Iranian Plant Protection Research
Year:2017 | Volume:31 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:26

Introduction: During last century, population explosion has been pressing man to produce more supplies of food by consuming more energy in agroecosystems like applying chemical management strategies.herbicides have increasingly become a key component of weed management programs.In Iran, using herbicides led to increasing wheat yield about 20% and 22% in rainfed and irrigated farms respectively (20). Nonetheless, herbicides have also a negative impact on environment. A tool for reducing the herbicide usage which allows to decreasing their cost and side effects is the use of adjuvants. They increase the effectiveness of the postemergence herbicides. Some adjuvants have toxic effects on living organisms such as Polyethoxylated tallowamine adjuvants that they are very toxic in fairy shrimp (Thamnocephalus platyurus) (6). Vegetable oils are not phytotoxic and likely are degraded and metabolized quickly in the environment (8). Sethoxydimis an acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor that is considered to be a key enzyme in lipid biosynthesis.Similar to other foliar applied herbicides, it need to be associated with an adjuvant for more effective control.Vegetable oils can be developed characteristics of sethoxydim solution such as surface tension and spry drop diffusion. Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine the effect of vegetable oils on the surface tension, diffusion and efficiency of sethoxydim to control wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu.).Materials and Metods: To evaluate the effect of vegetable oils on properties of sethoxydim solution, a series of experiments were separately conducted at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Khorasan Science and Technology Park in 2012. For evaluating the effect of vegetable oils on surface tension of distilled water and sethoxydim solution and the sethoxydim efficiency on wild oat control, three experiments were conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design. In other experiment the vegetable oils application on diffusion of sethoxydim was conducted also based on a completely randomized design. A K100 tensiometer was used to measure the surface tension of water and sethoxydim solution containing vegetable oils. For measuring the diffusion of sethoxydim solution containing vegetable oils, water sensitive paper was used. The surface changing color was evaluated by using MIP software. Wild oat seeds were collected from plants in the field near the research greenhouse at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. They were dehulled and placed in 11 cm diameter Petri dishes on top of a single layer of filter paper (Whatman International, Maidstone, UK). Then, 10 mL of 0.2% KNO3 solution were added to each Petri dish and the seeds were incubated for 48 h at 4–5°C in the dark.The seeds then were germinated under temperature and relative humidity control conditions in the dark (16 h at 20°C and 8 h at 10°C, with 45% and 65% relative humidity, respectively). By this method, 92–98.5% of the seeds germinated. Ten germinated seed were planted in each 1.5 L plastic pot that was filled with a mixture of sand, clay loam soil, and peat (1: 1: 1; v/v/v). The pots were sub irrigated every 3 days. The seedlings were thinned to four per pot at the one leaf stage and 40 mL of a water-soluble N: P: K (20: 20: 20) fertilizer, at a concentration of 3 g of fertilizer per liter of tap water, were supplied to each pot.Results and Discussion: The results showed that the use of vegetable oils except castor oil caused reduction in the surface tension of distilled water. About the surface tension of the sethoxydim solution, all vegetable oils significantly reduced surface tension. There is anegative relationship between surface tension of sethoxydim solution and efficiency of sethoxydim. Regression analysis results of the surface tension and spray deposit distribution on sensitive paper percent showed strong negative relationship them. Effects of adjuvants on herbicide surface tension have been showed by other researches. As judged by the ED50 and relative potential showed in table 3, all vegetable oils led to increased herbicide efficiency. Using adjuvants led to increasing performance of herbicide.Conclusion: Using of vegetable oil can be reduced needed sethoxydim for controlling wild oat. Reducing surface tension of herbicide solution can be known as a main reason for improvement of herbicide efficiency inthe presence of vegetable oils. Low surface tension lead to more distribution of herbicide solution on leaf surface and eventually increased herbicide absorption.

Introduction: Shot hole disease of stone fruit trees resulted from Wilsonomyces carpophilus can weaken the trees and reduce the quantity and quality of the crops worldwide particularly in semi-arid regions. Coryneum blight or shot hole disease infects all the stone fruit trees including peach, nectarine, apricot, sour cherry, plum, cherry, and almond. One of the most important strategies to manage any plant disease is to use resistant cultivars.In this way, it is very important to have knowledge about the status of genetic diversity and to determine the relationship between isolates of the causal agent fungus. The main objective of the present research was to study the genetic diversity ofW. carpophilus in Khorasan Razavi province using the rep-PCR molecular fingerprinting method.Materials and Methods: Sampling was performed from peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry orchards of Quchan, Torqabeh, Shandiz, Chenaran, Neishabur, Kalat, Torbat Heidarieh and Mashhad during spring and summer of 2012 and 2013. Mono-conidial isolates were recovered from infected leaves, fruits, and twigs of different parts of orchards. Infected collected leaves, twigs, and fruits were transferred to the laboratory. By using techniques of Klimesova and Prasil (1989) and Mehta (1998) from the cut parts between infected and healthy tissues of each isolate, cuts of 2-3 mm from leaf, fruit and twig were prepared by the scalpel. These pieces were surface sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite liquid about 1 to 3 minutes based on the thickness of tissue. Then, the samples were cultured on PDA, MEA, and WA media and incubated at 18, 20, and 25 °C. The isolated fungi were purified and identified. The research was performed on 20 fungal isolates collected from different stone fruit trees. Genomic DNA was amplified using BOX A1R, ERIC2, ERIC1R, REP2-I, and REP1R-I primers. Thirty-eight of 39 fragments amplified were polymorphic for 100 to 5000 base pairs.Similarity matrix between isolates was calculated based on Jacquard Coefficient and cluster analysis and construction of dendrogram were done based on UPGM using NTYSIS.PC 2.0 software.Results and discussion: From 39 amplified bands, 38 bands (97.5%) showed polymorphism. The molecular weight of amplified DNA fragments was between 100 to 5000 bp. Based on analysis of banding pattern of REP primer set, isolates of W. carpophilus were categorized into 12 groups at the 69% similarity level. The most genetic similarity of isolates (94%) was between AK (apricot of Kalat) and PK (peach of Kalat) and the least genetic similarity ofW. carpophilus isolates was between AQ (apricot of Quchan), AN (apricot of Neishabur), AC (apricot of Chenaran), PlM (plum of Mashhad), PM2 (peach of Mashhad number 2), and CC (cherry of Chenaran) with the other isolates. Based on the results of this study rep-PCR could separate isolates ofW.carpophilusvery well and also could separate similar isolates and hosts which have the close genetic relationship. Similar results were obtained by Edelet al. (1995) and Jedryczka et al. (1999). Edel et al. (1995) compared three different molecular methods for characterization ofFusarium oxysporum strains. The marker also separated isolates of Kalat and Chenaran geographically and to some extent isolates of plum in terms of hosting from the other isolates. Todaet al. (1999) in their study, about the investigation of genetic correlation among and within different isolates ofRhizoctonia solani by rep-PCR divided the 41 isolates into 7 groups which indicate considerable genetic diversity among isolates. Also, Karimiet al. (2010) in their study about the investigation of genetic diversity ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum at 64% similarity level, divided the isolates into 7 groups and separated most of the isolates geographically.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicated that rep-PCR is a practical, rapid, and accurate technique for separation ofW. carpophilus isolates. Considering the high genetic diversity observed in thepopulation of this fungus, making attempts to plant cultivars with high resistance and resistant genes can largely prevent the outbreaks and intensity of the pathogen. Therefore, further researches in this area can be placed in breeding, production and reproduction of cultivars with particular resistance programs against shot hole disease.The present research study is a prelude to solving problems related to this important disease.

