During 2021 and 2022 growing seasons, two field experiments were carried out to compare the effectiveness of conventional and non-conventional pesticides, against the leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and its parasitoids on faba bean and fenugreek plants. Ten treatments divided into three groups were evaluated: malathion, aviesect, and carbosulfan in the first group; Naterlo mixed with each of the previous chemical insecticides in the second group; and Naterlo, Agri-flex, Chemisol, and Biofly in the third group. The findings revealed that Naterlo+Aviesect considerably reduced leaf miner larvae population by up to 73% (mortality rate), followed by Naterlo+Malathion 71%. The remaining treatments aviesect and malathion resulted in 65%and 63% mortality, respectively. On the other hand, insect pest population densities were significantly reduced after the addition of the biocides Biofly and Naterlo to the chemical insecticides. The use of natural products is a promising approach as they are less harmful to natural enemies and reduce the danger of contaminated food. Keywords: Leaf miner, faba bean, fenugreek, natural enemies.
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important source of dietary protein in Egypt, consumed as green vegetable, dried and canned seed. This highly nutritious crop is attacked by several insect pests, including the leafminer, Liriomyza congesta (Becker) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), which negatively affects the yield. The present investigation was conducted at the experimental farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during two growing seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, to monitor population dynamics of L. congesta and its larval and pupal parasitoids. In addition, the efficiency of an entomopathogen and some compounds against L. congesta larvae were investigated. The population density of L. congesta larvae was the highest in March, moderate in January and February, and lowest in December and April. Three hymenopterous parasitoids were recorded; Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Eulophidae) which attacked L. congesta larvae with an average of 5.18 and 6.05% parasitism in the two seasons. L. congesta larvae exhibited highest rates of parasitism on January 29th (12.40%) and on March 12th (17.31%) during the first season and on February 26th (17.20%) and March 12th (20.90%) during the second season. The pupal parasitoid, Opius sp. (Braconidae) was observed with an average of 16.76 and 18.41% parasitism, in the two seasons. The highest parasitism level of Opius sp. reached 21.78 and 34.95% on February12th and March 19th, respectively, in the first season and 22.78 and 33.95%, on February 26th and March 12th, respectively, during the second season, whereas the parasitoid Chrysocharis sp. (Eulophidae) was observed at an average of 15.96 and 16.99% in the two seasons, respectively. The conventional insecticide, abamectin reduced the larval population of L. congesta by 89.85% and was superior over the entomopathogenic fungicides BioMeta (Metarhizium anisopliae) and Biossiana (Beauveria bassiana), as they produced 50.68 and 42.91% larval population reduction, respectively. The present research emphasized the effectiveness of parasitoids, entomopathogens and plant–derived materials against L. congesta as an important safe pest control agents, and their use help to reduce conventional chemical insecticide applications. Keywords: Faba bean, Liriomyza congesta, parasitoids, entomopathogens, conventional insectic
The study aimed to evaluate the role of compost supplemented with beneficial microorganisms and biological agents to reduce infection with the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis–lycopersici (FORL), which causes Fusarium crown and root rot disease of tomatoes. Antibiotic agents were added individually and in combination to compost treatments. The results obtained showed that adding to the olive compost the isolate T-zh-9 of Trichoderma viride alone led to significant disease control compared to other treatments. The fresh shoot weight reached 33.2 g/plant and the plant height 75.8 cm, in addition to high level of peroxidase enzyme activity of 1.57 and 1.04 μmol/mg, 15 and 30 days after infection with the pathogenic fungus, respectively. Adding the isolate FZB27 of Bacillus subtilis alone to the compost led to a reduction in the severity of infection with the pathogenic fungus FORL in plants treated with olive compost, reaching 13.9% compared to the control treatment (soil contaminated with pathogenic fungi (58.3%). Adding the two antibiotic isolates together to olive compost achieved the best results in reducing the severity of infection with the pathogenic fungus FORL and increasing the level of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. Keywords: compost, tomato crown and root rot disease, biocontrol agents, and defense enzymes.
Chickpea Ascochyta blight, Ascochyta rabiei is the most important disease of chickpea in many countries. Understanding the genetic diversity of the pathogen is very important to identify resistance sources to virulent populations in national and international chickpea breeding programs. Moreover, knowledge on the existence of mating types can help to fine tune Ascochyta blight management practices. Eight simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to estimate the genetic diversity of 96 isolates collected from four countries (Uzbekistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey). A total of 29 bands were recorded of which 26 were polymorphic. The study showed that the isolates were genetically diverse and isolates from Uzbekistan showed the highest diversity. Following phylogenetic analysis, the isolates were clustered into four groups and isolates from Uzbekistan were distributed in all groups. The two mating types were found in the four countries and no significant deviation from 1:1 ratio for Turkey and Uzbekistan isolates. Keywords: Ascochyta rabiei, SSR markers, diversity, mating type.
The present study was performed to determine the impact of feeding honeybee colonies with sugar syrup and inverted sugar on pollen, physiochemical and antimicrobial properties. Raw honeys and bee-processed syrups (sucrose solution or inverted sugar syrup) samples were collected from bee colonies under field conditions in different regions of Egypt. Biological activities were compared between colonies which fed with sugar syrup and inverted sugar. The results obtained clearly showed that the chemical analysis of tested samples indicated that concentration of monosaccharide (fructose and glucose) was the highest in samples from natural honey. In contrast, disaccharide (sucrose) concentration was lowest compared to the samples collected from colonies fed with inverted sugar and sugar syrup. The antibacterial activity of natural honey from the Assiut region was highest against Staphylococcus aureus compared to honey obtained from bee colonies fed on sucrose solution and inverted sugar syrup. Only honey samples of colonies which feed with inverted sugar (Qualiubia region), sugar syrup (Arish region) at 100% concentration caused antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. However, the effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed only with honey sample (100%) harvested from colonies fed with sugar syrup at Arish region. A wide range with highest value of H₂O₂ (201.30 and 139.72 mg/kg) was observed in natural honey samples and honey obtained from colonies fed on inverted sugar from Arish region. The water contents of honey collected from colonies fed with sugar syrup in Qualiubia and Arish regions, or fed on inverted sugar in Arish reached the highest value. The results obtained also showed that the pollen grains content, H₂O₂ and antimicrobial activity were reduced in the harvested honey samples of honeybee colonies fed with inverted sugar and sugar syrup in most regions. In contrast, these diets increased the water content and improved biological activity in colonies fed with inverted sugar, compared to that fed on sugar syrup. Keywords: Honeybee inverted sugar, sugar syrup, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.
