فهرست مطالب سعید محرمی پور

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermueller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a significant pest causing economic damage to vineyards worldwide. In this research, the cold tolerance of the pupae and its relationship with diapause was investigated at 23 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 5% RH, and LD 12:12 h. One-day-old eggs were transferred to LD 12:12 h to induce diapause at the pupal stage. Diapausing pupae exhibited a mean supercooling point (SCP) of -24.35 °C, whereas in the non-diapausing pupae (23 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 5% RH, LD 16:8 h), it was -23.06 °C, with no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, diapausing pupae demonstrated significantly higher cold tolerance (LT50 of -14.43 °C) than non-diapausing pupae (LT50 of -3.33 °C). Diapausing pupae tolerated subzero temperatures without significant changes in the SCP, tolerating 11 °C lower than control pupae due to the short daylength alone. Our results suggest that the diapause state and cold hardiness of L. botrana are independent of changes after SCP, and the insect employs a freeze-intolerant strategy to overcome subzero temperatures. Cold acclimation at -5 and -10 °C for 72 h induced a significant decrease in the SCP of diapausing pupae, while a 72-h cold acclimation had no notable impact on the SCP of non-diapausing pupae. These findings provide valuable insights into the survival mechanisms of the European grapevine moth under cold conditions and diapause-related adaptations.

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most destructive mites in many plants due to its characteristics, such as high reproductive potential, short life cycle, and feeding method. Excessive use of chemical compounds without considering environmental factors has led to high residual toxins in food products and resistance to pesticides. Temperature is an essential non-living factor that affects various biological aspects of pests and pesticide toxicity levels. In this study, the interaction of different temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) in the photoperiod (16L:8D h) was investigated on the toxicity of spiromesifen on the adult TSSM. Then the levels of α-esterase and glutathione S-transferase activity were measured. The highest LC50 was recorded at 15 °C after 24 h (LC50 = 21.269 mg ai/l), and the lowest value corresponds to 30 °C after 48 h (LC50 = 0.860 mg ai/l). The level of toxicity also increased with a temperature increase, so the toxicity was recorded 3.6 folds higher at 30 °C compared to 15 °C. The α-esterase and glutathione S-transferase activity also increased with an increase in the temperature, but this increase was significant only for esterase activity. The relationship between temperature and the power of pesticide toxicity in areas with different daily and controllable temperature changes can effectively provide a valuable proposal to reduce pesticide consumption and increase the efficiency of pest control.

Increasing insect resistance to the high toxicity of organophosphates and other conventional insecticides highlights the importance of developing and identifying alternative chemicals to successfully manage insect pests, including the striped rice stem borer (SRSB) Chilo suppressalis (Walker). SRSB is one of the most serious pests in paddy fields worldwide, especially in northern Iran. The present study was conducted to determine the efficiency of six insecticides viz., diazinon 10 G (Bazodin) 15 kg/ha; fipronil 0.2 G (Regent) 20 kg/ha; chlorantraniliprole 0.4 G (Ferterra) 12.5 kg/ha; thiamethoxam 25 WG (Actara) 0.2 kg/ha; flubendiamide 20 WG (Takumi) 0.9 kg/ha; dinotefuran 20 SG (Starkle) 0.75 kg/ha against SRSB. The experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications in experimental paddy fields of Rice Research Institute of Iran, Guilan province, 2018 and 2019. Chlorantraniliprole had the lowest dead heart and whitehead percent and the greatest efficiency against SRSB, followed by flubendiamide and dinotefuran. Our results suggested that chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, and dinotefuran can replace diazinon and fipronil in paddy fields. Furthermore, a new equation has been proposed for the calculation efficiency of insecticides based on the SRSB damage percent.

Pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burkhardt & Lauterer (Hem.: Psyllidae) is one of the most important pests of pistachio orchards in Iran. The application of chemical pesticides early in the growing season until harvest has affected farmers’ and consumers’ health. In this research, the efficacy of arugula Eruca sativa cold press seed oil, methanolic spinach Spinacia oleracea seed extract, and dayabon® (SL 10%) was studied against nymphs and adults of pistachio psylla in a laboratory at 26 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, and photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h. LC50 values of nanoemulsion formulation (NEF) of spinach seed extract and its nonformulated extract on the early nymphal stage were 468 and 4381 mg/l, respectively. In contrast, the LC50 value of arugula seed oil and dayabon was 2281 and 4380 mg/l, respectively. NEF of spinach seed extract (LC50 = 124 mg/l) was significantly more toxic than other compounds against the 5th nymphal stage. There was no significant difference in nonformulated spinach seed extract (LC50 = 3946 mg/l), arugula seed oil (LC50 = 3189 mg/l) and dayabon (LC50 = 3930 mg/l) against 5th instars. The efficiency of dayabon and arugula seed oil and a chemical pesticide fenitrothion was studied in the field located in Dehmolla County, Shahrood, Iran. Sampling was carried out before and after treatment. There were no significant differences between days after treatments. It means that the botanicals were effective until 21 days after treatment. Findings indicated that botanical pesticides used in this study could be effective against pistachio psylla.

