A survey on the fauna of Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was conducted in the north-central region (2010-2011) and Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran (2016–2017). Specimens were collected using Malaise traps, leading to the identification of 32 species. Among these, Apodesmia ocellata (Wesmael, 1835), Opiostomus (Opiostomus) griffithsi (Fischer, 1962), and Xynobius (Xynobius) comatus (Wesmael, 1835) and Psyttalia (Psyttalia) romani (Fahringer, 1935) are recorded for the first time in Iran. Furthermore, twenty species are reported as new provincial records. A brief diagnosis accompanied by illustrations is provided for these new records in Iran.
Dodartia Dodartia orientalis L. (Scrophulariaceae) is an invasive perennial weed that has been investigated as a medicinal plant species. There are no comprehensive studies on the biology of this weed. Seven experiments on seeds and rhizomes were conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse at the Weed Research Department of the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection in 2018 and 2019. The results showed that dodartia seed viability was 62.5%. The optimum constant and alternating temperatures for seed germination were 20 °C and 15/25 °C, respectively. Alternating temperature was more appropriate than constant temperature for dodartia seed germination. The use of concentrated sulfuric acid (98%) for 2 minutes was the best stimulus for Dodartia seed germination. Conversely, gibberellin did not stimulate seed germination. The seeds germinated at NaCl concentrations < 300 mM. The study of dodartia vegetative reproduction under the effect of various environmental factors showed that the optimal planting depths and lengths for rhizome emergence were 2.5 cm and 15 cm, respectively. Rhizomes did not emerge in response to salt stress (for all studied NaCl concentrations).Additionally, the planting depth and smaller rhizome size lead to a longer time to shoot emergence. The study of cold stress effects revealed that Dodartia rhizome emerged after 24 and 48 hours of incubation at 0 °C and -5 °C. Dodartia rhizomes emerged after 24, 48, and 72 hours at 25 °C, and after 48 hours at 0 °C and -5 °C. However, keeping rhizomes at -10 °C resulted in their loss of viability. Our findings indicate that breaking rhizomes into small pieces and deep burial are crucial for effectively controlling Dodartia growth.
Abstract: Weeds are considered one of the most significant challenges in managing urban green spaces, and controlling them is one of the most costly maintenance operations. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of controlling weeds in rose shrub green spaces using a mulch-herbicide combination. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 11 treatments and three replications. Treatments included: the application of trifluralin and pendimethalin herbicides alone at a dose of 2 L ha -1, incorporated into the soil surface, and the application of each herbicide at the recommended dose in combination with wood chip mulch (applied to the soil surface under a 5 cm mulch layer, application of the mulch-herbicide combination on the soil surface and application of the mulch-herbicide combination incorporated into the topsoil) along with control treatments of mulch alone, hand weeding, and no weed control throughout the season. Weed sampling was performed at intervals of 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after treatment application. Based on the results, the lowest weed density and dry weight were observed in the combined mulch-herbicide treatments. Trifluralin herbicide showed greater weed control efficacy than pendimethalin, both when applied alone and in combination with mulch. The application of trifluralin and pendimethalin alone had adverse effects on rose flowering, but combining them with wood chip mulch mitigated their impact on rose growth. According to the results, combining trifluralin and pendimethalin herbicides with wood chip mulch can be an effective option for controlling weeds in green spaces, particularly in rose gardens.
One of the most destructive pests affecting stored legumes is the bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). This study investigated the fumigant toxicity, oviposition deterrence, and repellency of three essential oils (EOs), including Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, Cuminum cyminum (L.), and Melaleuca viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) against C. maculatus adults. The lethal concentrations (LC50) for the EOs were determined as 1.727 µL/L air for T. ammi, 1.219 µL/L air for C. cyminum, and 1.622 µL/L air for M. viminalis, with a dose-dependent increase in adult mortality with rising EO concentrations. Oviposition deterrence was assessed on various bean types, including white kidney beans, common beans, cowpeas, navy beans, and red kidney beans. Notably, T. ammi oil at 5 µL/g of seeds completely inhibited oviposition, whereas 2 µL/g resulted in 88-94% inhibition. In contrast, M. viminalis oil showed the least deterrence at the same concentration, ranging from 60% to 77%. The control group exhibited significant variation in egg-laying across bean types, with cowpeas showing the highest egg count, followed by white kidney and common beans. All EOs effectively reduced both egg numbers and hatch rates. The repellent efficacy was highest in treated cowpeas, with C. cyminum oil exhibiting a notable repellent activity of 80%, compared to 46.66% for T. ammi and 33.33% for M. viminalis oils. Our findings underscore the potential of these oils as natural alternatives for managing C. maculatus infestations in stored legumes.
One of the employed formulations in the biological control of broomrape is the application of a Pesta granular formulation using semolina, sucrose, and kaolin. In this study, the efficacy of Pseta granular formulation of Fusarium oxysporum by using 3, 5, and 10% (w/w) Psyllium seed mucilage (PSM) on Egyptian broomrape Phelipanche aegyptiaca (Pers.) Pomel. control was investigated. Natural materials were used to stimulate the germination and growth of fungal spores by providing more available foodstuffs and moisture (during the dew period) for the spores. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted in the research greenhouse during the spring and summer of 2020. The results of this study showed that the application of PSM as mucilage Pesta granules (MPGS) resulted in more effective control of Egyptian broomrape, thereby increasing the fresh and dry weight of the tomato. The lowest dry weight of Egyptian broomrape (0.22 g pot-1) and the highest dry weight of tomato (27.20 g pot-1) were observed under MPG3 treatment (10% w/w). The highest dry weight of Egyptian broomrape (1.40 g pot-1) and the lowest dry weight of tomato (21.12 g pot-1) were obtained under the MPG2 treatment (5% w/w), which was not significantly different from the control treatment (1.34 g pot-1). It was concluded that the application of PSM at 10% w/w may increase the efficacy of the Pesta granule formulation in controlling Egyptian broomrape in tomatoes.
