فهرست مطالب وحید مهدوی

Wheat is a critical crop in Iran and pivotal in food security, economic stability, and political landscapes. Wheat fields are the habitat of many insects, including both beneficial and pest species. Therefore, various insecticides are employed in wheat fields to safeguard crop yields. However, pursuing pest control often entails unintended consequences for non-target organisms, particularly pollinators and natural enemies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of both chemical and herbal insecticides on non-target insect populations within Iranian wheat fields. Although plant-derived insecticides may offer ecological benefits, the study emphasizes the need to evaluate their efficacy against pests and their impact on beneficial insects. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the possible effects of herbal and chemical insecticides on natural enemies.

This study evaluated the adverse effects of some recommended insecticides for wheat pests on some natural enemies. A completely randomized block design with five treatments and four replicates was employed. The experiment was conducted in Ardabil, Tehran, and Golestan, Iran. The size of each plot was 100m2 (10 x10), with a distance of 2m between blocks and plots. A total of 30 wheat stalks were randomly selected for sampling in each plot, and all larvae on these stalks were counted within the wheat field. Sampling was performed on four occasions: one day before and 3, 7, and 14 days after spraying. The treatments included matrine (at concentrations of 1.5 and 2ml/L), deltamethrin (0.3ml/L), fenitrothion (1ml/L), and a control treatment (water). The potential effects of the insecticides were examined on the larvae of natural enemies, including the seven-spotted ladybird, flower fly, and green lacewing. Tehran and Ardabil provinces had low flower fly and green lacewing populations across all treatments, including control. However, the ladybird population was sufficient for evaluation. Therefore, the effects of the insecticides on ladybirds were investigated in these provinces.

The reduction in the population of seven-spotted ladybirds in Ardabil caused by the insecticides was insignificant on days 3 and 7 and significant on day 14. Deltamethrin caused the most negative effect on days 3 and 7, while matrine 2ml/L had the most negative effect on day 14. Deltamethrin consistently caused the largest ladybird population decline in Tehran, with a significant difference from other treatments on all days except day 3. Fenitrothion exhibited the least adverse effect throughout the experiment. Golestan had the healthiest natural enemy populations. In this province, a suitable population of seven-spotted ladybirds, flower flies, and green lacewings was observed. The study confirmed insecticide-induced declines in these populations, with deltamethrin causing the most significant reductions for ladybirds and flower flies, while fenitrothion had the least impact. All insecticides severely reduced green lacewing populations. Based on the results of the 7th day, the reduction of the population of seven-spotted ladybirds in different provinces caused by matrine 1.5 and 2ml/L, fenitrothion, and deltamethrin was 31.04% – 57.91%, 54.19% – 77.58%, 25.01% – 70.16% and 72.02% – 89.35%, respectively. In addition, population reduction caused by matrine 1.5 and 2 ml/L, fenitrothion, and deltamethrin was 31.61%, 67.01%, 24.58%, and 79.06% for flower fly, and 73.24%, 82.79%, 73.24% and 95.94% for green lacewing, respectively. In all cases, the reduction caused by matrine 2ml/L was higher than matrine 1.5ml/L. On day 7, most insecticides were slightly harmful to seven-spotted ladybirds in all provinces except Tehran and Golestan, where fenitrothion was harmless and deltamartin moderately harmful. On this day, matrine, fenitrothion, and deltamethrin were slightly harmful, harmless, and moderately harmful to flower flies, respectively. Moreover, matrine 1.5ml/L and fenitrothion were slightly harmful to green lacewing, while matrine 2ml/L and deltamethrin were moderately harmful.

Deltamethrin consistently exhibited the most pronounced adverse effects across all treatments and natural enemy populations, while fenitrothion had the least severe impact. Green lacewing populations displayed the highest insecticide sensitivity among the studied natural enemies. Based on the results, the effect of insecticides on non-target beneficial organisms was essential when developing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Avoiding the application of insecticides, particularly deltamethrin, during peak natural enemy populations was crucial to minimize unintended ecological consequences and promote a balanced ecosystem within wheat fields.

Tomato leafminer is one of the most important pests of this crop in Iran. The objective of this study was to introduce and replace new insecticides and to increase the range of effective insecticides in pest control. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with five treatments in two tomato greenhouses in Ardabil and West Azarbaijan provinces. The experimental treatments included two doses of Chlorantraniliprole, (0.2 g/lit and 0.15g/lit) Flubendiamide (0.3/1000 g/lit), Indoxacarb (0.3/1000ml/lit) and Control. The live larvae were sampled before and after spraying. Ten days after the last sampling, 20 fruits were randomly selected from each replicate and the percentage of infected tomato fruit was determined. Additionally, the side effects of Chlorantraniliprole on the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae were investigated in laboratory conditions. The results showed that the treatment of Chlorantraniliprole 0.2/1000, fourteen days after spraying in West Azarbaijan province with 84.44% and in Ardabil province with 88.25% efficiency was most effective in controlling tomato leafminer. In the two provinces of West Azarbaijan and Ardabil, Chlorantraniliprole 0.2/1000 1, with 1.66 and 10.00 percent, respectively, had the lowest number of infected fruits among the treatments. Moreover, the application of Chlorantraniliprole at 0.2 /1000 and 0.15 /1000 reduced the emergence of adult Trichogramma parasitoids by 49.87 ± 4.3% and 21.27 ± 2.4%, respectively, compared with the control. According to the obtained results Chlorantraniliprole at 0.15 /1000 is recommended for use in the management programs of this pest.