Introduction: The cowpea seed beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) is one of the most injurious insects infesting a wide range of leguminous stored seeds such asLens culinaris, Vigna radiata, Vicia fab a and Vigna unguiculata(1). This insect also causes secondary infestation during pulse storage, and may cause total loss within three months. The bruchids can cause heavy losses in terms of both quantity and quality (4). Heavy infestations of bruchids can cause heating of commodity, which results in quality loss, and mould growth.Currently, the control strategies of stored product insect pests have exclusively relied upon application of fumigants and protectant synthetic insecticides. Chemical control of pests has led to insecticide residues in stored products and insecticide-resistant insect populations (3, 6). Therefore, there is a need for the ecologically benign methods to control cowpea weevil on chickpea. High temperature application has been used to satisfactorily disinfest stored commodities by various technologies. Microwave radiation is one of the most promising biorational pest management tools for farm stored grain and grain processing industries (29). Microwave is a type of electromagnetic energy that provides rapid heating. It appears that high temperatures in a short time period may be lethal to many stored product pests. The present study aimed to assess the lethal effects of microwave radiation on adults of cowpea seed beetle in stored pulses.Materials and Methods: The population of C. maculatus was originally collected from Laboratory of Entomology at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The cowpea weevils were reared on chickpea, in a growth chamber at temperature of 28 ± 2 ºC, relative humidity of 60 ± 5 % in the dark. Male and female beetles were treated separately with 2450 MHz at power levels of 90-900 W over a range of irradiation periods from 20 to 960 seconds. Corrected mortality data were subjected to two-way factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in which the microwave power and insects’ sex were regarded as independent categorial factors and irradiation period as covariate using SPSS Version 16 software. Prior to the ANCOVA test, Levene's test for equality of variances was performed to examine the assumptions for ANCOVA. Moreover, at each radiation power, the values of median lethal time (LT50), i.e., microwave irradiation period needed for the death of 50% insect population, and 90% lethal time (LT90) with 95% confidence limits were estimated separately for male and female beetles by subjecting mortality data to the maximum likelihood program of probit regression analysis using POLO-PC software. This program has a provision for control mortality.Results and Discussion: The results indicated that the mortality rates of both male and female adults increased as the exposure period and/or the power of radiation increased. When microwave power levels increased, the time elapsed to achieve maximum lethal effect decreased, this was implied by the results showing maximum mortality achievement in 960 and 80 seconds at 90 W and 900 W, respectively. Male beetles were more susceptible than females, but this difference was not significant based on the LT50 ratio. The LT50 values for the power levels between 90-900 W varied between 674.8 - 41.40 seconds for males and 741.5 - 47.2 seconds for females. The probit analysis showed that the slope values of mortality - exposure time regression lines were in the range of 3.23 - 5.51. According to the likelihood ratio test of parallelism, the slopes of probit mortality regressions differed significantly among various microwave power levels. However, further likelihood ratio test between the paired combinations concerned revealed that the slopes of probit mortality lines differed significantly only between those of 90 and 900W levels. The present results are in agreement with those of Singh et al. (2012) who worked on Callosobruchus chinensis (26). Also, Sadeghi Nasab et al (2004) working on the effect of microwave radiation on three stored product pests, found similar results (25).Conclusion: The results from our study showed that microwave radiation has a potential to kill insects in stored beans. It was observed that at certain constant power levels, the mortality of beetles increased as the microwave exposure time elongated and vice-versa. Although this strategy can control insect population in stored beans in a short time whilst deserting no chemical residue on food products, the adverse effects of microwave radiation on nutritional quality of food products and seed germination should be investigated. Further research is also recommended to improve methodology for practical disinfection of stored pulses.

Introduction: Drought is one of the most important and common environmental stresses in the country, which affect different stages of plant growth and development. Drought can affect plants growth in various ways, thereby reduces and delays germination, and decreases shoot growth and dry matter production. In the case of high water stress, it results showed great reductions in photosynthesis and disruption of the physiological processes, as well as growth stop and eventually plant death.Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) has been listed as the world’s worst weed based onits worldwide distribution (92 countries) and interference with over 50 crops. It causes high yield losses in fruiting vegetables and cucurbits in eastern and southeastern parts of Iran, where drought stress is a common phenomenon. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the response of this noxious weed species to drought stress.Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of drought stress on growth and distribution of purple nutsedge, two separate experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Research Greenhouse at Birjand University in 2013. The first experiment consisted of 6 irrigation interval levels (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18- day irrigation intervals) and the second one were 5 irrigation levels based on field capacity (12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % FC).Results and Discussion: ANOVA results of both experiments showed that all growth characteristics of purple nutsedge were affected by drought stress. The results of irrigation interval stress experiment showed that the maximum height (76 cm), leaf area (110.83 cm2), stem number (4.66 stemperpot), shoot dry weight (4.132 gr per plant), tuber number (7.66 tuber per pot) and total underground organs dry weight (4.435 gr per plant) were observed in 3- day irrigation interval. Also, the lowest amount of these characteristics was obtained in 18- day irrigation interval. The influence of increasing the irrigation intervals up to 18 days was obvious in reducing weed morphological characteristics. With longer irrigation intervals, weed height declined severely, and the greatest reduction in plant height (62.43% comparison to control) was obtained from 18- day irrigation interval.Irrigating plants at 12, 15 and 18- day intervals decreased 66.15, 77.84 and 88.96% in weed leaf area compared to 3- day irrigation interval (control), respectively. The maximum reduction in stem number (78.54% relative to control) was observed at 18- day irrigation interval. Increasing drought stress levels significantly decreased 62.95, 76.27, 97.57% shoot dry weight under 12, 15 and 18- day irrigation intervals regimes, respectively.. Also, increaseddrought levels, significantly reduced weed tuber number, so that no tuber produced at 18- day irrigation interval. Moreover, underground organs dry weight decreased 51.91, 65.68 and 88.48% at 12, 15 and 18- day irrigation intervals compared to control, respectively. In other experiment, the maximum height (70.33 cm), leaf area (116.33 cm2), stem number (7 stem per pot), shoot dry weight (3.701 gr per plant), tuber number (5.66 tuber per pot) and total dry weight of underground organs (513/3 gr per plant) were obtaind at 100% field capacity (control).. The results showed that plant height decreased with increasing drought levels, so the minimum plant height was observed at 25 and 12.5% FC. Increasing drought stress reduced leaf area 68.59 and 91.61% at 75% and 50% FC compared to control, respectively. The maximum reduction in stem number was observed at 25 and 12.5% FC. The weed dry matter decreased 52.90 and 88.05% compared to control at 75 and 50% FC, respectively. Tuber production was severely affected by soil water content reduction, so that no tuber was produced at 25 and 12.5% FC. Dry weight of underground organs in purpule nutsedge decreased 39.48 and 79.24% at 75 and 50% FC compared to control, respectively.Conclusion: Overall different levels of drought stress in both experiments, were reduced all weed growth characteristics. Since reproductive organs such as tuber and rhizome were not produced at 18- day irrigation interval regime and 25 and 12.5% FC, therefore it seems non-chemical control methods such as irrigation management can be effective to control this weed. Obviously repeating this research in field conditions is required to confirm these results.

Introduction: Improving the rate of germination and crop growth at the early growing stagescan reduce weed damage via increasing crop competitiveness. Trifluralin is a pre emergence herbicide that is incorporated with soil to prevent weed emergence and seedling growth. It inhibit microtubule assembly in cells. Seed priming cause to initiate the repairing system for membrane and the metabolic preparation for germination through controlling water absorption rate of seed. As a result, the germination capability and resistance to unfavorable conditions of seed can be promoted obviously using seed priming. Ultrasound is defined as acoustic waves at frequencies greater than 20 kHz that can be an effective method to improve germination and growth characteristics of plants. There is no knowledge about the effect of ultrasonic waves and seed priming on the emergence and growth of cowpea (Vigna sinensis) under soil application of trifluralin. So the objective of this research was to study the effect of ultrasonic waves and seed priming on the emergence and growth of cowpea under soil application of trifluralin.Materials and methods: Field experiment was conducted at the research field of Shahrood University (latitude of 36° 25 ' N and longitude of 54° 57' E with an elevation of 1345 m) as randomized complete block design with four replications in during the growing season of 2014-2015. The field soil was silty clay loam in texture, having pH 7.8, EC 3.9 ds m-1, 0.75% of organic carbon, 0.04% N 6.4 and 320 ppm of available P and K.Nine treatments were 1- control, 2- recommended herbicide dose (trifluralin 2 L ha-1), 3- reduced herbicide dose (trifluralin 1 L ha-1), 4- ultrasonic waves (ultrasound), 5- ultrasonic waves+reduced herbicide dose, 6- ultrasonic waves+recommended herbicide dose, 7- hydro-priming, 8- hydro-priming+reduced herbicide dose and 9-hydro-priming+recommended herbicide dose. For hydro-priming treatment, the seeds were treated with water before sowing for 7 h. About ultrasonic treatment, the seeds before sonication (for 6 minutes) treated with water for 7 h. Trifluralin (Treflan, EC48%) applied in recommended dose (2 L ha-1) and reduced herbicide dose (1 L ha-1) as immediate mixed with soil before planting. The plots were 24 m2 with 4 sowing rows and 6 m long.Seeds were placed at 3 to 5 cm depth in each row at during the second week of June in 2014. Number of emerged seedlings in two middle rows of were daily counted until seedling establishment became stable.Emergence percentage and rate of cowpea were calculated. Sampling was done at 55 days after planting. All samples were transferred to the laboratory, leaves and stem were separated, dried into oven at 70 oC for 72 h and weighted. Chlorophyll content, relative water content, leaf and shoot dry weight and plant height of cowpea were measured for all treatment The second experiment was conducted at the greenhouse as randomized complete block design with four replications in 2014. The treatments were exactly similar to the field experiment. Germinated seeds were recorded every 24 h for 16 days. Then, the plants were removed from each pot and transferred to the laboratory.Root, leaves and stem were separated and afterwards all samples were dried into oven at 70 ºC for 48 h and weighted. Seedling vigor index, chlorophyll content, shoot and root length, weight of root, leaf and shoot, number of leaf and leaf area index were measured for all treatment. Chlorophyll content was estimated using chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502, Konika-Minolta Co). Statistical analyses of data were performed with statistical software MSTATC. Significant differences between means refer to the probability level of 0.05 by LSD test.Results and discussion: The results showed that the ultrasonic treatment increased the dry weight of stem and leaves by 25.27 and 29.58 % as compared with the control treatment respectively. Mirshekari et al. (34) reported that when seeds were primed with ultrasonic irradiation for 5 min, seedling dry weight and leaf chlorophyll content of yarrow increased by 70% and 33.6% than control respectively. Marghaeizadeh et al. (33) reported that application ultrasonic waves increased the chlorophyll content ofCarum copticum (L.) C. B. Clarke in comparison to control. Our results suggested that at both experiments the combined use of ultrasonic waves+ reduced herbicide dose decreased the percentage and rate of emergence significantly in comparison to herbicideapplication alone. The application of ultrasonic waves+reduced herbicide dose led to a reduction in the percentage and rate of emergence by 64.83 and 68.13% in comparison to reduced herbicide application alone, respectively. Also the combined use of priming+reduced herbicide dose decreased the percentage and rate of emergence by 50.4 and 53.8 % in comparison to reduced herbicide application alone respectively. The major effects of dinitroanaline herbicides are on plant root growth, which they stop by interfering with mitosis and preventing normal cell division and cell wall formation (38, 35). It seems that hydro priming technique and ultrasonic irradiation with improving seed germination and seedling early growth under soil-incorporated trifluralin herbicide can led to more and faster absorption of herbicide by seedling and more damage to them than control.Conclusion: Our results showed the ultrasonic waves and priming accelerates the seed germination and root length and ultimately resulted in improving biomass and growth of cowpea seedling. Also data presented in this research suggested that pre-treated of cowpea seeds with ultrasonic waves and hydro priming can reduce some plant parameters like percentage and emergence rate of seeds, shoots dry weight, leaf area index and etc. in soil treated with trifluralin herbicide.

