The object of the studies conducted in the years 2000–2002 on a field of 3 years’ monoculture of soybean was rhizosphere soil of soybean cultivated after tansy phacelia, winter wheat, white mustard, rye, agrimony and soybean as previous crops. The purpose of the studies was to determine the effect of cultivating the above listed previous crop plants on the formation of microorganism communities in the rhizosphere soil of soybean. The lowest total number of fungal colonies was found in the rhizosphere soil of soybean cultivated after rye and winter wheat (21.09 × 10³ and 22.58 × 10³ c. f. u., respectively), while the highest number was found in soil after soybean (36.95 × 10³ c. f. u.). The highest total number of bacteria was found in 1 g of dr yweight of the rhizosphere soil of so ybean cultivated after agrimony, and the lowest after soybean (5.80 × 10⁶ and 4.09 × 10⁶ c. f. u., respectively). The largest proportion of pathogenic fungi was characteristic of the rhizosphere soil of soybean cultivated after soybean, and the smallest – of the rhizosphere soil of soybean after agrimony as a previous crop. The dominating species among pathogenic fungi in all experimental objects was Fusarium oxysporum. The rhizosphere soil of soybean cultivated after soybean was the poorest in saprophytic fungi (35.2% of all isolations). On the other hand, the highest number of saprophytes, including antagonistic ones, was found in the rhizosphere soil of soybean after agrimony and winter wheat.

The fungi that cause sooty blotch grow only on the apple skin, so they use appropriate nutrients which are present on the fruit surface. It has been shown that when the first symptoms of sooty blotch occur a noticeable increase of glucose and fructose content both on the apple skin and in juice is observed. Such increase occurs at pH 4.4. An effect of surface glucose and fructose on the growth of patho- gens responsible for the disease was also confirmed by evaluating the germination of conidia of Phialophora sessilis de Hoog and Peltaster fructicola Jonhson in solution of above mentioned sugars, distilled water and standard d-glucose solutions.

Investigations have been undertaken to determine which fungi species are responsible for occurrence of sooty blotch disease in Poland. It was found that disease complex is caused by Tripospermum myrti (Lind) Hughes, Phialophora sessilis de Hoog and Peltaster fructicola Jonhson. There was no evidence of the presence fun- gus described as Gloedes pomigena which was previosly considered as a casual agent of apple sooty blotch disease in Poland.

In 1993–1995 from the cabbage aphid colonies, fed on nine different varieties of Brassica oleracea L. syrphid larvae and pupae were collected. The remaining emerged adults of Syrphidae were classified to eight species. The parasitization varied within the years of observation and oscillated from 14,4% to 46,4%. Four parasitic Hymenoptera: Diplazon laetatorius (F.), Diplazon sp., Pachyneuron grande (Thoms.), and Syrphophagus aeruginosus (Dalm.) were reared. The parasitoids identified belong to the following three families Ichneumonidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae. The largest group of reared parasitoids belonged to the family Ichneumonidae of which the most frequent was Diplazon laetatorius (F.). It occurred in each year of observations. The parasitization by D. laetatorius reached 21,7%.

Changes in production methods of Ericaceae ornamental plants could have caused them to become more vulnerable to weak pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the casual agent of Ericaceous plant damage. Plants and peat substrate were collected from two nurseries near Poznań. After isolation on agar medium and fulfilling Koch postulates it was found that the casual agent of Ericaceae ornamenta lp lant damage was Pestalotiopsis sydowiana (Bresadole) B.C. Sutton, a new species noted in Poland.

In the years 2002–2004 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis and 37 species of entomopathogenic fungi were isolated and identified in the Polish and Belarussian parts of Białowieża Forest (BF). Mitosporic fungi and bacteria dominated in litter sperficial soil layer, forest, litter and floor vegetation whereas entomophtoralen fungi prevailed in bushy undergrowth layers and tree crowns. The dominant species Beauveria bassiana was observed in forest floor, subcortical habitats on dead trees, meadows and rushes. The species Entomophthora israelensis, Beauveria cf. bassiana, Paecilomyces suffultus and P. tenuipes were for the first time described as insect pathogens in BF. Entomophthorales seem to hold much greater part than mitosporic forms in the whole diversity of entomopathogenic fungi. Relatively rich sets of these fungi recognised in BF during last decades confirm the predestination of this area as highly significant refuge for other groups of arthropod pathogens, and it should encourage scientists to widen their research and contribute to a rather scarce knowledge in this field.

