PLANT PROTECTION JOURNAL
Year:2009 | Volume:1 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

The rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oilseed crops throughout the world. This crop is being attacked by several pests and diseases. This studies were conducted for the identification of some fungal diseases under laboratory and glass-house conditions on rape plants in Isfahan areas including; Braan, Koohpayeh, Mahabad, Mobarakeh, Dehaghan, Kabootarabad and Fraydan, where the infected plants were collected from the infected fields. The studies indicated that there are certain fungal pathogens infecting the areal and underground of rape plants. Isolation and growing cultures for identification ofFusarium species were with consistent and proper preparation of cultures on SA, WA, PDA, SNA, CLA, NASH & NYDER. Obtained isolates were identified by using morphological and various keys. All isolates were categorized in 5 species of Fusarium including: F. culmorum, F. heterosporum, F. lateritium, F. oxysporum, F. solani and one species of Rhizoctonia (R. solani). Disease severity was calculated under laboratory condition and compared with control using scoring scales (0-24). Results showed that, the highest level of infection was recorded by F. culmorum, F. lateritium, F. oxysporum, F. solani and R. solani, whereas the least infection was noticed by F. lateritium and F. heterosporum. It was also tested the isolated species on growth of plant and symptoms of disease. On the base of analyzing the data using DMRT (P=0.01%, 0.05%) on shoot length, fresh and dry weight of plants by different isolated pathogen, it was noticed significant effect compared to control.

The effects of five constant temperature (15, 20, 25, 30 & 35oC) on the development (egg to adult emergence), longevity of female and parasitism of eulophid waspClosterocerus formosus Westwood, on the serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii(Burges), was studied on bean. The developmental period was decreased as temperature increased and developmental duration from egg to adult emergence at constant experimental temperatures was 53.2, 27.6, 15.4, 9.6 and 7.2 days, respectively. Also the longevity of adult females decreased as temperature increased, and in the mentioned temperatures, female longevity determined as 27, 23.1, 22.4, 19.8 and 17.6 days. Accordingly, total numbers of host killed by the parasitoid (by parasitism and host killing) were 37.4, 197.8, 349.5, 324.4 and 296.5 at constant temperatures. The relationship between temperature and the developmental rate of the parasitoid well described by linear regression model.The lower threshold temperature was estimated to be 13.5oC and degree-day requirement for egg-adult emergence was 166.66.

The spherical mealybug, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) (Hem., Pseudococcidae), is a serious pest of citrus and other cultural and non-cultural plants in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. This pest was recorded from south of Iran, in Fars, Hormozgan and Khuzestan provinces. The damage of the pest increased high on citrus trees in Jahrom region of Fars-Iran at recent years. High reproductive potential and wide distribution of pest and problems of chemical control have led to a greater need for the use of natural enemies as IPM programs. In present investigation, possibility of biological control ofN. viridids byChrysoperla carnea (Neu., Chrysopidae) in citrus orchards of Jarom was studied during 2004-2005. First instar larvae of green lacewing, C. carnea, were released according to the layout plan. A Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with six treatments and four replications was adopted. For better result, movements of ants on treated trees were prevented by special sticky band.Percentage of fruit infection was considered in the study. The overall results showed that the mealybug can be controlled biologically by green lacewing with three times release of larvae at April 30, May 10 and May 20 at rate of 500 larvae/tree.

The family Tachinidae with approximately 10000 described species worldwide is the second family in Diptera and the larvae are endoparasitoids of Arthropoda, nearly always in insects.During 2006-2008 a faunistic survey was carried out to collect tachinid flies from some regions of Fars province. Data are given on the distribution of 63 species from 50 genera belonging to the four subfamilies. Of these, 39 species were recorded for the first time from Iran and 57 species from Fars province. A key to local genera and figures are presented.