Introduction; The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1776), (Lep.: Tortricidae) is the most serious insect pest of vineyards in Sisakhat. It is a polyvoltine pest and can complete two to four generations in one year depending on environmental conditions. The larvae penetrate berries very quickly after egg hatching and damage the grapes directly by feeding and webbing or indirectly by favoring the gray mold. Its control is necessary to harvest crop in commercial vineyards. In spite of two to four times of chemical control in this region, its population is always high especially in the first generation which is mainly rooted in inappropriate chemical spraying time. In the present study, it was attempted to optimize spraying time by determination of number of generations, population fluctuation and density of adult moths through sex pheromone-baited traps.Materials and Methods; This research was done in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) using sex pheromone traps in vineyards of Sisakht, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Three vineyards selected which were 1.5 kilometers away from each other and three traps installed in each vineyard within tree canopy at height of 1.5 meters above the ground. the pheromone trade mark was Scentomos and traps were delta type.Traps in each vineyard were more than 150 meters away from each other. Traps were being replaced once every 15 days and inspected once every 5 days. Trapped moths were being removed with a forceps and recorded in each inspection. This trend continued from late March to late September when no longer moth trapped. Finally mean of trapped adults were calculated and plotted against time to determine generation numbers, flying periods and flight peaks.Results and Discussion; The results of different vineyards and years coincided and confirmed each other well. Pest population graph had three distinct ups and downs during each season which was indicative of three generations per year. The first moths were trapped at the end of March and the beginning of April. Then, number of trapped moths increased until late April and continued in a steady state up to May 20th when it started to decrease. For a long part of June, number of trapped moths was averagely less than one moth per trap per night.From June 20th, the trapped moths increased again and reached its peak very soon at early July and decreased gradually up to late July. Late July to early August, trapped moths were less than one moth per trap per night.Early August onwards, trapped moths started to increase once again and reached its peak nearly about late August. Then it decreased up to 25th September when no moth was trapped any longer. Flight peaks of generations occurred early May, early July and late August, respectively. Flying periods of second and third generations were equal but was shorter than flying period of first generation which makes the control of first generation more difficult. In spite of chemical controls, population of the moth was high especially in first generation which could be attributed to chemical spraying at inappropriate time and insufficient knowledge of farmers about the pest overwintering stage and places. Spring rainfalls during emergence of the first generation reduced the trapped moth adults severely which have to be considered in the interpretation of the adult population fluctuation. The optimal spraying time could be adjusted based on the adults population fluctuation and type of the insecticide used. As usual, the insect growth regulators should be applied before egg laying or egg hatching. Contact and ingested insecticides (e.g., organophosphates, pyrethroids, and carbamates) should be applied after egg hatching to kill larvae as they emerge from eggs. Since the pesticides which are used in this region are mostly contact organophosphates or pyrethroids, the peak flights could be considered as the optimal spraying time. Since first generation emerge gradually and its population is high, optimizing the first chemical control is more critical and may decrease the necessity of next spraying. Due to spring rainfalls during May, any chemical spraying against the first generation should be done with considering the weather forecasting.Conclusions; In this region, European grapevine moth adults emerged from early April to late May (60 days), mid-June to late July (45 days) and early August to late September (45 days), respectively. Flight peaksof the moth generations occurred early May, early July and late August, respectively. The moth population was high especially in first generation which implies that control of first generation is necessary. Flying period of the first generation was much longer than that of the other two generations which makes the control of first generation population more difficult. However, the chemical spraying time could be adjusted based on the mentioned peak flights and type of insecticide which have to be applied in this region.

Introduction: Increasing the environmental concerns emerged from the extensive use of herbicides have caused to work and introduce new approaches for their application by weed scientists. Nonetheless, weeds limit crop production especially when herbicides are removed from the weed management strategies. Optimizing herbicide doses, by increasing farmer’s knowledge about various options of herbicide application, is one of the most important strategies for reducing herbicide application. Tank-mixed herbicides, adjuvants, and split application of herbicide are more interesting, users friendly, and effective to implement this approach. Postemergence herbicides require adjuvants to be tank-mixed or built into the formulation to enhance their performance. Utilizing these methods is very essential for crops which are very weak competiveness against weed, because of herbicides application is a common method in them. Sugar beet is an important crop grown in the most cultivation areas of Iran under cultivation about 82.5 thousand hectares over average yield 42 ton ha-1.This study was done to increase the performance of some post-emergence herbicides for controlling weeds in sugar beet using adjuvants, tank-mixed herbicide, as well as herbicide split-applied herbicide treatments.Materials and methods: A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the research field of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (985 m altitude, longitude 59o 28' and latitude 36o 15') in 2013. The factors included the method of herbicide application (full and split application), herbicides (chloridazon (5 Kg ha-1) plus desmedipham (6 L ha-1), desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate (3 L ha-1) and chloridazon (5 Kg ha-1) plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate (3 L ha-1)), and adjuvants (Non-adjuvant, Adigor (%1.5 v/v), Citogate (%0.2 v/v) and Ammonium sulfate (%0.5 v/v)). Furthermore, two control treatments were considered as weed free and weed infested for each replication. Herbicides were applied with a backpack sprayer equipped with 8002 flat fan nozzles that calibrated to deliver a spray volume of 400 L ha-1 at 275 kPa. Commercial sugar beet seeds, ‘005’Monogerm provided from Improvement Research Institute of sugar beet, Karaj were planted on April 25 by hand to the depth 2 to 3 cm of the soil. Each plot consisted of four rows of sugar beet spaced 50 cm apart and 5 m long and density of sugar beet was 12 plants per m2. Seedbed preparation operations consisted of moldboard plowing, double disking and application of N at 69 kg.ha-1, P2O5 at 67.5 kg.ha-1 and K2O at 50 kg.ha-1 was done according to the soil test and the fertilizer recommendations. Irrigation was performed once a week. In order to determination of total weed biomass and density, weeds existing in the area 1×1 m2 were collected, counted and weighted. Also sugar beet root yield and biomass was recorded for same area. Data were subjected to ANOVA using the PROC GLM procedure in SAS Version 9.4 and means were compared using Fisher’s protected LSD test at the 0.05 level of significance. Drawing of figures were done by SigmaPlot Version 12.5. The relationship between sugar beet root yield and weed density and biomass were described with hyperbolic decay 2 parameters model.Results and discussion: In the experimental plots, we observed ten species of broadleaf weeds among which redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), purslane (Portulaca oleraceae L.), and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) have higher relative frequency and density than others. The results showed that the highest sugar beet root yield, as value 110.29 ton ha-1, occurred in split application of chloridazon plus desmedipham with Adigor. Furthermore, the highest sugar yield obtained from the plots with split application of chloridazon plus (desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate) with Adigor at 16.10 ton ha-1. In split application of desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate without adjuvant, the lowest sugar beet root yield and sugar yield were recorded 50.07 and 7.57 ton ha-1, respectively. Full application of chloridazon plus (desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate) with Adigor with %17 sugar content, and split application of desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate Adigor with %11.74 sugar content had the highest and lowest, respectively. Split application of chloridazon plus desmedipham with Citogate and full application of chloridazon plus (desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate) with Citogate indicated completely weed control, and full and split application of desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate with ammonium sulfate had the lowest performance of weed control. The results of the regression analysis showed that the highest yield of sugar beet occurred when total weed density or biomass are zero (104.62 and 101.41 tonha-1 were estimated, respectively). Also, when weeds density and biomass increased to 24 plants m-2 or 479.13 g dry matter m-2, the root yield of sugar beet will be decreased by 50%.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that split application of chloridazon plus desmedipham with Adigor or Citogate, created the highest sugar beet root yield and appropriate weed control among all treatments.In contrast, split application of desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate without any adjuvant had the lowest performance of weeds control. It was concluded that the most important factor among the experiment factors was the type of herbicide or herbicide combination.

