a. mohseni amin

In this study, the effect of sowing date of pinto bean (native variety of Khomein) on the control of two important pests, Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Hemiptera.: Cicadellidae) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and yield components were conducted in the experimental field, during the two crop years. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and two factors: pesticide application (spraying and no spraying with pesticide) and sowing date (early May, late May, and mid-June) four replications. The evaluated traits included pod number per plant, seed number per pod, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and damage index. The result showed that the pesticide application factor had no significant effect on yield components in both cropping years, except 100-seed weight in the first year. Also, in the second crop year, spraying against pests significantly reduced the damage index. The results of the analysis of variance showed that sowing date had a significant effect on seed number per plant, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and damage index. The highest seed yield, the lowest damage index, and the lowest population density of T. tabaci and E. decipiens were in the third sowing date (mid-June).

The Persian clover is one of the native forage crops in Iran for which no bred cultivar has been released yet. For identification and release of the first Persian clover cultivar a series of experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2016 cropping seasons. At first, 14 Persian landraces were collected from regions with known clover cultivation in the country and then individual plants were selected from each population in 1999-2000 cropping season. In total, 176 single plants with superior forage performance were selected in this stage. In 2004-2005 cropping season, seeds from single plants were sown in rows and were compared with Haftchin local Persian clover as check. The preliminary and semifinal forage yield comparisons were conducted to evaluate dry and fresh forage yields of superior clover lines in 2006-2009 cropping season. The VCU test (Value for Cultivation and Use) of the 14 selected lines along with a local Persian clover (Haftchin) as a check was carried out in the uniform regional trials in Kermanshah, Karaj and Borujerd Research Stations. In this experiment BPC/Borujerd/81.13 line (Attar) had 2061 kgha-1 higher yield for dry matter compared to the control. Also, to evaluate response of different Persian clover germplasm to rust disease, two experiments were conducted in Borujderd and Karaj regions. The results showed that all lines as well as control (Haftchin) were relatively sensitive to the rust disease. These lines were compared with the control cultivar (Haftchin) under on-farm conditions in Borujedrd and Aleshtar regions, as the main centers of clover cultivation, in 2015-16 cropping season. The results showed that Attar with 72.99 and 11.08 tha-1 fresh and dry forage yields, respectively, showed 23.65 and 21.79% yield superiority to the control cultivar.  Furthermore, this new cultivar showed more yield stability and forage yield compared to the local cultivar. Hence, it was released with the name of "Attar" as the first Persian clover cultivar.

The turnip moth, Agrotis segetum is considered as one of the most important pests of sugar beet. The larvae of this pest feed on sugar beet crown from the second age onwards and cut off the root from the stem causing seedling dryness. This research was conducted during 2013-15 in West Azerbaijan and Lorestan provinces. The efficacy of Bt Semisolid bait was compared with an organophosphate pesticide, Dursban in West Azarbaijan and Lorestan provinces. Four treatments including Dursban (Chlorpyrifos) EC 40.8% 2 l/ha, Bt bait (5l Bt (Biolop) + 50l water + 100 kg wheat bran)/ha, Bt (Biolop) Spray (3 ml/l), Semisolid Bt bait (100 Kg/ha) were used on the turnip moth in sugar beet fields in a randomized complete block design with four replications, in two periods of 7 and 10 day after emergence. In the province of West Azerbaijan, results of combined analysis of variance showed that the treatment of premature Bt semisolid bait with 4.3% damage had thehighest rate of damage reduction and was significantly better than other treatments. In the Lorestan province, the efficacy of Semisolid Bt bait and Dursban was better than the other treatments.