Induced Tomato Resistance Against Bemisia tabaci Triggered by Salicylic Acid, ß-Aminobutyric Acid, and Trichoderma.

Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B is a key pest of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) throughout the world. In this study, we examined the induction of resistance on tomato plants treated with SA, BABA, and Trichoderma either individually or in combination against B. tabaci biotype B through the assessment of some biological and behavioral aspects of this insect pest. Also, to understand the mode of action of these inducers, we correlated and analyzed the biochemical basis of plant resistance, by measuring levels of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and phenolic content in leaves of treated tomato plants. The longest development time of whitefly immature stages was recorded for plants treated with root ß-aminobutyric acid application (RBABA) + root Trichoderma application (RT), root salicylic acid application (RSA) + RT, and RT. In a free-choice assay, B. tabaci adults showed a significantly lower preference for settling and oviposition in RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT in comparison with control. In a no-choice assay, B. tabaci females laid significantly fewer eggs on treatments than those in control, with better results observed in RBABA + RT. Plants responded to different treatments and showed higher induction of PPO, POD, and PAL activities, besides the higher accumulation of phenols in RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT treatments. These results suggest that RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT could be utilized for the induction of effective plant defense against B. tabaci.

Compatibility of Verticillium lecani (Zimm.) with several pesticides.

The entomopathogenic fungus, Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Viégas is a widespread hyphomycete consisting of a heterogeneous species aggregate. Conidia survival may be effected by environmental factors or by bio-pesticides and chemical products used to protect crop plants. In this research compatibility of mentioned fungi with imidachlopride, flufenoxuron, teflubenzuron+phozalone, endosulfan, amitraz, and effect of these pesticides on vegetative growth of the fungus were studied. The formulations of pesticides were tested in three concentration (mean concentration-MC, half MC and twice the MC) and using Duncan multiple range test, treatment were grouped. Effects of the pesticides on V. lecanii vegetative growth in concerned results have shown that almost all formulations studies significantly inhibition fungal development. The results indicated that flufenoxuron (at three concentrations), teflubenzuron+phozalone (at MC and twice the MC), induced levels of vegetative growth inhibition higher than 68%. Only data on amitraz and imidachlopride (at half MC) were not significantly different from the control, which is indicated the compatible formulations with V. lecanii. These formulations could be used simultaneously with this entomopathogenic in integrated pest management.

Demographic parameters of wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) insitu of Rafsanjan's orchards.

Wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) is one of the pests of pistachio trees. This aphid caused the shrinkage, thickening, and changing the color of the pistachio leaves. Since insect feeds from leave edges, the thick and rolled upward wrinkles were formed, which its green color turned into red. Therefore, its economical damages are out of direct feeding from plant extraction, twisting pistachio leaves, and the decrease of photosynthesis. In this research two orchards and 10 trees that each of them were selected in Rafsanjan region and 58 fundatrix galls, 120 nymphal galls were marked and the demographic parameters for apterus parthenogenesis female of this aphid were calculated via daily observations. The results indicated that intrinsic rates of increase (r) for 1, 2 and 3 generations were 0.01, 0.0638 and 0.0575 femal/femal/days respectively, Doubling time (DT) were 69.31, 10.52 and 12.04 days, respectively, net fecundity rates were 1.71, 11.5 and 7.37 femal/femal/days, respectively, Net fertility rates were 1.11, 8.87 and 5.01 days, respectively, and mean generation times (Tc) were calculated to be 31.5, 32.2 and 31.87 days, respectively. Other reproductive parameters such as gross hatch rate, gross fecundity rate, gross fertility rate, mean age gross fecundity and fertility, mean age net fecundity and fertility, mean age hatch, finite rate of increase (lambda), intrinsic birth rate (b) intrinsic death rate (d) and daily reproductive rate were also calculated. The results revealed that population parameters especially r in the first and second generations were lowest and highest, respectively and mean longevity of fundatrix was 30 days and the born nymphs made separate galls in the edge of pistachio leaves.

