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Rigidoporus microporus is a major threat to Hevea brasiliensis in the rubber growing regions of the world. In vitro synthetic fungicidesensitivity assays of Tridemorph, Benomyl and Bayfidan at seven different concentrations, and in vivo effectiveness of the three fungicides on R. microporus inoculated on rubber seedlings were evaluated. The three chemical fungicides used in this study were effective on R. microporus, with Tridemorph being the most effective. The minimum inhibitory concentration value for Bayfidan was between fungicide concentrations of 0.001µg/ml and 0.005µg/ml. Percentage of plant death and presence of rhizomorph recorded at two months after inoculation were higher than that recorded at the termination of five months experimental period after inoculation. Tridemorphtreatment had the highest plant health both at two months and at five months after inoculation. Decline in plant death from the third months onward suggested a reduction in fungal activity of R. microporus. Tridemorph was most effective among the three fungicides tested as it exhibited higher mycelial percentage inhibition in the management of R. microporus in vitro and higher plant health of rubber seedlings in vivo.

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Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate the susceptibility of six improved cowpea varieties to seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) attack at a temperature of 29 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 65 ± 3%. Fifty grams of each variety were weighed in Kilner jars (250ml) and infested with three females and two males of C. maculatus that were 1-2 days old. Data recorded were the physical characteristics of the cowpea varieties, number of eggs laid, percentage egg survival, number of emerged adults, duration of emergence (DE), mean developmental period (MDP), percentage seed weight loss, percentage seed damage and susceptibility index. The experiment was a completely randomised design with three replications. Results showed that significant differences (p < 0.05) existed in DE and MDP among the cowpea varieties studied. IT90K-76, IT98K-131, IT11D-15-21 and IT07K-299-6 performed significantly better in duration of emergence than IT10K-866-1 and TVx 3236. IT98K-131-1 performed significantly better in median developmental period (26.67 days) than other varieties except for IT90K-76 (22.67 days). Results showed that IT90K-76, IT10K-866-1 and IT98K-131-1 were moderately resistant while IT07K-299-6, IT11D-15-21 and TVx 3236 were susceptible. This study recommends IT90K-76 because it performed appreciably better in these parameters than the other cowpea varieties when infested with C. maculatus in storage. 

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Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller) is an important polypahgous pest of sugar beet fields in many regions of world including Iran. Biorational pesticides are good and safe alternatives to the chemical insecticides which are compatible with goals of IPM programs. In this study, efficacy of three biorational pesticides, Azadirachtin (NeemAzal^®), Bt (Bactospeine^®) and Bt (Biolep^®), and a conventional chemical insecticide, deltamethrin (Decis^® EC), was studied on pest population and damages as well as carabid beetle population as its important predators in sugar beet field during two agricultural seasons (2015 and 2016). Sampling of the pest egg batches, larvae and the carabid beetles was carried out at 1 day before treatment (DBT) and 1, 3, 7 and 10 days after treatment (DAT). Finally, total yield and sugar content of sugar beet in the different treatments were evaluated for the two agricultural seasons. Results showed that NeemAzal was a significant oviposition deterrent for female moths of A. segetum. During both agricultural seasons, the highest and lowest larvicidal effects were observed in Decis and Bt (EC) treatments, respectively. Ten DAT, 40, 60, 13 and 73% reductions of pest population larvae were observed were observed in NeemAzal, Bt (WP), Bt (EC) and Decis treatments, respectively. Sugar beet yield in all treatments was significantly higher than control. Total yields in NeemAzal, Bt (WP), BT (EC) and Decis treatments were 17.5, 25.6, 12.9 and 43.7% more than control in 2015 and 8.7, 19.7, 4.8 and 37.1% respectively in 2016. But sugar content in the different treatments was not significantly different. Totally, the most adverse effects on carabid beetles were recorded in Decis^® treatment.

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 Although, weed control in saffron farms is critical, no herbicide is registered for saffron fields. This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates during 2016-2017. Treatments included application of trifluralin, pendimethalin, metribuzin, bentazon, ioxynil, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, haloxyfop-r-methyl, sethoxydim, clethodim, cycloxydim, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, tribenuron methyl, foramsulfuron, paraquat, dicamba + triasulfuron, and dicamba + tritosulfuron herbicides at recommended and reduced doses. Mother corms were planted on 10th of September 2016 at 5 × 10 cm corms distance and planting depth of 15 cm. Measured indices included: number of flowers, fresh and dry weights of flower and stigma, number of replacement corms and total corms weight. Results showed that visual phytotoxic symptoms were not observed in pre emergence herbicides. Post emergence herbicides showed different levels of phytotoxicity from slight to severe. The application of paraquat, oxyfluorfen and oxadiazon, caused higher levels of phytotoxicity compared to other herbicides. Acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor herbicides caused the least injury to saffron, while acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides damaged saffron severely. The highest and the lowest dried stigma yield was obtained from control treatment (0.54 g.m^-2) and post application of tribenuron methyl (0.003 g.m^-2) respectively. Among pre emergence herbicides, the highest dried stigma yield was recorded for pendimethalin herbicide. The post application of metribuzin, oxadiazone and oxyfluorfen resulted in greater dried stigma yield than other broadleaf herbicides. By reducing herbicide dose saffron yield increased and phytotoxic levels were reduced significantly. Among the studied herbicides, trifluralin, oxyfluorfen, pendimethalin and metribuzin can be used as selected herbicides in saffron.
 

