Journal Of Crop Protection
Volume:13 Issue: 1, Mar 2024

The species of the genus Dusona Cameron, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) are studied in four provinces of Iran (Mazandaran, Guilan, Alborz and Fars). Specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010–2012. Eight species of Dusona were collected and identified, among them three species, D. libertatis (Teunissen, 1947), D. limnobia (Thomson, 1887), and D. disclusa (Förster, 1868) represent new records for the fauna of Iran. Morphological characteristics of the newly recorded species are illustrated. Additionally, an updated checklist of Dusona species known from Iran is provided, along with zoogeographical distribution maps for all species collected in this study.

The overwintering conditions and cold tolerance of the Lime butterfly, Papilio demoleus L., are relatively unclear. In the present study, overwintering pupae were collected over several months, and changes in supercooling point (SCP), cold-hardiness, and body color were investigated. Also, some eggs were collected and reared in the laboratory, and then pupae were kept for 1-4 weeks at 0, 5, and 15 °C, and the changes in SCPs were studied. Shelters were prepared and installed in the field to check the overwintering sites. Also, the digestive tract was investigated before and at the beginning of the overwintering phase. The results showed that the SCP gradually decreased from -9 to -13 °C during the autumn months, and in lab-reared pupae treated at 0-5 °C, the SCP was reduced to -13 °C. None of the pupae survived at temperatures below the SCP, so this species uses a freeze avoidance strategy. As the weather gets cold, the color of most of the pupae (76.19%) tends to brown, while in the summer months, more than 80% of the pupae are green. The overwintering pupae emptied their ingested foods, and the contents of their digestive system before emptying contain Pseudomonas and Enterobacter species, both of which can act as ice nucleators. Ultimately, the relationship between these factors in adapting the pest to low temperatures was discussed.

A few species of aphids are widespread and economically important in Iran's apple orchards. In this study, we looked for economical, environmentally friendly, and efficient management of aphids with particular emphasis on green apple aphid (GAA) Aphis pomi (de Geer). We aimed to avoid early-season pesticide applications, avoiding specific applications for aphid control and managing them via applications done against codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., choosing suitable insecticide and dose to minimize side effects on prevalent natural enemies. Thus, CM was monitored by pheromone traps from mid-March in an apple orchard of the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Tabriz to determine the time of application based on degree days accumulated from a biofix. The number of GAA, rosy apple aphid (RAA), Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini, and their natural enemies were counted separately. It is known that GAA is the predominant aphid, and two species of ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata (L.), and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), are dominant species of the region. Acetamiprid was chosen as an effective insecticide against both CM and aphids. The lethal effects of this compound were studied on different stages of H. variegata and the last instar GAA. The orchard was divided into four plots, and each plot was assigned to a treatment including control, label dose (LD), ½ LD, and ¼ LD. Although LD killed 10% more GAA than ¼ LD, the damage intensity was 12-16% higher in the former. Considering economic benefits and reducing side effects on natural enemies, we recommend using ¼ LD of acetamiprid.

Sometimes, the spray solution must be stored for some time. This study aimed to answer the following questions: how long can an aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicide be kept in the tank without losing efficacy? Is it dependent on pH? The experiment was designed as a completely randomized design with three factors including the labeled dose of herbicides (clodinafop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, haloxyfop, propaquizafop, and quizalofop), the pH of spray solution (5, 7, and 8), and the storage time of spray solution (0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h). The efficacy of herbicides on winter wild oat Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana Durieu. was not affected by changing the pH of the spray solution when the spray solution was applied immediately after preparation. When the spray solutions were stored, the herbicides' highest and lowest efficacy were generally observed at pH 5 and 9, respectively. At pH 9, except for fluazifop and haloxyfop, the effectiveness of other herbicides was reduced after 12-h storage of spray solution. The efficacy of all herbicides was reduced with 24-h spray solution storage. At pH 7, the efficacy of cyhalofop and fluazifop remained stable with 72-h storage of their spray solution. In contrast, at pH 5, the efficacy of clodinafop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fluazifop, haloxyfop, and quizalofop remained stable with 72-h storage of their spray solution. Therefore, if it is necessary to keep the spray solution of aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides for a short time, it is recommended to use a lower pH to avoid reducing their efficacy.