Introduction: The common pistachio psylla (CPP), Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer, 1989 (Hem.: Psylloidea: Rhinocolinae) is an important pest of pistachio trees. The presence of a large population of psyllid causes severe problems such as falling buds and leaves and therefore this pest causes heavy economic damage to farmers. Predators are the largest and the most diverse natural enemies of the CPP. They are offered as biological control agents against pistachio pests, especially CPP, although they are mostly general predators.Oenopia conglobata contaminata(Menteries) is one of the common psylla predators of pistachio orchard that have a significant role in biological control ofAgonoscena pistaciae population. Despite the importance of this efficient predator, the limited study has been done on the effect of different hosts on the biological parameters of this lady beetle. In this study, the demographic parameters of this lady beetle by feeding on 4 different prey species, A. pistaciae, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hem.: Aphididae), Aphis gossypii Glover (Hem.: Aphididae) and eggs ofEphestia kuehniella (Zell.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) were studied in the laboratory conditions (25 ± 2°C, relative humidity of %65 ±5 and photoperiod of 16 hours light and 8 hours of darkness).Materials and Methods: Nymphs of CPP (A.pistaciae) and adults of O. conglobata contaminata beetles were collected on the pistachio leaves from a pistachio orchard. Aphids (A. fabae and A. gossypii) were reared on the bean and the cotton plants planted in a greenhouse. Eggs ofE. kuehniella were prepared from insectarium of Kerman Plant protection management and rearing ofE. kuehniella was done in the laboratory conditions in Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resoarce Research Center. Before starting the experiment, one generation of O. conglobata contaminatawas reared in the laboratory on the different host separately. One hundred eggs of O.conglobata contaminatawere used to determine the demographic parameters. After hatching of eggs, larvae was individually transferred to a plastic container (5*10 cm) and kept in a growth chamber. Every day the larvae were fed with the above mentioned host. Their growth and development were monitored daily and also mortality rate was recorded. In the experiments, fourth-instar nymph of the aphids andA. pistaciae were used. The raw data of the developmental time and female daily fecundity ofO. conglobata contaminata individuals were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table using the computer program TWO SEX MS Chart.Results and Discussion: Results showed that the maximum net reproduction rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (rm) in psylla diet was 290.87, 0.1559, respectively and the minimum of R0 and rm belong to eggs of E.kuehnielladiet (61.68 and 0.1103). This result proves that psylla diet is the best food for O. conglobata contaminataand aphids diets were in the next ranks (R0 and rm in A.fabae and A.gossypii diets were 200.48, 0.140; 72.44, 0.128, respectively). Results of mean generation time ofO. conglobata contaminata that was rearing on different diets showed that there were significant differences among the different diets. Mean generation time ofO. conglobata in Psylla, A.fabae, A.gossypii and egg of E. kuehniella diets were 36.31, 37.72, 33.34 and 37.30 days, respectively. Finite rate of increase (λ) of O. conglobata contaminata by feeding A.pistasciae, A.fabae, A.gossypiiand E. kuehniella was determined 1.198, 1.150, 1.136 and 1.116, respectively.The results of this study can be compared with the result of Mokhtari and Samih (2014), Rounagh and Samih (2014) and Hassani et al. (2009). Life expectancy of female and maleO. conglobata contaminata by feedingA.pistasciae, A.fabae, A.gossypii and E. kuehniella were 80.82, 64.16; 81.02, 68.76; 80.54, 68.88 and 59.75, 62.11 days, respectively. Results also indicated that the psylla andA.fabae diets improved the demographics parameters and the life expectancy ofO. conglobata contaminata.Conclusions: The results illustrated that this predator by feeding on nymphs of A. pistaciae has the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and with respect to the demographic parameters, it was the most suitable prey.Thecompare ofO. conglobata contaminata -rm that rearing by CPP with A. pistaciae -rm proves that this predator can control ofA. pistaciae in the field and this ladybeetle can be used in IPM of pistachio orchards. According to the difficulty of rearing CPP in laboratory conditions, aphids are suitable preys for mass rearing ofO. conglobata contaminatain insectariums.

Introduction Weed control is an essential part of all crop production systems. Weeds reduce yields by competing with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Weeds also directly reduce profits by hindering harvest operations, lowering crop quality, and producing chemicals which are harmful to crop plants. Results of researches have shown that good weed control within the first four to six weeks after crops are planted is critical in order to avoid a yield reduction by weeds. There are many cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods of weed control which are extremely effective if applied at the correct time. Fields that are kept free of weeds for the first four to six weeks after planting give the crop a "head start" which enables it to shade out or otherwise out compete weeds that emerge later in the season.Materials and Methods In order to study the effect of weeds interference on morphological traits, yield and yield components of three safflower cultivars, as well as weed species density and dry weight, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in factorial at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Center of South Khorasan province during 2012 growing season.Experimental treatments consisted of three safflower cultivars (Goldasht, Padideh and Golsefid) and six weed interferences (control or without weeds throughout the growing season, interference until stem elongation, branching, flowering, end of grain filling period and the end of growing season).. Measuring traits included the number of branches, head diameter, number of head per square meter, number of seed per head, seed weight, seed yield, biomass, oil percentage, and oil yield of safflower. Within weed species were identified, counted, clipped at ground level and oven-dried at 72oC for 48 hours, then weighed to determine their dry matter. All data were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS statistical software and Duncan's multiple range procedure was employed at probability level of 5%.Results and Discussion Results showed that all measured traits except head diameter, weeds density and dry weight were significantly differed among cultivars. Number of head per square meter, seed and biological yield, oil percentage and oil yield in the Padideh cultivar was higher than two other cultivars whilst its seed yield had no significant difference with Golsefid cultivar. Interference treatments showed a significant effect on head diameter, number of seed per head, seed and biological yield, oil yield, weeds density and dry weight. Safflower seed yield decreased considerably by extending of weeds interference duration so that interference until flowering, end of grain filling period and the end of growing season were obtained 19.3%, 28.3% and 51.4% compared to control (296.37 g m-2), respectively. Also, weed interference until the end of growing season of safflower reduced oil yield in comparison to control by 35.6%. Simple correlation analysis, revealed seed yield was positively correlated with all the traits except seed weight and oil percentage. The highest weed density (98.7 plants per m2) was observed in interference until stem elongation. Also, increasing of interference duration caused decreased weed density per unit area., So that, weeds dry weight per unit area was increased until the end of grain filling stage, despite the decline in weed density. The results of our study demonstrated that extending of weed interference duration until the end of growing season led to reducing of safflower cultivars yield. Also, Padideh cultivar had the highest oil percentage and oil yield, 25.7%and 70.5 g m-2, respectively.ConclusionsThe study of weed populations and their dry weight per unit area showed that weed dry weight has increased with increasing of weed interference period, in spite of decreasing of their density. The results revealed that the presence of weeds throughout the growing season reduces the yield of safflower cultivars while the level of decline was different in cultivars. Therefore, yield of Padideh cultivar in the presence and absence of weeds was more than two other cultivars. The highest seed yield was recorded from weed control treatments of early growth. In general, weed control in safflower should be done in branching or stem elongation stage.