Basij-e-Salehin (Basij of the Righteous People) has been one of the transformational plans of the Basij Mostazafin Organization in the last decade. Some experts have raised up critical points about this training plan, especially on lack of planning for Basij’s activity and the training process of internal- oriented training of the members of Basij without considering the field of action. The answer to these problems can be considered at three levels including 1) the level of the main theory, which deals with the ideas and views of the administrators, 2) the performance level, which regards the enactment of the performers, and 3) the level of explanation, which refers to the organizational and educational documents of the plan. Researches have investigated and proved the existence of activity in theoretical and administrative dimensions. This research is aimed at consideration of the field of activities in the released documents and educational texts of the Basij Organization through documentary method and data analysis, and to identify the activities in this plan. Accordingly, 44 documents were selected by documentary method and snowball sampling technique, by analyzing of which through qualitative analysis, the researchers reached at 141 concepts and 20 categories. The analysis of these categories resulted in two conceptual models. The findings indicated that special attention is paid to this issues in the documents of the Salehin, so the problems raised are not defensible. The researchers finally suggest that the discourse of a correct understanding of be established to prevent the extension of the problems.

Habrobracon hebetor Say is a larval ecto-parasitoid of several moths. In this study, toxicity of Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)essential oil on Mediterranean flour moth (Anagasta kuehniella Zeller), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella Hubner) and H. hebetor parasitoid waspwere assessed. Essential oil of D. moldavica was extracted by hydrodistillation method using a Clevenger apparatus and its chemical constituents were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Piperitenone Oxide (19.03%), Piperitone Oxide (13.74%) and Citral (9.79%) were identified as the main constituents of the essential oil. It was found that 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values of the essential oil against H. hebetor, A. kuehniella and P. interpunctella adults estimated were 0.995, 9.631 and 10.252 μl/l air, respectively. In order to assess the sub-lethal effects, adult wasps were exposed to LC25 of D. moldavica essential oil and then the demographic parameters of live parasitoids were evaluated. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and mean generation time (T) were significantly decreased by essential oil. Results of the present study indicated that the essential oil of D. moldavica can be effective in the management of A. kuehniella and P. interpunctella. However, simultaneous application of D. moldavica essential oil and the parasitoid wasp H. hebetor in the management of aforementioned pests, based on toxicity and negative demographic effects of essential oil on this parasitoid wasp is not recommended.

Habrobracon hebetor Say is an idiobiont and gregarious larval ectoparasitoid of many moths. In this study, lethal and sublethal effects of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Carum carvil and Heracleum persicum essential oils on the demographic parameters of H. hebetor were assessed at 26 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h. Essential oils were obtained from these plants by hydro-distillation method using a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical constituents of essential oils were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 250ml Glass vials were used for the fumigant toxicity experiments. In order to assess the sublethal effects, adult wasps were exposed to an LC25 of each essential oil and then the demographic parameters of live parasitoid wasps were studied. Fumigant toxicity with adults indicated that the lethal concentration (LC50) values of the above essential oils against H. hebetorfemales were 1.116, 0.34 and 3.416μl/l air, respectively. Chemical analysis by GC-MS displayed o-Cymene (15.11%), Carvone (55.8%) and Hexyl butyrate (41.78%) were main constituents of the essential oils of E. camaldulensis, C. carvil and H. persicum, respectively. The results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0) and gross reproductive rate (GRR) were significantly affected by the essential oils. The highest and the lowest r values were 0.226 and 0.130 day-1 in control and C. carvil-treated insects, respectively. According to these results, essential oils have suitable potential for the integrated management of stored product pests.

The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a major pest of potato, both in the field and storehouses. In this study, we have evaluated the lethal effects and persistence of Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) pure (PEO) and nano-formulated essential oil (NFO) on different developmental stages (egg, male and female adults) of PTM. Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Nanofibers were produced by electrospinning technique. The morphology of nanofibers was investigated by SEM. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to identify the characteristic functional groups in the PEO, nanofiber and PEO/NFO scaffold. Bioassays were performed in 250 ml glass jars. The essential oil consisted of α-Zingiberene as the most abundant component (14.21%), followed by Ar-curcumene (12.58%), β-sesquiphellandrene (12.48%) and cis-α-bisabolene (10.29%). The results of FTIR spectra showed the establishment of the functional groups of PEO on the structure of the nanofiber. The images of SEM also demonstrated the establishment of PEO in the structure of the nanofiber. LC50 values of PEO and NFO were estimated 75.44 and 30.24µl/l air for eggs, 19.08 and 10.28µl/l air for female adults, and 17.76 and 9.56µl/l air for male adults, respectively. Persistence data showed that nano-formulated essential oil (49 days) in comparison with pure essential oil (15 day) had longer persistence. The results demonstrated that Z. officinale PEO and its nano-formulation could play an important role as natural pesticides for the management of PTM.