Leaf rust is one of the most important diseases and influences the sustainable cultivation of wheat. Therefore, for the first time in Iran, the spatial pattern and temporal progress of this disease were assessed in five wheat cultivars, including Chamran 2, Star, Ofogh, Kavir, and Boolani, with different resistance levels in 2015-16 and 2016-17 cropping years. In both years, disease progress curves (DPCS) showed a sigmoid-like shape, and the rate curves had an obvious inflection point, both the features of Gompertz and logistic models. Plots of transformed, predicted disease intensity values and residual patterns indicated that disease intensity data fit closely with Gompertz and logistic models. Gompertz and logistic models with a bit of variation gained R2 above 90 % in all cultivars. Based on the results, there is no direct relationship between cultivar resistance and best-fitted models, as in both years, logistic and Gompertz models fitted properly with disease intensity data for all cultivars. In the Gompertz model, the mean rate of increase (rG) per unit of disease in the resistance (Chamran 2) and susceptible (Boolani) cultivars were 0.052 and 0.09, respectively, and in the logistic model (rL) were 0.12 and 0.144, respectively. Results indicated that in the first weeks after the appearance of the disease symptoms, the spatial pattern of diseased plants was aggregated, and the amount of the dispersion index and lloyd’s Index of Patchiness in the first and second years were 8.9, 9, and 1.3, 1.2, respectively. Three weeks after data collection, the spatial pattern became random.

For IPM programs, it is crucial to use plant cultivars that are less sensitive to pests or resistant to them. In this research, the susceptibility and resistance of 20 canola cultivars to the diamondback moth, one of the most destructive pests of canola worldwide, were evaluated under laboratory conditions based on the biological performance of the moth and the response of the secondary metabolites and protein of canola plants leaves. The biological performance of the pest was evaluated using larval development and pupal weight, oviposition preference, and the age-stage, two-sex life table. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), the net reproductive rate (R0), developmental time, and lowest pupal weight were observed on the 1009 cultivar, while the lowest r, R0, and highest pupal period were obtained on the RGS003 cultivar. Also, fecundity in RGS003 and Zarfam cultivars was lower than the other cultivars. Overall, study findings suggested that the Hyula50, Zarfam, and RGS003 cultivars would be suitable candidates for inclusion in integrated pest management programs against diamondback moth.

To identify the endophytic fungi of the caper plant, samples were collected from the healthy leaves, stems, and roots from Bushehr and Qom provinces during the summer and early autumn of 2022. Isolation and purification of fungal isolates were performed on potato dextrose agar and 2% water agar culture media, respectively. A total of 102 fungal isolates were obtained. Morphological characteristics and molecular data of the ITS region and TUB gene were used to identify the fungal species. Based on the results, Microascus cirrosus and M. terreus were identified as new endophytic fungi of caper for the first time in the world, and M. terreus was introduced as a new record for the funga of Iran.

Yellowing and rotting of ginger rhizomes are a severe concern in many ginger-growing tracts of Kerala, where Pythium deliense Meurs has recently emerged as a pathogen from the rhizosphere of infected rotten rhizomes, which is proven to be pathogenic by Koch`s postulates. The present study evaluates the antagonistic potential of ten isolates of Trichoderma spp., isolated from the roots of healthy ginger, against P. deliense, causing soft rot of ginger by dual plate method. The efficacy of volatile and nonvolatile metabolite produced by the antagonistic Trichoderma spp. under in vitro conditions was evaluated against the pathogen. Among the ten isolates, eight isolates such as, ZGC T16, ZGC T17, ZGC T20, ZGC T23, ZGC T28, ZGC T30, ZGC T35, and ZGC T36 showed inhibition on mycelial growth, above 70% in a dual plate assay. The highest inhibition percentage was showed by ZGC T20 (99.19%) followed by ZGC T17 (87.00%), identified as Trichoderma ressei and Trichoderma virens respectively, under dual culture method and moderate inhibition due to volatile metabolites (3.5-39.55%). Nonvolatile metabolites produced by ZGC T20 (65.55%), ZGC T17 (53.95%), and ZGC T36 (53.82%) showed comparatively less efficiency. The potential ones (ZGC T20 & ZGC T17) were further evaluated under the pot culture study and in vivo greenhouse conditions. The study revealed that T. ressei and T. virens have high efficiency in preventing the soft rot of ginger caused by P. deliense.