Introduction: Corn (Zea mays L.) is cultivated widely throughout the world and has the highest production among the cerealsafter rice and wheat. In Iran the total production of corn in 2013 was more than 2540000 tons.Weeds are one of the greatest limiting factors to decrease corn yield in Iran as the average yield loss due to weeds in the fields of Kermanshah in 2009 was 17.32 %. The herbicides are the main weed control method in conventional cropping systems but their application has been increased herbicide resistant weeds and environmental pollution. Integrated weed management combines all applicable including chemical and nonchemical methods to reduce the effect of weeds in the cropping systems. Thus, Weed control strategies such as tillage, mulch, cover crops and intercropping could be used for integrated weed management of corn. Previous studies showed that crop residues such as rye (Secale sereal L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) and clover (Trifolium sp.), cover crops and living mulch could inhibit weed germination and growth.Therefore the objective of this study was evaluating the effects of some integrated weed management treatments on weed characteristics, yield components and grain yield of corn.Materials and methods: In order to evaluate the effect of some weed management treatments on corn (Zea maysL.) yield an experiment was conducted in 2014 in Ravansar, Kermanshah, Iran. This study was arranged based on randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and three replications. The weed management treatments were including 1-chemical control followed by mechanical control (application of nicosulfuron at a dose of 80 g.a.i.ha-1+cultivator 40 days after emergence) 2- chemical control followed by mechanical control (application of 2, 4-D+MCPA at a dose of 675 g.a.i.ha-1+cultivator 40 days after emergence) 3- cultural control followed by mechanical control (planting hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) in the fall+cultivator 40 days after emergence) 4- mechanical control (cultivator 25 and 40 days after emergence) 5- cultural control (intercropping of corn with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at density of 200000 plants.ha-1 6- cultural control followed by other cultural control (planting hairy vetch in the fall+intercropping of corn with chickpea) 7- chemical control followed by cultural control (application of glyphosate at a dose of 2050 g.a.i.ha-1 before planting+intercropping of corn with chickpea) 8- cultural control (straw mulch application in the fall in amount of 2625 kg.ha-1) 9-cultural control (straw mulch application in the spring in amount of 2625 kg.ha-1) 10- hand weeding during whole season. Also the weed infested treatment was used as control. Sixty days after corn emergence, the weed sampling was done with 1×0.5 (0.5 m2) quadrate in each plot and weed density was recorded. The samples were dried in 75oC oven for 48 hours thenweed dry matter was measured. The plant height and leaf number per plant were measured in all plots. Corn was harvested at economic maturity and grain yield and yield components of corn and weed biomass were measured. The analysis of variance of data was performed using SPSS v.16 and Duncan's multiple range procedure was employed at probability level of 5%.Results and discussion: Results indicated that different weed management treatments had significant effect on weed density and dry matter, corn plant height, leaf number per plant, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, number of kernels per ear and corn grain yield (p ≤ 0.01). The lowest weed dry matter were obtained in 2, 4-D+MCPA+cultivator treatment (72 g.m-2) and the highest one observed in intercropping with chickpea (440 g.m-2) and mulch application in the fall (441 g.m-2). The highest value of plant height, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row and number of kernels per ear were observed in 2, 4-D+MCPA+ cultivator, nicosulfuron+cultivator and hairy vetch+cultivator treatments. The highest corn grain yield was obtained in 2, 4-D+MCPA+cultivator (8.37 ton.ha-1), nicosulfuron+cultivator (6.5 ton.ha-1) and hairy vetch+ cultivator (6.3 ton.ha-1) treatments, respectively. Also, the lowest grain yield was obtained in mulch application in the fall (1.95 ton.ha-1), intercropping with chickpea (1.96 ton.ha-1) and hairy vetch+intercropping with chickpea (2.1 ton.ha-1) that were not significantly different with weed infested treatment. Generally we can conclude that application of cultivator with herbicides had the highest efficacy in weed management of corn.Conclusion: Among the weed management treatments application of 2, 4-D+MCPA+cultivator, nicosulfuron+cultivator and hairy vetch+cultivator treatments had the most efficiency in corn weed management. This result indicates the importance of cultivator in corn weed management and also it should be used 40 days after corn emergence for high efficacy in weed control. The treatments of intercropping with chickpea and straw mulch had no enough efficacy in corn weed management and should be integrated with other methods. Using non-chemical methods in corn weed management may be causes yield loss but reduces application of herbicides and environmental pollution that is consistent with sustainable agriculture.

Introduction: There are seven species and sub-species of Acer sp. in the Northern forest of Iran. One of the most important diseases of this tree in all over the world is tar spot. Two species of fungi, which cause this disease, are Rhytisma acerinum and R. punctatum from the category of Ascomycetidae. Studies on the Acer platinum sp. show that causative agent of this disease is R.punctatum which cause the early fall and make leaves turning yellow especially in the plant nurseries and forested areas. Therefore, investigating the use of antibiotics in treating this disease in the forest areas is necessary. The objective of the current research was to use Oxytetracycline, Amikacin and Erythromycin in Controlling mycelial growth and spore germination ofR.acerinumas Pathogen in tar spot disease at Acer velutinum Boiss in vitro.Materials and methods: To control the disease of Maple tar spot in the condition of light and darkness, the medium containing oxytetracycline, Amikacin and Erythromycin were used. Four different dosage of 50, 100, 200, 500 microliter, of oxytetracycline 10% in the light and dark conditions in 100cc of distilled water and Amikacin 5% in four different dose of, 100, 200, 400 and 1000 microliter, light and dark conditions in 100 cc of distilled water and for erythromycin 5% four different dose of, 100, 200, 400 and 1000 microliter in 100 cc of distilled water in light and dark conditions each in three repetitions of medium were prepared. In this step, to evaluate the effect of light on the rate of the growth of mycelium and fungal colonies ofR. acerinum, for each of the treatments with the different dosage, half of the repetitions were under the light condition and another half in dark condition (incubator). Then, after the growth, radiant growth was measured over one week. To investigate the fungi spore germination, above steps, were performed, as well.Results and Discussion: The results showed that among the mentioned antibiotics with different dosages, oxytetracycline with the dosage of 200 micro liter had the minimum effect on the coefficient of AUFGC. The results clarify that the effect of light and light-material on the coefficient of AUFGC and growth were not significant but the effect of the material on the coefficient of AUFGC and growth had a significant difference.Moreover, the results showed that growth of fungal and mycelia threads at the treatment of oxytetracycline with the dosage of 200 microliters in the medium were destructed and other dosages of this antibiotic (50, 100 and 500 microliters) were not effective in controlling the disease. According to the results, oxytetracycline 200 under light condition and dark condition had the maximum effect in preventing the mycelia growth of the fungi and the treatment of oxytetracycline with the dosages of 50, 100 and 500 microliters and erythromycin with the dosages of 100 and 200 microliters in dark condition had the least effect on the prevention of the mycelial growth of the fungi. Overall, the mycelial growth of the pitch stain disease, in addition to the witness treatment, in the mediums containing the antibiotics with the dosages of 50, 100 and 500 microliters had the most growth. Light or dark had not significant effect on the mycelia growth of the fungi or on the prevention of fungi growth but in controlling the germination of the spores, the treatments of light, material, and light-material showed a significant difference. In controlling the germination of the spores in addition to the oxytetracycline with the dosage of 200 microliters, other antibiotics also were effective at the same level regarding the compare means.Moreover, light or dark condition was effective in germination of the fungi spores so that in light condition, the spores ofR. acerinum had more germination.Conclusion: Regarding the acquired results, it can be concluded that using antibiotics in controlling the disease of Maple tar spot can be effective and oxytetracycline with the dosage of too in 200 cc distilled water had the maximum effect on controllingR. acerinum. Although, using the antibiotics is effective in controlling the fungi, no need to say that other pre-treatments such as conservation of the trees and keeping the hygienic environment for these trees also is recommended for controlling of these diseases. However, the result of thisstudy can be useful for the management of the forests and related organizations.