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is a gasoline additive used to enhance gasoline octane. It is highly soluble in water and is known for its carcinogenicity; hence its high risk of groundwater contamination. The present study was mainly designed to investigate MTBE effect on gasoline solubility in water, determine the associated COD value, and identify the kinetics of MTBE elimination from water by the stripping method. The results show that the kinetics of MTBE elimination from water can be expressed by a first order equation with the rate constants obtained as 0.0055 min-1 and 0.0074 min-1 at the two stirring rates of 100 rpm and 250 rpm, respectively. These rate constants are evidently high and are indicative of the effectiveness of the stripping method in MTBE removal from water. A linear function was established between COD reduction with respect to time at room temperature at low stirring rates (100 rpm) but an exponential function at high stiring rates (250 rpm). The solubility of gasoline with different additives (MTBE, ethanol, methanol) in water was also investigated. The results revealed that gasoline solubility decreased from 90 mg/l to 80mg/l and 69 mg/l, respectively, in the presence of ethanol and methanol. This is while the solubility of MTBE-containing gasoline in water rose from 90 mg/l to 778 mg/l, which shows an 8-fold increase in solubility in water.

In this study, the effects of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) and Bacillus subtilis on cucumber plants against, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis cucumerinum (Forc) were investigated. In vitro, the effect of different levels of SA (2-8 mM) on growth of B. subtilis was negative, while concentrations more than 5 mM SA completely inhibited the mycelial development of Forc. Applications of SA (3,5 and 7 mM) and B. subtilis post or / and prior inoculation with the pathogen with regard to evaluation of disease severity, root and shoot fresh weight and length of shoot were conducted under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that cucumber plants treated by combination of 7 mM SA (foliar spray) and B. subtilis (soil drench), prior to fungal infection, exhibited reduction of fungal infection and increased plant growth as compared to control and other treatments. Evaluation of total phenol content and polyphenol oxidase activities showed that the combined application of SA and B. subtilis significantly increased the above plant defense compounds compared to SA and B. subtilis alone and control. The peak levels of them were observed in 7 and 5 days after elicitors application, respectively. According to these results, SA as a chemical elicitor and B. subtilis as biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter can be integrated for effective protection of cucumber plants against Forc infection.

Staphylococcus aureus is considered to be one of the leading causes of food-borne illnesses. Foodstuff contamination may occur directly from contaminated food-producing animals or may result from poor hygiene during food production processes, or the retail and storage of foods, since humans may carry the microorganism. The number of S.aureus strains that exhibits antimicrobial-resistance properties has increased, together with the potential risk of transmitting the same properties to the human microflora via food or inducing infections hard to be treated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of S.aureus in various food samples and determination of antibiotic resistance pattern in this isolates. A total of 1047 food samples were analysed from July 2006 to December 2007. To determine the presence of S.aureus, the samples were analysed according to the guidelines of Iran standard instructions (No.1194). S.aureus isolates were tested for susceptibility to a panel of 11 antimicrobics using the agar disc diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar. Of 1047 samples analysed 100 (9.5%) were contaminated with S.aureus. Among these contaminated samples, 31% showed antimicrobial resistance properties to at least one of the antibiotic tested and 15 antibiotypes were determined. According to the observed prevalence of S.aureus strains in food samples and their antibiotic resistance pattern, more attention shonld be paid in foodstuff industry to prevent contamination and transmission of resistant strains.

Foodstuffs additives are a general term for materials that are added to the foodstuffs in order to increase durability and to improve the appearance, composition, taste and food nutritional value. Colors are classified in this group and are added to foodstuffs in order to increase their attraction. The aim of this survey was to analyze status of added colors to the juice of black cherry and juice of barberry which are produced in Tehran City, capital of Iran. Three haundred thirty six samples of dried sweets were randomly collected and analyzed from different areas of Tehran. First, the samples were de-colored by Clorhidric Acid, and then were analyzed after refining by Thin Layer Chromatography (T.L.C) method. Eighty nine percent from the total samples contained colors. Among chromatic samples, 62 samples (18.5%) out the total samples, contained artificial, non-edible colors and 237 samples (70.5%) from the total samples contained artificial and edible colors (for Industrial Producers) and 37 samples (11%), contained natural colors. Carmoisine color was detected more than added colors in juice of black cherry and juice of barberry. Low costs, stability, Ph and similarity of artificial dyes with natural dyes motivate the producers for high utilization of these dyes without considering their possible hazards and/or their edible quality aspects.