The two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is a serious and extremely polyphagous pest in many parts of the world as well as one of the most common pests on cotton in Iran. In this study, the biology of T. urticae on Sahel cultivar of cotton was investigated with 43 replications under laboratory condition with temperature 28±2oC, humidity %60±5, and photo period 16: 8 L: D. The result revealed that the average lifetime for female spider mite was 21.07±0.57 and for male 19.23±0.46 days. The average number of eggs laid by fertile female was 5.97±0.85 and infertile female were 6.31±0.6 eggs day. Incubation period for fertile eggs were 11.62±0.25 days and for infertile eggs were 10.69±0.93. The sex ratio of male to female was 1: 2.3.

During 2006-2007 studies were carried out to collect and identify the moths of family Sphingidae in some regions of Fars Province. A total of 16 species were collected and identified. Four forestlands including Arsanjan district with dominantPistachio mutica, Firouz Abad district with dominant Amygdalus scopariae and Ziziphus spinachristi, Kazeroun and Nour Abad district with dominant Quercus brantii, Sepidan district with dominantPyrus glabra and one rangeland (Shiraz) were selected and 271 specimens of Sphingidae were collected by the insect net and the light trap. Collected insects were identified systematically according to their morphological characteristics by second author and confirmed by Ian J. Kitching (Natural History Museum, London, UK).Moths found in this study are as follows:Marumba quercus(Denis &                                              Acherontia styx styx (Westwood, 1847)Schiffermuller, 1775)                                                      Agrius convolvuli(Linnaeus, 1758) Macroglossum stellatarum(Linnaeus,                                Akbesia davidi(Oberthur, 1884) 1758)                                                                            Clarina kotschyi kotschyi(Kollar, 1849) Rethera brandti euteletes(Jordan, 1937)                           Daphnis nerii(Linnaeus, 1758) Rethera komarovi manifica(Brandt,                                  Hippotion celerio(Linnaeus, 1758)1938)                                                                            Hyles hippophaes(Esper, 1793)Smerinthus kindermanni(Lederer, 1853)                           Hyles livornica(Esper, 1780) Theretra alecto(Linnaeus, 1758)                                      Hyles nicaea sheljuzkoi (de Prunner, 1798)                                                                                     Laothoe populi populeti(Bienert, 1870)Amoung themAcherontia stxy is a new record for Fars province (Iran) and Marumba quercuswas found in the most region of this province.

Repetitive PCR fingerprinting of 24 strains of P. syringae pv. syringae isolated from different host/areas were compared with a standard strain ofPss from Greece (BPIC 242).Bacterial DNA was prepared with three known methods i.e. freeze-boil, whole colony boiling and directly from washed leaf surface. Initial result showed no purified genomic DNA extraction was necessary for rep-PCR analysis. On the other hand, Rep patherns of Pssshowed some correlation between host specialization and its habitant with genomic diversity. Strains isolated from stone fruits formed a distinct cluster from wheat and sugar beet strains and a similar pathern was found among all stone fruits strains in confined geographical areas. Therefore it was found the rep-PCR technique as a rapid, simple and producible method to identify and classify these important plant pathogens.

The species of Orius Wolff, 1811 are well known as predaceous bugs to control many kinds of agricultural pests effectively, such as thrips, aphids and mites. During 2008-2009 faunistic studies were carried out on the species ofOrius from Shiraz and Marvdasht region. A total of eight species were collected and identified. Of these Orius (Microtrachelia) retamae(Noualhier) is a new record for Iran. This is also the first report of subgenusMicrotrachelia from Iran.

This paper provides a report on Sphecidae and Crabronidae collected in a few localities of Fars province in southern Iran and belonging to the Department of Entomology, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom branch. Fourteen species belonging to 11 genera and 5 subfamilies were identified (as genus-species) from Sphecinae (4-5), Astatinae (1-2), Bembicinae (3-3), Crabroninae (2-3) and Philanthinae (1-1). Of these species, eight are first records for the Fars province.