Introduction Interference weed with crop is a major concern for production in croplands particularly where modern agricultural practices such as mechanical weeding and the application of herbicides are limited. At present, the aim of weed management is to keep weed population at an acceptable level rather than to keep crop totally free of weeds. Among the weed control methods, the chemical control is the easiest one of the recent origins, as well the most successful alternative method.Materials and methods Field experiments were conducted at Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran (320 3´ N, 480 50´ E) during winters of 2012-2013 in order to evaluate the effect of sulfosulfuron and sulfosulfuron plus metsulfuron-methyl at 30 and 45 g a.i. ha-1, respectively, and wheat seed rate at 180, 200 and 220 kg ha-1 on weed control. Experiments were carry out in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement and four replicates. The plot size was 6 m × 2 m. The soil was a clay loam texture, pH 7.4 and 0.6 % organic matter content. In the experimental site, the 30-year average annual rainfall is 321.4 mm, daily average annual air temperature is minimum and maximum 9.5° C and 46.3 ° C, respectively. Wheat cv. Chamran was planted in the first fortnight of November. Seedbed preparation consisted of moldboard plowing, disking and leveling. A basal fertilizer rate of 125 kg ha-1 N (form of urea (46% N)), 75 kg ha-1 P2O5 (diammonium phosphate (18% N; 46% P2O5)), and 60 kg K2O ha-1 (sulfate of potash (50% K2O)) was applied. The whole P and K and half of N were applied at sowing. The remaining half of N was top dressed with the irrigation at the booting stage.Results and DiscussionAs the crop population brings competition for limited resources with the weeds, we tested different seeding rates to increase crop plant density as a measure to control weeds. The weed population was significantly affected by seed rate. In general, there was an inverse relationship between weed density (p<0.01) and wheat seed rate. Increasing seed rate resulted in a higher crop plant population providing less space for weeds to grow and offering much higher competition for light, nutrient and other growth factors.. The highest weed dry weight was recorded in the seed rate 180 kg ha-1and the lowest was found in 220 kg ha-1. There are several reasons why there was a lower density of weed infestation in areas that had a higher seed rate. At relatively low crop densities, crop cover early in growing season is low, leaving a larger amount of resources available for the weeds, thus enabling them to establish and grow quickly. There was no significant variation in respect of crop characteristics among the treatment combinations, except for 1000 grain weight, grain yield and harvest index. The highest 1000 grain weight was recorded in seed 180 kg ha-1with sulfosulfuron treatment, while the lowest was in 220 kg ha-1seed with weedy check, which was not statistically different from 200kg ha-1.With the aggravation of the conditions of competition within an inter-species by increasing crop density coupled with the intra-specific competition out in such a way decreases photosynthesis materials share spike and shorten the period of grain filling will be that, these factors can be decreased 1000-seed weight. A weedy plot for an increased weed competition period resulted in decreased grain yield and harvest index in all seed rates.Sulfosulfuron treatment compared to metsulfuron-methyl plus sulfosulfuron and no-weeding treated plots resulted in the highest yield. The highest seed yield amounting 660 g m-2 was found when sowing was 200 kg ha-1. In contrast, no-wedding regime resulted in lowest yield in all seed rates ConclusionsOur results also indicated that increases in seeding rate would increase crop-weed competition..We hypothesized; either increasing the crop’s competitive ability against weeds through manipulation in seeding rate and increasing weed through application of sulfosulfuron herbicide would provide superior weed management and recuperative the wheat crop yield.

Introduction: Polystigma amygdalinum Sacc (Cannon sp nov.) causes almond leaf blotch and is reported from various countries. The pathogen is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and often causes premature defoliation of its host. Based on morphology, P. amygdalinum has been assumed to be a member of the orderPhyllachorales and is considered to be a close relative of the genus Phyllachora, but phylogenetic analyses indicated thatP. amygdalinum did not group with Phyllachora species (Phyllachorales) which have been thought to be its close relative.Polystigma amygdalinu m show to be a relative of Trichosphaeriales and Xylarialesand placed in the Xylariomycetidae. Almond leaf blotch is the most important disease on the leaf in almond (Prunus dulcis) in Iran. Ascospores are believed to be the only inoculum of this pathogen. Ascocarp initials develop in infected leaves in contact with, or in close proximity to, filamentous spore-bearing bodies, which are the first to appear. Environmental factors were affected ascocarp formation and development inP.amygdalinum.Mature ascocarps were formed in leaves from July to October (leaf fall). Ascocarps were produced under field conditions in infected leaves buried in soil at the depths of 0 to 40 cm with maximum mature ascocarp formation at 5 cm and minimum at the soil surface. Based on the appearance of disease symptoms under natural and greenhouse conditions the incubation period was estimated about to be 40-45 and 35-40 days respectively. The peak of ascospore discharge was 2-3 weeks after petal fall and was dependent on rain fall. Various chemicals were applied to controlP. amygdalinum on almond. Spraying with Mancozeb and Bordeaux mixture is the most effective with four applications after petal fall in East Azerbaijan. Over a 4-year study period, it was found that ascospore discharge began at flowering and continued for 4-5 weeks in Maharloo of Fars Province. The maximum discharge occurred at petal fall. The incubation period was estimated to be 4-5 weeks under experimental conditions. Although the mature ascospores could produce short germ tubes in distilled water or water agar, the fungus could not be cultured or grown on conventional media from either ascospores, pycnidiospores or stromatic tissues under laboratory conditions. Of several systemic and nonsystemic fungicides evaluated under field conditions, triforine at 100-400 mg /ml was most effective. Other fungicides which significantly reduced leaf infection were, in order of efficacy, copper oxychloride (2000mg/ml), copper hydroxide (2000 mg/ml), Bordeaux mixture (10000 mg/ml) and mancozeb (2000 mg/ml). Carbendazim and thiophanate methyl (500 mg/ml) increased the level of infection. One application of the fungicide at petal fall and then at two at 14-day intervals were found to be effective in reducing the disease. Two applications of Bordeaux mixture at 2 and 4 weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari. A single spray two weeks after petal fall also reduced the disease significantly.Materials and Methods: During 2012-13, the efficiency triforin (Saprol® 30%) (500 mg /ml) with three timing of applications, in comparison with Bordeaux mixture (10000 mg /ml) on two local cultivars (Sefid and Mamaee), was tested in a completely randomized block design, in along Zayanderood of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province.Results and Discussion: According to the results, two applications of triforin at two and four weeks after petal fall, a single spray four weeks after petal fall and two applications of Bordeaux mixture were found to be the most efficient control treatment in both cultivars, respectively. All applications of fungicides on both cultivars reduced the disease significantly. Infectivity percent and disease severity on Mamaee cultivar were more than Sefid. In general, it can be said Triforin was more effective in terms of decreasing infectivity percent and disease severity in comparison with Bordeaux mixture.Conclusion: The results of this study, previous researches and surveys in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province and other parts of Iran show that some of the almond cultivars cultivated in the country are susceptible to P. amygdalinum, so the only method to manage this disease is using the chemical control on these cultivars.Two applications of fungicides at two and four weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, these results are recommended for all regions of Iran.

Introduction: Fungi release wide spectrum of secondary metabolites that belong to several chemical groups with different biochemical origins. These materials produce as intermediate and end products of diverse metabolic pathways. The profile of the secondary metabolites for a known species or strain will vary depending on the substrate, the duration of incubation, the type of nutrients, temperature and other environmental parameters.Trichoderma spp. are well-known producers of secondary metabolites with different biological activities. The secondary metabolites with antibiotic activity can be classified into two main types.Low molecular weightand volatile metabolites which are involved in complex Trichoderma plant-pathogen interactions. They belong to various structure classes such as alcohols, ketones, alkanes, furans, simple aromatic compounds, isocyanate compounds, volatile terpenes, some polyketides, butenolides, and pyrones. All of them are relatively nonpolar compounds with a significant vapor pressure. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the soil environment could be traveled over distance and affect the physiology of the pathogens. They also enhance growth and systemic resistance in plants. These VOCs have been evaluated forT. atroviride, T.harzianum, T. viride, T. longibrachiatum, T. pseudokoningii and T. aureoviride. High molecular weight metabolites (like peptaibols) are polar metabolites which act directly by contact betweenTrichoderma species and competitor organisms. Due to potent separation and highly sensitive detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the main method for detection of the fungal VOCs. Mass spectrometric detection offers the possibility to identify individual volatiles from complex mixtures. Structure characterization and confirmation of identity are usually achieved by comparison of mass spectra with library spectra and the determination of chromatographic retention indices. Due to the capacity ofTrichoderma species in crop protection and promoting vegetative growth, they are marketed as biopesticides, biofungicides and biofertilizers.The identification of molecules with such biological activities can support the development of new biopesticides and biofertilizers based onTrichoderma metabolites. The aim of this study was to investigate antifungal effects and chemical composition of secondary metabolites produced byTrichoderma atroviridae (6022) against Macrophomina phaseolinaand Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.Materials and Methods: Antifungal effects of isolate 6022 against M. phaseolina and S. sclerotiorum were evaluated under invitro condition by dual culture technique, volatile (Dennis & Webster 1971) and non-volatile (Vinal 2006) metabolites. Volatile metabolites tests were done in 4 cases: Co-culture, 24, 48 and 72 hour cultures. For considering non-volatile metabolites of this isolate, different concentrations of culture filtrate and mycelial mass have been prepared in (autoclaved) potato dextrose agar (PDA), individually. Secondary metabolites were extracted via 4 processes by using of organic solvents (Siddiquee 2012), Headspace technique (Stoppacher 2010) and soxhlet water bath distillation methods for mycelial mass (Dubey 2011) and identified by using the GC-MS device with nonpolar column (DB-5).Results and Discussion: In dual culture test, isolate 6022 inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen, then over ran and sporulated on the mycelia. The related results for the volatile test in 24, 48, 72h and Co-cultures, indicated that the antagonist inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen and production of sclerotia in culture media (PDA). Results of the non-volatile test (in different concentrations) showed significant inhibitory effects on mycelial growth and production of sclerotia. After extraction and GC separation, the constituents of mixtures can be detected via mass spectrometry (MS) by comparison of mass spectra with library spectra searching.According to mass spectra library, 61 compounds such as some alkanes, alkenes, phenolic, alcoholic, terpenoid and aromatic compounds have been detected by 4 processes that among them, alkanes had the highest frequency.Many important compounds with the antifungal effect such as iso-amyl-alcohol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-pentanol, stearic acid, palmitic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dinoctyl phthalate have been identified. So, inhibitory effects of isolate 6022 are related to these compounds.Conclusions: Secondary metabolites of the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma have been involved in different biological processes such as biocontrol or communication between fungi and their living environment. These fungi have antibiotic activity against plant pathogenic fungi, so the requirement for monitoring Trichoderma VOCs profiles has been offered. The results showed that isolate 6022 has the potential for controlling above mentioned pathogens so it can be the suitable alternative for chemical toxins. This method is simple for extraction of the secondary metabolites, under laboratory conditions and studied in Iran for the first time.

