On January 20, Niigata University hosted the online Russia-Japan Joint Mini-symposium on Plant Protection 2022, in which over 100 researchers and students participated. This symposium was held to discuss the occurrence and current state of research on viral and viroid diseases in Russia, particularly in the Far East region, which is severely affected by pests and diseases, in a wide variety of crops from staple food crops like potatoes and wheat to flowers and vegetables. Furthermore, we aimed to share the results of research on the occurrence, evolution, and molecular biology of the same viruses in Japan with experts from both countries, and to share awareness of plant protection science with students who will be responsible for agricultural production in the future.

With presentations by experts and graduate students from both countries and accompanying exchanges of opinions and questions with simultaneous interpretation between Japanese and Russian, the symposium covered (1) the current state of plant protection science research in crops in Russia (especially in the Far East); (2) plant viruses in potato plants in the Far East; (3) plant viruses in lily crops and wild grasses in Japan; (4) breeding for disease resistance in vegetables in Russia; (5) past joint research cases and results on plant viruses and viroids in Japan and Russia, and (6) viruses commonly transmitted in Japan and Russia by insects.