In the field experiments performed in 1999–2001 the profitability of late blight control in accordance with three decision support systems: NegFry, Simphyt and Stephan with routine fungicide program was compared. Potato protection carried out according to the recommendations of the decision support systems guaranteed higher profitability of late blight control than when potato was protected routinely. The highest profitability was recorded for susceptible variety Bekas protected according to NegFr.

The intensity of Arion lusitanicus occurrence and the damage degree of 31 crop species have been estimated. It has been found that the slug damaged lettuce and cabbage plants very heavily (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L., Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. f. alba) and many species of other vegetables (Cucumis sativus L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Raphanus sativus L. subvar. radicula Pers.). Plant damages in the edge strips were also observed on rape and barley plantations attacked by this slug. The moving activity of particular individuals of Arion lusitanicus was varying. Planning of the experiments in a nested block design has made it possible to statistically determine tendencies of the slug movement. It was observed that when some individuals remained at the point where they were initially placed, others, 2 hours after, moved over 7 m away. The mean weighed length of pathway covered by a single individual and the mean movement rate of one were estimated for each of 9 observation dates. It has been found that slugs penetrating the site surface under observation displayed their tendencies to move towards more moist places and towards food sources.

Serious losses caused by root rot of sugar beet were observed in Poland in 2001 and 2002. The disease occurred in most of regions of sugar beet cropping from June to the end of growing season. Very high losses of yield were observed on many fields especially on cultivar Lolita in 2001. The aim of this work was to detect the casual agent of root rot (2001) and to compare susceptibility of sugar beet cultivars to this disease (2002–2003). The laboratory tests (2001) showed that most of destroyed roots were infected by Aphanomyces cochlioides Drechsler. This species is very well known as a pathogen of sugar beet seedling damping-off in Poland. The fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn was found only in 12% of rotten roots collected in south-eastern part of Poland. In field trails the highest number of infected roots and the highest infection inde xwere found for cultivar Arthur (2002–2003). That cultivar was significantly more susceptible to root rot than the rest of tested cultivars.

Biological efficacy of herbicides: propoxycarbazone-sodium (Attribut 70 WG) and sulfosulfuron (Apyros 75 WG) applied with adjuvants was estimated in the field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments. An addition of adjuvants to herbicides Attribut 70 WG and Apyros 75 WG had a positive influence on physical characteristics of tank mixture, herbicidal effect, and the increase of winter wheat grain yield. Ammonium nitrate used as an adjuvant showed the weakest effect. The lowest grain yield was obtained after using the preparations Attribut 70 WG and Apyros 75 WG without adjuvant. Th eoil adjuvants, Adbios 85 SL, A ero 030 SL, Atpolan 80 EC and Olbras 88 EC influenced in a similar manner the activity of tested herbicides. Obtained herbicidal effect, the amount of yield and elements of yield structure were differentiated after joint application of herbicides with adjuvants. The herbicides protected plantations of winter wheat against couch grass (Agropyron repens) during the whole vegetative season. However the herbicide Attribut 70 WG was more effective in controlling regrowth of couch grass after harvest, as compared to Apyros 75 WG. On the other hand, Apyros 75 WG controlled somewhat better broadleaf weeds. Also differences in carryover effect occurred. On the sites after propoxycarbazone–sodium application winter oilseed rape, spring oilseed rape and sugar beet should not be cultivated. On the sites after cereals that were protected against weeds with sulfosulfuron only cultivation of winter oilseed rape should not be recommended, however spring oilseed rape and sugar beet can be grown

The influence of adjuvants on the efficacy of the plant growth regulators: chlormequat chloride (CCC) and prohexadione-calcium was investigated in winter wheat in 2002 and 2003. Field trials were carried out in the Agricultural Experimental Farm in Winna Góra. The plant growth regulators were applied alone at normal rate and at a r educed rate with and without adjuvants. Two adjuvants were used: Adpros 85 SL, a methylated rapeseed oil and Break-Thru S-240, an organosilicone surfactant. Crop height, lodging, yield and quality of the harvested crop were assessed. Physicochemical properties of spray solution were measured. Adjuvants improved the biological activity of both, CCC and prohexadione-calcium, especially when reduced doses were applied. Efficacy of the plant growth regulators used at normal rate without adjuvant and at reduced rates with adjuvants was similar. Break-Thru S-240 increased the efficacy of CCC and prohexadione-calcium more compared to Adpros 85 SL measured in terms of reduction of plant heigh.