Anchekov, D.A. Kimova

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Abstract. Agroecological assessment of soil and climatic conditions within the regional farming system is essential for obtaining stable tomato fruit yields.
Aim. The objective of this study is to evaluate how tomato stolbur disease severity depends on the plant mineral nutrition status.
Materials and methods. As a result of multi-year research, it was found that the functional diagnostic method, in combination with visual, microscopy, and biological techniques, enhances the efficacy of managing the tomato stolbur disease pathogen. The timely application of foliar feeding enhances resistance to the stolbur pathogen and simultaneously improves plant nutrient status, resulting from the activation of biochemical processes in tomatoes. An express method is used to perform functional diagnostics of leaf nutrient supply in tomato crops, while a 2–3-fold foliar fertilization at 7–10 day intervals provide timely adjustments to the nutrient regime, thereby enhancing plant immunity to stolbur. Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) is a noxious weed affecting tomato plantings and acts as a reservoir host for leafhoppers that vector the stolbur disease.
Results. A detailed study of Figures 1–3 based on the nutrient deficiencies/supplies of healthy or diseased tomato plants and field bindweed increased tomato plant resistance to stolbur. The research results indicate that young tomato leaves exhibit a high uptake activity for macro- and microelements, particularly phosphorus, zinc, and iodine. This suggests the necessity of conducting foliar spraying 3–4 times between the first budding phase and mass fruit harvest at intervals of 10–15 days, using separate applications of water-soluble complex fertilizers rich in phosphorus and zinc. Spraying with a 0.05% Pharmaiod solution should be performed in the late afternoon with a working liquid consumption of 400 to 600 L/ha, depending on the tomato phenophase and the incidence of stolbur-infected tomato plants.
Conclusion. A dependence of leaf nutrient supply on the soil and climatic conditions of tomato cultivation was revealed. During the active growth period of tomato plants, a fold negative deviation in nutrients from optimum levels contributed to a rise in stolbur disease incidence, ranging on average from 8.4% to 60.5%.

Keywords: tomato, nutrients, tomato stolbur, field bindweed, functional diagnostics, nutrient supply, foliar feeding, fast-dissolving complex fertilizers

For citation. Kimov M.A., Khromova L.M., Anchekov M.I., Kimova D.A. Dependence of stolbur harmfulness on the nutrient supply of tomato plants. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2026. Vol. 28. No. 4. Pp. 97–105. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2026-28-4-97-105

©  Kimov M.A., Khromova L.M., Anchekov M.I., Kimova D.A., 2026

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Information about the authors

Mukhamed A. Kimov, Postgraduate Student of the Scientific and Educational Center, Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Selection and Biotechnology, Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
2, Balkarov street, Nalchik, 360010, Russia;
kimov1222@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9388-2302, SPIN-code: 9480-1572
Lyudmila M. Khromova, Leading Researcher, Engineering Center, Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
2, Balkarov street, Nalchik, 360010, Russia;
khromova.1954@inbox.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1524-2462, SPIN-code: 2839-2028
Murat I. Anchokov, Head of the Laboratory of Simulation Modeling of Phenogenetic Processes, Scientific Research Center of Intelligent Genetic Systems, Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
2, Balkarov street, Nalchik, 360010, Russia;
murat.antchok@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8977-797X, SPIN-code: 3299-0927
Dana A. Kimova, Junior Researcher, Institute of Agriculture – branch of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
73, Nogmova street, Nalchik, 360004, Russia;
dana.kimova@inbox.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7834-7683, SPIN-code: 1930-2742

Funding

The study was performed without external funding.