Introduction Allelopathy means any process involving the secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) produced by plants, algae, bacteria, and fungi (excluding animals) that influences the growth and development of agricultural and biological systems, with positive or negative effects. Plants produce secondary metabolites and in certain circumstances, these can act as phytotoxins, inhibiting or promoting some biochemical or physiological processes in the other plants or organisms. Toxicity of allelochemical compounds include effects on growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, relative growth rate, and oxygen uptake in many crops. Furthermore, the influence of allelochemicals on alpha amylase, oxidase, sucrose synthase activity and malon dialdehyde concentration were analysed. The role of numerous plant secondary metabolites is still unclear, and this raises curiosity for both plant physiologist and ecologists. Inhibitory effects on germination and establishments of crops caused by residues of either crops or weeds have lead to investigation of the release of toxic compounds from such residues. This present study was designed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of milk thistle for controlling common cocklebur in vegetables.Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effect of milk thistle aqueous extract on growth and enzyme activities of common cocklebur seedlings, two separate experiments were carried out in randomized complete design and randomized complete block designs with five and four replications, respectively, in spring 2012 in seed technology laboratory and greenhouse of Azad University, Shoushtar branch, Shoushtar, Iran. Milk thistle aqueous extract concentrations were involved (0, 5, 10 and 15% (v/v)) in petridish and (0, 10, 20 and 30% (v/v)) as spraying on common cocklebur seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Whole plants of milk thistle were gathered from medicine plant farm of Azad University. Then, their flowers were cut and their shoots were dried in 60 °C and grinded. For preparing aqueous extract 100 g powder of milk thistle dissolved in 1000 ml distilled water and maintained at 20 oC. The solution was filtered and cleared. The aqueous extract was considered as stock and other aqueous extracts were prepared from it. After application extract concentration in petridish and pot, seedling fresh weight, activity of sucrose synthase, alpha amylase, catalase enzymes and malon dealdehyde concentration of common cocklebur were measured. Statistical calculations were accomplished through the SPSS software and graphs were drawn by the Excel software.Results and DiscussionResults showed that fresh weight of common cocklebur seedlings were affected by milk thistle extract. Milk thistle extract reduced alpha amylase enzyme activity and seedling growth of common cocklebur. In addition, increase in aqueous extract of milk thistle resulted in reduction and increase in catalase and malon dialdehyde concentration in cocklebur seedling; respectively. The minimum alpha amylase enzyme activity (2.1 nM/g seed/min) and seedling fresh weight (0.32 g) were observed in 15% aqueous extract. Malon dialdehyde concentration of cocklebur seedlings was 0.4 (nM/g FW) in 15% aqueous extract of milk thistle.Catalase enzyme activity was the lowest (1.4 nM H2O2/mg Protein/min) and the greatest (27 protein absorption/60s) in 15% aqueous extract of milk thistle. In greenhouse experiment, also, with increasing aqueous extract of milk thistle was reduced seedling fresh weight, catalase and sucrose synthase enzyme activities.Catalase and sucrose enzyme activities were 1.8 (nM H2O2/mg Protein/min) and 2 (nM/ mg protein/min) at 30% aqueous extract of milk thistle. Futhermore, increase in aqueous extract of milk thistle resulting in increase cell memberane destruction and malon dialdehyde concentration in cocklebur seedling tissue. The lowest (0.0029 nM/g FW) and greatest (0.93 nM/g FW) malon dialdehyde concentration was at 30% aqueous extract.Conclusions In this study, with increasing the amount of milk thistle extract, values of measured traits including fresh weight, sucrose synthase and catalase enzymes of cocklebur seedlings compared to control treatment (distilled water) have a decreasing trend, but malon dialdehyde concentration of cocklebur seedlings had increased compared to the control. The destruction of cell membranes under the influence of cocklebur allelopathic compounds can be one reason for the reduced growth of weed seedlings. Reduced sucrose synthase activity, led to reduced production of sucrose that was associated with reduced seedling growth. The present study confirmed that milk thistle can be used as an allelopathic plant for weed suppression in agroecosystemsthrough its release of allelochemicals. Knowledge about the challenges related to the demonstration of allelopathy, as an ecological significant mechanism, is important in the assessment of ecological effects of allelopathic plants.

Introduction Potato is globally the fourth important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize and is cultivated in several countries worldwide like Iran. Weeds are the most important restriction factor for crop development in agricultural systems and the absence of weed control lead to crop yield reduction between 10 to 100 percent and this reduction could be a serious threat for a growing world population to be considered. Rimsulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide for control of weeds in potato, corn, wheat, barley and canola. It can be used as pre or post emergence in potato. These herbicide act through inhibition of enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS), which catalyzes key reactions in the biosynthesis of basic branched-chain amino acids that are essential components of the growth process in plant cell division such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine Materials and methodsIn order to study rimsulfuron (Titus 25% DF) effect on weed biomass as a postemergence herbicide, a field experiment was carried out in the farm located 3 km out the city of Ardabil during 2014. The factorial experiment was performed based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Potato cultivar was Agria (common cultivar in Ardabil). The first factor was rimsulfuron doses with six levels (5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 gr a.i. / ha), and the second factor was time of application based on different potato growth stages, (Potato emergence, stoloning and tuber bulking). Also two treatment (with and without weeding) were considered as control. Tubers were hand sown on 22th May in rows 75 cm apart and 20 cm in the rows at 10 cm depth. Rimsulfuron was applied by backpack sprayer fitted with 8001 flat fan nozzles. Three weeks after treatment, weed sampling was carried out by a quadrate sized 0.375 m2. Tubers were harvested from two center rows to determine total tuber yield per hectare. Two models fitted to the data were three parameter logistic and three parameter sigmoid.Data were analyzed using SAS 9.1 and MSTAT-C. Analysis of variance was used to test the significance of variance sources, and Duncan’s Multiple range test (P≤ 0.05) was used to compare the differences among treatments.Results and DiscussionResults showed that the maximum reduction percent of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), field bind weed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), total weed biomass and density achieved by 40 and 50 gr a.i. / ha application. So that 40 and 50 gr a.i. /ha of rimsulfuron compared to control reduced weed density up to 49.47and 55.38 % and biomass up to 89.97 and 94.63 %, respectively. Also results showed that 40 and 50 gr a.i. /ha of rimsulfuron compared to control reduced biomass of redroot pigweed 89.91 and 95.50 %, Field bind weed 84.28 and 94.79 % and lambsquarter 92.75 and 96.87 percent respectively. That there was not statistically significant difference between 40 and 50 gr a.i. /ha of rimsulfuron.Among rimsulfuron application times, potato emergence stage reduced total weed density and biomass 36.45 and 68.04 %, respectively which is compared to control (weedy). Rimsulfuron application at potato emergence stage reduced biomass of redroot pigweed and lambsquarter 62.51 and 71.08 percent respectively. However it had no significant effect on biomass of Field bind weed.The results showed that potato tuber yield was 46.31 and 45.96 ton/ ha while rimsulfuron applied 40 and 50 gr a.i. / ha. Among rimsulfuron application times, potato emergence stage had total tuber yield 47.58 ton/ha.ConclusionResults showed that the maximum reduction percentage in weed density and biomass was observed for treatments in which were used 40 and 50 gr a.i. / ha application. Application of rimsulfuron at potato emergence reduced weed density and biomass and increased total tuber yield. Itproves the effectiveness ofthe rimsulfuron for potato emergence without damage. Furthermore the effective dose of rimsulfuron for 50 percent reduction in biomass of redroot pigweed, field bind weed and lambsquarter were 14.36, 12.26 and 10.17 g a.i. /ha, respectively. The results also showed that rimsulfuron application 40 and 50 gr a.i. /ha increased total tuber yield by 19.90 and 20.51% respectively. Application of 40 and 50 gr a.i. / ha at potato emergence stage produced maximum total tuber yield per hectare. The result of this study showed that 40 and 50 gr a.i. /ha rimsulfuron application at potato emergence assessed as the best treatment to control weed and increase total yield.

