Iranian Journal of Forests and Rangelands Protection Research
Year:2012 | Volume:10 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

The present study, was carried out to investigate the antibacterial properties of aqueous, acetone and methanol extract of Aphelonix persica galls at the concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 mg/ml were screend against four bacteria (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli of bean common blight disease, E. amylovora of fire blight of apples and pears, Agrobacterium tumefaciens of crown gall and Psuedomonas syringae pv. tabaci of tobacco blight). The antibacterial activity was measured from the size of the diameter of zone inhibition in agar subculture and disc diffusion methods. The results indicated a positive correlation between zone of inhibition diameter and the extract concentrations. Based on the inhibitory concentration, E. amylovora and Agrobacterium tumefaciens had the lowest while, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli and Psuedomonas syringae pv. tabaci had the highest inhibition against different concentrations of aqueous, acetone and methanol extracts.

Manmade fires have been major threat to forest areas in the previous decades. The purpose of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of forest fires and identify fire sensitive area in Saravan forests. According to the available data sets, fire areas with the highest frequency and areas affected were identified. GPS data were recorded for these areas and transferred to Arcview software to convert bridge became diverse. Map typing was conducted within and outside value layer, combining maps was done to indicate anticipated maps of sensitive areas, the impact of drought on fire was investigated by the PDSI index. Vegetation layer by a factor of 0.426 was the highest weight on the predicted maps of susceptible areas to fire and then were layers of the human factor, distance from roads, temperature, slope, distance from streams, rain, direction, and height of the priorities were next. According to the results obtained It was found that the most common type of fire in the study area were the low surface and limited area and the fire spread in forest litter with extreme heat and low humidity of the air in August and in natural areas because of lack of rain fall caused which the forested areas has become the center of the high risk area that any negligence could result in heavy losses. Also fire suppression in the forests of Guilan depends upon wind condition. Obtained by hierarchical analysis model for the evaluation process, fire dispersal maps were combined with the zoning map, and model validation was performed. Results obtained demonstrate good accuracy of the method (77%).

In the course of studies carried out during 2008-20011 to determine effects of irrigation intervals on yield of superior poplar clones in Karaj, population densities of two poplar key pests; Chrysomela populi L. and Melanophila picta (PALL.) were compared on the clones. Poplar colons were planted under a split plot design with 3 main treatments (4, 8 and 12 day irrigation intervals) by 3 replication and nine secondary treatments (clones) in Alborz Research Station of Karaj. For sampling of C. populi, four trees from each secondary plot and eight leaves from each tree were selected randomly. Then numbers of different larval instars were counted and the surface of leaves was measured in order to calculate number of this pest in surface unit (cm2). For sampling of M. picta, four trees from each secondary plot were selected and their trunk was covered by sleeve close. Then in next spring the number of emerged insects were recorded and densities in surface unit was determined. Obtained results showed irrigation intervals and poplar clones significantly (α<0.05) affected densities of C. populi and M. picta. Interaction of irrigation intervals and poplar clones did not effect on density of C. populi, but it influenced on M. picta density, significantly. The highest density of C. populi recorded in 4 and 8 days irrigation intervals and the highest density of M. picta was obtained in 8 and 12 days. Densities of C. populi on P. n. betulifolia and P. d.69.55 were 0.0340 and 0.0018, respectively.There was significant difference between these clones. The highest densityof M. picta was observed on P. e. triplo with 8 and 12 days irrigation intervals.Mean density of M. picta on P. e. triplo was 0.0029 while in 4, 8 and 12 day intervals, the obtained figure were 0.0005, 0.0036 and 0.0045, respectively.

Bracket fungi are among the important macroscopic wood decaying fungi in the forests. The aim of this study was to examine occurrence of bracket fungus with topographic factors and spatial distribution modeling of bracket fungus in district one of Shastkolateh Educational and Research forest of Gorgan province. Inventory of trees infected by bracket fungus was conducted using two strip transects and GPS data were recorded for the affected trees. Topographic map of primary and secondary factors associated with the presence of fungi including altitude, slope, aspect, solar radiation energy, amount of shade, wetness and landform by terrain analysis were developed on a digital elevation model. To evaluate frequency of bracket fungi, the Chi-square test and modeling spatial distribution of bracket fungus occurrence using logistic regression was performed. Predict map of the of bracket fungus presence were prepared and divided into different zones. Results showed that the highest fungi presences was mainly on the altitudes of above 700 m with 63.5% frequency, on the slopes of with 0-30 percent with frequency of 73.5 percent and western aspect with 36.4% frequency. The coefficients of the variables in the logistic regression model indicated that the variables of altitude, slope direction, solar radiation, humidity, topography and shape of the shelf fungi have a positive while, the slope and shadow variables have a negative effect. Generally, altitude and humidity are most important agents affecting occurrence of a shelf fungus.