Bioecology of pistachio twig borer moth Kermania pistaciella Amsel, in Rafsanjan and Isfahan-Iran.

Pistachio woodborer, Kermania pistaciella Amsel. (Lep.: Oinophylidae) is one of the most important pests of pistachio in Iran. Some of morphological characters and its biology were studied in two orchards in Rafsanjan. For this study, 80 pistachio branches were selected and visited once a week. The larval emergence was recorded and cocoon formation was located. Seasonal occurrence of adults were recorded based on marked cocoons on branches, caged cocoons and the number of captured males in cylindrical pheromone traps bated with virgin females. To determine sex ratio, six hundred cocoons were caged and emerged moths (males or females) were recorded. For determination of the pest oviposition period, totally 10 trees and from each tree two branches and two fruit clusters were randomly selected. Number of hatched and unhatched eggs was recorded in two days interval. By visual observation, larval tunneling behavior and locomotion were recorded on 50 branches and 50 fruit clusters. By visiting 15 pistachio producing regions in Isfahan, distribution areas, and percent of pest damage was determined. For this study, 110 pistachio branches were selected and visited twice a week. Percent of infestation of the pest in Burkhart, Ardestan, Najafabad, Kashan, Natanz, Naiin and Shahreza were 88.9+/-17, 15.25, 41, 0.0, 23.46+/-32 and 0, respectively. Overwintering was identified as 4th larval instars. This study disclosed 7th and 15th of March and 7th of April as larval emergence initiation, its peak, and termination, respectively and this takes usually 32 days whereas the pupae period was identified one month. Cocoons were formed underside of branches. Larval emergence time was not affected by location of branches and their vertical and horizontal position. By using marked cocoons, adults' emergence initiation, its peak and termination was recognized 18th and 20th of April and 2nd of May, respectively. Start, peak and end of male moth capture in pheromone traps was 18th and 26th of April and 2nd of May, respectively. The number of captured males in two last days at traps with two and four day's old females was not significantly different. Start, peak, and end of oviposition were 24th of April and 4-10th of May, respectively. The eggs hatched almost after one week and larvae tunneled in the pedicel of fruit cluster and branches and began to feed. This study revealed that, there are four larval instars in pistachio woodborer life cycle and different larval instars could be separated by measuring the width of head-capsule and pronotum. Sex ratio was also determined as 1 per 2.79. Also by collecting larvae and pupae from five different geographical areas and placing them in cages the emerged natural enemies were collected. Three parasitoids and two predators were collected. The parasitoids were identified as: Chelonus sp (Hym.: Braconidae), pteromalus sp (Hym.: Pteromalidae) and one unidentified species from Ichneumonidae. An ant as a pupal predator and a spider feeding on the larvae were collected.

Detection by RAPD-PCR of polymorphism in populations of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) collected on four host plants from Iran.

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bernisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hom: Aleyrodidae) is a major pest of field crops, vegetables and ornamentals in Iran. In this study, the infested leaves of cucumber (Cucurnis sativus L.) zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with whitefly nymphs and pupae were collected from Iran, and were transferred to the laboratory. The newly emerged males and females of each population were released separately into a large cage set on cotton plants. Experiments were carried out in a growth chamber on cotton, (Varamin 76 variety) at 24+/-20C, 55+/-3% RH and 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod. The adults of every collected population after emergency were reared in the large cages (40x50x70) containing pots of cotton plants. In this study five decamer primers were used in the amplification reactions. All the primers produced polymorphisms. Totally, 71 RAPD markers were found. The amplified DNA fragments were 200 to 3000 bp. The Jaccards and Nies similarity coefficient and Euclidian distances were used to generate a dendrogram based on unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA). The clusters based on RAPD markers correlate fairly well with classification scheme based on biological traits. This study suggested that RAPD can be useful technique to study DNA polymorphism in Bemisia tabaci.

