Phytoviruses of natural plant communities in the Russian Far East

Aim of this work was to summarise the results of ecological and virological studies of phytoviruses circulating in natural plant communities conducted in the Russian Far East on a regular basis since 1968 by the Laboratory of Virology, Federal Research Centre for Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Vladivostok). During the period 1968–2025 laboratory staff completed over 400 expeditions within 9 subjects of the Far Eastern Federal Region and identified over 200 virus‐like diseases in more than 100 species of wild plants. The obtained isolates obtained are in long‐term storage in the Collection of East Asian Viruses at the Scientific Research Centre for East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Many viral isolates have yet to be identified. Thse most studied are briefly described in this work: 94 isolates obtained from representatives of wild flora of 58 species, 47 genera, 24 families, and 16 orders from 7 subjects of the Russian Federation. The data obtained include only viral diseases of wild‐growing species with pronounced symptom; however, due to the latent nature of the infectious process in plants of the natural flora, there are many more phytoviruses. Further studies of phytopathogenic viruses, their prevalence and ways of circulation in nature are required. Also necessary is strict observance of agricultural techniques and preventive measures used to prevent infection of these plants introduced from outside the region and the spread of harmful viruses associated with them.