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Tomato leafminer moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an important pest of the tomato plant. Light traps can play an influential role in reducing the pest population. Different light colors, three trap sizes, and three installation heights were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The light colors were white, yellow, green, red, blue, and blacklight blue (BLB). The traps, transparent containers of three sizes were 8.5, 10.5, and 14.5 cm in diameter and 15, 19, and 26 cm in height, respectively. The trap installation heights were 50, 75, and 100 cm above the plants’ canopy. The BLB color proved significantly more attractive to T. absoluta, followed by yellow and white colors. The light traps captured more males than females and more mated females than virgin ones. Both of the larger traps (10.5 cm d × 19 cm h and 14.5 cm d × 26 cm h), and higher installed ones (100 cm and 75 cm above the plants), captured a significantly higher number of moths compared to the smaller trap size and lower installation height. Accordingly, for mass trapping of moths, light traps with BLB source of light, with 10.5 cm in diameters and 19 cm in height, and installation at 75 cm above the canopy is recommended in greenhouses.

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Apple decline, responsible for seedlings root and collar rot in nurseries, is an important disease. Some Oomycetes species were associated with this disease. This study aimed to control this severe decline disease. The effect of six chemical products against Pythium ultimum and Phytopythium mercuriale associated with apple seedling decline was evaluated using in vitro poisoned food technique and in vivo greenhouse assays. The carbendazim was effective at 10 ppm against P. mercuriale (89.3%), while at 100 and 250 ppm the values were 70.06% and 75.30% for P. ultimum, respectively. The dose 2000 ppm of mancozeb completely inhibited the mycelial growth of P. mercuriale and P. ultimum. However, fosetyl-Al applied at 2000 ppm revealed an inhibition percent of 51 and 100% for P. ultimum and P. mercuriale, respectively. Regarding Hymexazol, the highest inhibition rates were against P. mercuriale (100%) and P. ultimum (90.55%) for 60 ppm. Chinosol revealed to be effective against P. mercuriale for all doses. It was effective against P. ultimum at 50 ppm (90.96%). The highest inhibition rate (86.59%) exhibited by metalaxyl-M was for P. ultimum at 120 ppm. In vivo test showed the efficacy of fosetyl-Al, metalaxyl-M + mancozeb, and chinosol to reduce root browning due to P. ultimum by 55.67%, 44.33%, and 55.67%, respectively, and improved the aerial part sanitary states of seedlings inoculated by P. mercuriale by 60.06, 49.85 and 49.85%, respectively. The chinosol improved the sanitary states of the aerial part of seedlings inoculated by P. ultimum.


 

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The hemipteran, Macrolophus pygmaeus Rumber, is an effective biocontrol agent against many crop pests including tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta Meyrick. Sublethal effects of azadirachtin (Neem Azal^®), indoxacarb (Avaunt^®), and emamectin benzoate+lufenuron (Proclim Fit^®) were studied on biological characteristics and functional response of the predatory bug in laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 6 ±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 hour (L:D). For this purpose, females of the predatory bug were exposed to sublethal residues (10% of field concentration) of the insecticides. Two-sex life table and Roger's model were used to investigate effects of the insecticides on biological parameters and functional response of the predator, respectively. Results indicated that sublethal residues of indoxacarb and azadirachtin had the highest and lowest side effects on life table parameters of M. pygmaeus. Whereas azadirachtin has no significant effects on the bug biological parameters, total fecundity and longevity of the bug in indoxacarb treatment were significantly lower (14.6%) and higher (6.9%) than the control. The predator showed type III functional response. The type of functional response was not affected by the insecticide residues. However, the coefficient of attack rate (b) for the indoxacarb treatment (0.1521) was significantly lower than for other treatments. However, there was no significant difference between the handling Times (T_h) of the treatments. In conclusion, the experiments proved that azadirachtin is a low risk insecticide to M. pygmaeus, which can be integrated with biological control by the predator.