Comparative study of the five biological parameters of cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci and silverleaf whitefly B. argentifolii bellows and perring reared on cotton under laboratory condition.

The five biological parameters of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) and silverleaf whitefly Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Hom: Aleyrodidae) as an important pest of cotton were compared on cotton in laboratory condition. The infested leaves containing nymphs and pupae were collected from cotton fields in Iran. Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber under 24+/-2 degrees C, 55+/-3% RH and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. The newly emerged populations of each species were released in to a large cage set on cotton plants, separately. In this investigation, total fecundity, oviposition period, adult's longevity, sex ratios and daily fertility rates of 50 mated females were calculated for each whitefly used 50 mated females for each treatment. The treatments included two whitefly species and one host plant i.e. Gossypium hirsutum L. (Varamin 76 variety). Emergence of adults and crawlers and percentages of females emerged from 100-200 eggs at four replications were also calculated. The results revealed that total fecundity, oviposition period, and developmental time for B. tabaci reared on gossipium were 65.25, 4.56, and 23.18, respectively and for B. argentifolii reared on gossipium were 97.06, 5.42, and 23.75, respectively. The results revealed that there are significant differences between parameter of total fecundity at 1%. Probability level and sex ratios at 5% probability level. No significant difference was found between oviposition period, developmental time and maximum adult's longevity at 5% probability level.

Identification and introduction of some Iran pollinator bees of Colletidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae (Hym: Apoidea).

Insufficient pollination results in less yield and low quality of crops. Many vegetables depend on the cross pollination to produce valuable seeds or fruits. Most flowering plants, fruit and seed formation are highly dependent on the activity of pollinator bees and in some crop such as alfalfa no seeds will form in the absence of bees. The most important crops of Iran from stone fruits (peach, almond, plum, cherry and apricot), pome fruits (apple, pear and quince), alfalfa, clover, sunflower, etc. are collected. These plants are attractive for pollinator bees as source of nectar as well as pollen. Hence to identify and introduce bees of Iran, a study was conducted for three years. Pollinator bees were collected from all flowering plant varieties in the bloom season (from the beginning of spring till end of summer) by using insect net. Collected bees were placed in small plastic jar and details of host, place, date and time of collection were recorded. After preservation and drying, identification of samples was carried out by using identification keys and also by comparison with reference samples.

Comparative study on biological parameters of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) collected on four host plants from Varamin-Iran.

During 2003 biological parameters of sweetpotato whitefly, B. tabaci (Genn.) (Horn. Aleyrodidae) as a major pest of field crops, vegetables and ornamentals were studied. In this study, the infested leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with whitefly nymphs and pupae were collected from Varamin-Iran, and were transferred to the laboratory. The newly emerged males and females of each population were released separately into a large cage set on cotton plants. Experiments were carried out in a growth chamber on cotton, (Varamin 76 variety) at 24+/-2 degrees C, 55+/-3% RH and 16:8 h (L: D) photoperiod. The adults of every collected population after emergency were reared in the large cages (40 x 50 x 70) containing pots of cotton plant. The preimaginal developmental time and reproductive parameters of 40 mated females were calculated for each population. The results revealed that the intrinsic rates of increase (r(m)), on cucumber, zucchini, eggplant and cotton were 0.093, 0.068, 0.085 and 0.078 respectively, gross fertility rate, were 67.92, 59.08, 76.13 and 63.14 respectively and mean generation time (T(c)) were 27.4, 27.74, 27.73 and 27.52 days respectively. Other demographic parameters such as intrinsic birth rate (b), intrinsic death rate (d), finite rate of increase (lambda), doubling time (DT), net fecundity rate, net fertility rate , gross fecundity rate, mean age gross fecundity and fertility, mean age net fecundity and fertility, mean age hatch, number of eggs/female/day and daily reproductive rate were also calculated. The results revealed that there were not significant differences between parameters of demography in different populations and the host plant has no significant influence on biological parameters.