Introduction: Polystigma amygdalinum Sacc (Cannon sp nov.) causes almond leaf blotch and is reported from various countries. The pathogen is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and often causes premature defoliation of its host. Based on morphology, P. amygdalinum has been assumed to be a member of the orderPhyllachorales and is considered to be a close relative of the genus Phyllachora, but phylogenetic analyses indicated thatP. amygdalinum did not group with Phyllachora species (Phyllachorales) which have been thought to be its close relative.Polystigma amygdalinu m show to be a relative of Trichosphaeriales and Xylarialesand placed in the Xylariomycetidae. Almond leaf blotch is the most important disease on the leaf in almond (Prunus dulcis) in Iran. Ascospores are believed to be the only inoculum of this pathogen. Ascocarp initials develop in infected leaves in contact with, or in close proximity to, filamentous spore-bearing bodies, which are the first to appear. Environmental factors were affected ascocarp formation and development inP.amygdalinum.Mature ascocarps were formed in leaves from July to October (leaf fall). Ascocarps were produced under field conditions in infected leaves buried in soil at the depths of 0 to 40 cm with maximum mature ascocarp formation at 5 cm and minimum at the soil surface. Based on the appearance of disease symptoms under natural and greenhouse conditions the incubation period was estimated about to be 40-45 and 35-40 days respectively. The peak of ascospore discharge was 2-3 weeks after petal fall and was dependent on rain fall. Various chemicals were applied to controlP. amygdalinum on almond. Spraying with Mancozeb and Bordeaux mixture is the most effective with four applications after petal fall in East Azerbaijan. Over a 4-year study period, it was found that ascospore discharge began at flowering and continued for 4-5 weeks in Maharloo of Fars Province. The maximum discharge occurred at petal fall. The incubation period was estimated to be 4-5 weeks under experimental conditions. Although the mature ascospores could produce short germ tubes in distilled water or water agar, the fungus could not be cultured or grown on conventional media from either ascospores, pycnidiospores or stromatic tissues under laboratory conditions. Of several systemic and nonsystemic fungicides evaluated under field conditions, triforine at 100-400 μg /ml was most effective. Other fungicides which significantly reduced leaf infection were, in order of efficacy, copper oxychloride (2000μg/ml), copper hydroxide (2000 μg/ml), Bordeaux mixture (10000 μg/ml) and mancozeb (2000 μg/ml). Carbendazim and thiophanate methyl (500 μg/ml) increased the level of infection. One application of the fungicide at petal fall and then at two at 14-day intervals were found to be effective in reducing the disease. Two applications of Bordeaux mixture at 2 and 4 weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari. A single spray two weeks after petal fall also reduced the disease significantly.Materials and Methods: During 2012-13, the efficiency triforin (Saprol® 30%) (500 μg /ml) with three timing of applications, in comparison with Bordeaux mixture (10000 μg /ml) on two local cultivars (Sefid and Mamaee), was tested in a completely randomized block design, in along Zayanderood of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province.Results and Discussion: According to the results, two applications of triforin at two and four weeks after petal fall, a single spray four weeks after petal fall and two applications of Bordeaux mixture were found to be the most efficient control treatment in both cultivars, respectively. All applications of fungicides on both cultivars reduced the disease significantly. Infectivity percent and disease severity on Mamaee cultivar were more than Sefid. In general, it can be said Triforin was more effective in terms of decreasing infectivity percent and disease severity in comparison with Bordeaux mixture.Conclusion: The results of this study, previous researches and surveys in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province and other parts of Iran show that some of the almond cultivars cultivated in the country are susceptible to P. amygdalinum, so the only method to manage this disease is using the chemical control on these cultivars.Two applications of fungicides at two and four weeks after petal fall was found to be the most efficient control treatment in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, these results are recommended for all regions of Iran.

Introduction: The tomato leafminer (TLM), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important pest on tomato, potato and other Solanaceous with a great economic importance. Tomato borer can be regarded as a serious threat to tomato production in Iran. TLM larvae cause losses of up to 100% by attacking tomato leaves, flowers, stems, and especially fruits. TLM larvae act as leaf miners, and in high numbers, they can totally destroy the plant foliage; TLM infestation can destroy crop production early on by infesting both developing and ripe fruits. Management of the pest can be problematic, particularly when the infestation pressure is high. One of the main tools in its management is the use of conventional synthetic insecticides, however, this overreliance on the use of synthetic insecticides quickly leads to problems of insecticide resistance. The use of natural compounds such as plant essential oils is considered as alternatives to chemical pesticides due to their lower toxicity on the non-target and low persistence in the environment. In recent years essential oils of medicinal plants have received much attention as pest control chemical agents. The discovery of active compounds that are less persistent will be beneficial for both the environment and agricultural product consumers.Materials and Methods: The egg, 2nd larval instars, and adult of TLM were used to determine the fumigant toxicity of the C. cavi. The essential oil of aerial parts of C. cavi, was extracted by hydrodistillation using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus. Conditions of extraction were: 50g of air-dried sample, 1: 12 plant material/water volume ratio and 4h distillation. The obtained oil was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored in the refrigerator at+4oC until used. The fumigant toxicity of essential oil on larvae 2nd (inside leaf) and egg were tested in macro plastic container volume 1800 ml, The vials were contained leaves containing larvae mines with ten larvae (2nd instars) or 20 eggs, separately. Fore 2nd larvae (outside leaf) and adults bioassay experiments in glass vial volume 600 ml that contained ten larvae (2nd instars) or 10 adults, separately. No.1 What man filter paper disks attached to the undersurface of vials. Filter papers were impregnated with series of pure concentrations of essential oil ranging from 20-100 ml L-1 air, 3-7 ml L-1 air, 0.1-1 ml L-1 air and 0.5-1 ml L-1 air were used in the main bioassay tests for the egg, 2nd larval instars (inside leaf and outside leaf) and eggs, respectively and each concentration and control included three replicates. The mortality was recorded for 2nd larvae and adults after 48 hours. Experiments were carried out at 27±2oC and 65±5% R.H. The rate of mortality was recorded after 48 hours. The type and amount of constituents of the essential oils were analyzed by GC/MS.Results and Discussion: Results showed that the essential oil of C. cavi had high mortality on the different stage of TLM after 48 hours exposure. There was no mortality in controls. The essential oil showed strong adulticidal, larvicidal and ovicidal activity. The results showed that by increasing oil concentration, the mortality was increased. Based on Probit analysis, the LC50 values for egg, 2nd larvae inside the leaf, 2nd larvae outside leaf and adults were 44.24, 4.652, 0.335 and 0.624 ml L-1 air, respectively. The major constituents of C. carvi was Benzaldehyde, 4- (1- methyl ethyl) – (c) (21.26%) Conclusions: Essential oil extracted from C. carvi proved to be very toxic different stage of TLM. On the basis of these LC50 values, larvae (outside leaf) and adults were much more susceptible than eggs and larvae (inside leaf). It should be noted that C. carvi showed remarkable insecticidal activity without any apparent phytotoxicity for leaves of tomato plants. The results showed that the caraway essential oil has high potential in controlling tomato leaf miner and will have purely to be advised for the safeguarding of the environment and the health of the user. Especially that application of synthetic insecticides arise development of resistance and pollution of the environment. In summary, results indicated that these essential oils have good fumigant toxicity on TLM.