Field survey of coccinellid fauna was carried out in Chitgar Park from 2010 to 2011.External morphology of adult coccinellids and male and female genitalia were used for identification. For evaluating correlation between densities of coccinellid species with plant types and site altitudes, sampling were done on three different types of plants (weeds, conifers and broadleaves) in three sites elevation (1150-1250, 1251-1350 and 1351-1450 m.). In the course of study sixteen ladybeetle species of four subfamilies were collected in Chitgar Park.1) Coccinellinae: Hippodamia variegata., Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella undecimpunctata, Oenopia conglobata, Adalia bipunctata, and Propylaea quatuordecimpunctata.2) Chilocorinae: Chilocorus bipustulatus, Exochomus nigripennis, Exochomus nigromaculatus, Exochomus flavipes, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Exochomus sp.3) Scymninae: Scymnus (Pulus) sp., Stethorus gilvifrons, .4) Sticholotidinae: Nipus plunatus and Pharoscymnus ovoideus. All collected specimens are predators of insect pests include aphids, scales, mites and defoliator beetles larvae. Of all collected cccinelids, Oenopia conglobata had the highest occurrences in year-round collection with 34.1 percentages and accounted as dominant species. The figures for this species in summer, autumn and winter seasons of 2010 were 49, 22 and 84 percent of all collected specimens. Population density of seven spotted lady beetle; Coccinella septempunctata was 33 percent in the spring of the same year.

Wild almond (Amygdalus scoparia Spach) is one of the most valuable plants in Iran- Tourani mountainous areas in Central, South, East and West part of the country. This study was carried out to collect and identify primary agents in particular pests and diseases causing decline of almond forests in Koh-Siah Dashti area in Bushehr province during 2009-2010. Sampling procedures for pests’ incidences was performed regularly on wild almond trees. Larval and immature pests’ stages were transferred to the laboratory for rearing. Plant pathological studies were undertaken in lab conditions to identify diseases affecting wild almond through culturing, isolation and purification of pathogens and provide ultimate control procedures. The results showed that the most important pests of A. scoparia were root beetles Capnodis carbonaria Klug scales Eulecanium persicae Fabricius, almond seed wasp Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein, rodents as Hystrix leucura Sykes and bark beetle Scolytus amygdali Geurin-Meneville. The pathogens that separated and identified were Fusarium proliferatum Matsushima, Alternaria alternate Keissl, Aspergillus parasiticus and chaetomium sp. Kuntze. Of all important human induced disturbances of almond forests, industrial developments and animal grazing could be cited. Charcoal making, arson, road construction and mining activities are next issues to mention At the end control methods to restore wild almond communities are provided.

Birch is one of the most important trees in the northern forests which presently face extinction. Natural regeneration of these valuable trees is affected by various constraints, including pests and fungal diseases. In order to isolate and identify seed born fungi associated with Betula, seeds of 2 B.litwinowii and B.pendula was randomly collected from mature trees in mazandaran and golestan provinces. Seeds were surface sterilized with 70% ethanol and 1% sodium hypochlorite. Ten seeds in 5 replications plated on potato dextrose agar. Seed mycoflora was identified on the basis of spore characteristics, size, color and identification keys. A number of fungi including: Fusarium oxysperum, Alternaria alternate, Trichothecium roseumm, Amblyosporium echnolatum, Penicillum implicatum and Trichodema harzianum were isolated and identified and their frequency and incidence were recorded. The fungi T. harzianum, P.implicatum and A.alternata were externally observed with 34.5, 27.8 and 24.6% incidence, respectively and T.roseumm was observed after germination with 20.15% incidence. Results indicated that seeds can infect birth seeds externally or internally. This is the first report of fungi associated with birch seeds in Iran.

In a survey on harmful arthropods associated with Euphrates poplar, damaged leaves as gall were collected in selected sites of natural stands in Tehran, Khuzestan, khorasan Razavi and Esfahan Provinces. Specimens kept in rearing jars in the laboratory conditions (24-26C and 50-60RH) for emergence of adults. The species were identified as Egeirotrioza ceardi (Bergevin) and Egeirotrioza intermedia Baeva, 1963. This is the first record of the species E. intermedia from Iran. The Jumping plant lice, E. intermedia is distributed in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Israel on Populus diversifolia Schrenk and Populus pruinosa Schrenk (Gegechkori & Loginova, 1990). Malenovsky et al. (2012) studied Jumping plant lice (Hom.: Psylloidea) of Afghanistan. They reported the species; E. intermedia on Populus diversifolia and Populus pruinosa. Burckhardt and Lauterer (1993) studied the Jumping plant-lice (Hom.: Psylloidea) of Iran. They reported the species, Camarotoscena fulgidipennis Loginova, Camarotoscena hoberlandti Vondracek, Camarotoscena unicolor Loginova and Egeirotrioza ceardi (Bergevin) on poplars. In this species, the nymphes suck sap of leaves and damage of the pest is observed as galls spherical shape, diagonal 5 mm, in upper or lower the leaves. Based on the results obtained, dispersal areas of E. intermedia and their collected dates in Iran as followed: - Tehran Provinces: khogir area (30 Oct.2008).- Alborz Provinces: Karaj (Reasearch Center of Alborz) (22 Oct.2008).- Khuzestan Province: Shoshtar (Gotvand and Koshkak areas); Haft Tapeh –Dezful (Choghazanbil area); Ramhormoz (Zobaeidimousa Village); Sousangerd (Sableh Village). (11 Dec.2010).- Khorasan Razavi Province: Sarakhse (Research Station of Gharahgol and edge of Road Sarakhse – Jahanbani) (19 Nov.2010).- Esfahan Province: Esfahan (edge of Zayandeh Rood river and center of Esfahan City); Kashan (Research Station of Dry & Desert Regions) and Aran & Bidgol (Sombak area) (7 Oct.2010).