Rapid cold hardiness in response to sudden decline in air temperature plays an important role in the aphid survival. Rapid cold hardiness is a phenomenon that increases insect’s survival at sub-zero temperatures following a brief exposure to low temperatures above 0 °C. In this regard, the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) is able to increase its cold hardiness gradually during cold season and produce large population on host plants in Brassicaceae family. In this research, rapid cold hardiness of B. brassicae, and its effects on development time, longevity and fecundity were investigated. Direct transfer of aphids from 20 °C to a series of sub-zero temperatures for 2 h, resulted in a LT80 (estimated temperature required to kill 80% of tested population) of -7.3 °C. Preconditioning of first instar nymphs for 3 h and adults for 2 h at 0 °C resulted in the highest survival rates of 63% and 71%, respectively. Acclimation of aphids, by a cooling rate of 0.05 °C/min form 20 to 0 °C, prior the exposure to LT80 (-7.3 °C) resulted in the highest survival. No detrimental effects of rapid cold hardiness were observed on development time, longevity and fecundity. Results of the present study showed that rapid cold hardiness is induced in B. brassicae and increases the aphid survival in response to unexpected changes of temperature.

The Greenbug Schizaphis graminum</em> (Rondani), one of the major pests of cereals, overwinter as adults and nymphs in temperate regions. The aphid population increases in early spring as the weather conditions become favorable, but it gradually decreases in mid-June as air temperature rises. Adult aphid colonies were acclimated to measure cold tolerance at 20, 15, 10, 5, and 0 °C for one week. In contrast, other colonies were acclimated to measure heat tolerance at 20, 25, and 30 °C for one week and 35 °C for two days. Then, the lowest temperature resulting in 50% mortality (LLT50</sub>) and the highest temperature resulting in 50% mortality (ULT50</sub>) of tested populations were defined. Moreover, changes of sugars and polyols were studied at the end of each thermal regime. The lowest LLT50</sub> was -13.2 °C at 0 °C and the highest ULT50</sub> was 40.1 °C at 35 °C. In the cold acclimation condition, glucose was the highest at 0 °C and reached to 80.9 µmol/g f.w. However, in the heat acclimation condition, the mannitol was the highest at 35 °C and reached to 43.7 µmol/g f.w. Findings indicate that high temperatures due to climate change could be a threat to aphid population size and distribution.

Efficacy of methanolic leaf extract of Rosmarinus officinalis on third instar larvae of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was studied. The value of LC50 and LC20 were 5138 and 12347 ppm, respectively.  One hundred microliters of the Rosemary’s mehanolic extract at 5138 ppm was added to 0.9 gr artificial diet. Efficiency of digested food (ECD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were decreased after 72 h but approximate digestibility (AD) was increased. It also decreased α-amylase, protease and lipase activity in the midgut of third instar larvae of H. armigera. Incubation of dissected midgut with crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) increased lipase activity. Feeding on artificial diet containing plant extract caused decreasing in CCAP level in the brain, hemolymph and midgut of the insect. The results showed feeding on diet containing rosemary’s extract inhibits release of CCAP in the midgut and brain that itself leads to reduction of α-amylase, lipase and protease activities.

The combined effect of gamma radiation and Carum copticum C. B. Clarke essential oil were determined for the management of Tribolium confusum Du Val larvae and adults. Experiments were carried out at 27 ± 1 ºC and 65 ± 5% R. H. under dark condition and three steps were designed: (A) Application of gamma radiation and essential oil at the same time. (B) Irradiation followed by essential oil. (C) Essential oil followed by irradiation. Radiation doses of 100 to 500 Gy were applied in combination with 5.97, 7.52 and 10.47 μl/l air of essential oil for the adults and 1.91, 4.08 and 12.02 μl/l for the larvae. The result showed that the combination of gamma radiation with C. copticum oil increased larval and adult mortality compared with the control, so that, the interaction of 500 Gy with 10.47 μl/l air for adults and 12.02 μl/l air for larvae caused 100% mortality in 13 and 8 days, respectively; although 100% of the larvae and adults mortality at 500 Gy alone caused within 22 days. It was revealed that the combination of irradiation and essential oils could be used as an effective control method and a good alternative to fumigants.

As part of a project on the evaluation of agricultural journals in the Iranian Academy of Sciences, the objective of this study was evaluation of quality of plant protection-related papers and management aspects of the journals publishing these papers in Iran. Ten indices were designed for evaluating the quality of published papers and another 10 indices for evaluation of the editorial quality of the journals. These indices were applied to 22 available journals published in 2014. The data were statistically analyzed using “normal distribution” procedure to rank the journals in 5 categories from “very good” to “very weak”. According to the results, 22.7% of the journals ranked “very good” or “good”, 54.6% were “intermediate”, and 22.7% ranked “weak” or “very weak”. The journals were also compared for five important indexes related to innovativeness, applicability and up-to-dateness of articles and practical usefulness and necessity of publication of the journal. Among the journals evaluated, Iranian Journal of Plant Pathology scored high in all 5 indices. Other journals were significant by 4 indices (Journal of Entomological Society of Iran), 3 indices (Rostaniha), 2 indices (JAST and Persian Journal of Acarology), or one index (Mycologia Iranica, Iranian Journal of Virology, Applied Entomology and Phytopathology, and Plant Protection of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz). Other journals did not rank high in any index. It is recommended that 1- journals put more emphasis on the quality of papers, 2- very weak journals discontinue publication, and 3- more support be given to the journals sponsored by the scientific societies.