l. ebrahimi

The wheat aphid, Schizaphis graminum, is deemed one of the most significant grain pests, causing substantial damage to the country's wheat farms. Consequently, various biological, agronomic, and chemical methods are used to control wheat aphids, where chemical spraying is the most common method. The increasing use of chemical insecticides has resulted in several issues, including the emergence of insect resistance to pesticides, adverse effects on the environment, beneficial organisms, and humans, and the development of insecticide-resistant pests. In this regard, insect pathogens like nematodes may be preferable to chemical insecticides. This study aimed to evaluate the lethal and sublethal effects of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae on the life history parameters and phenoloxidase enzyme activity of S. graminum by L-DOPA (L-dihydroxyphenylalanine) substrate. This enzyme activity is essential to the insect's innate immune response.

S. graminum was cultivated on a wheat host in a growth chamber maintained at 25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity (RH), and 16:8 light/day (L:D) hour photoperiods. Daily observations and recordings were used to track the development period and survival rate. In addition, for breeding the wheat aphid S. graminum, populations from the plant protection department's laboratory were utilized and transferred to wheat plants in a growth chamber.
Aphids infested the plants once they had reached their optimal size. Age-stage and two-sex life table analyses were used to analyze the raw data. TWOSEX-MSChart was used to evaluate the raw data based on the age stage and two-sex life table. In addition, blood cell phenol oxidase and hemolymph testing were performed. Samples of the enzyme were preincubated with phosphate buffer at 30 °C for 30 min, then 50 µl of 10 mM L dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) substrate was added and incubated at 25 and 30 °C for 5 min. The phenol oxidase activity was measured using a 492 nm enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader device.

The bioassays indicated that the lethal concentration (LC50) of nematode treatment against the adults of S. graminum was 136 larvae/insect. The current study revealed that S. carpocapsae had a higher adult mortality rate than S. graminum. Results of the sublethal effects experiment showed that the pest's fecundity in S. carpocapsae treatment (19.07 offspring/female) was lower than the control (39.16 offspring/female). Furthermore, the studied nematode significantly reduced the population growth parameters of S. graminum. The intrinsic rate of increase for treated and control nematodes was 0.300 and 0.421, respectively, per day. Based on the results, the nematode increased the phenol oxidase enzyme's activity at 25 and 30 °C relative to the control.

Considering that chemical insecticides are accompanied by problems such as resistance and residual toxins in agricultural products, it is preferable to use entomopathogenic nematodes, which have a higher immunity to environment and natural enemies. The lethal concentration (LC50) study of the examined nematode showed that the nematode S. carpocapsae exhibited good disease-causing power on the adult female aphids of S. graminum.
The investigation into the effect of experimental nematode sublethal concentration on the growth parameters of the wheat aphid population revealed that in the nematode S. carpocapsae, the characteristics of the aphid population, particularly the intrinsic rate of population increase parameter value, decreased significantly. Sublethal concentrations of the studied nematode can slow or even stop the population growth of wheat aphids and significantly impact aphid fertility, survival, and life expectancy.
In this study, the phenol oxidase enzyme's activity significantly differed between treated and untreated aphids. It appears that the insect uses phenol oxidase enzymes to counteract the nematode's effect, and this enzyme plays a role in the wheat aphid's body when dealing with S. carpocapsae. The overall results revealed that S. carpocapsae exhibited high lethal and sublethal effects on S. graminum. After additional field studies, it can be recommended for use in biological control and an integrated pest management (IPM) program for this pest.

 The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pests of soybean fields. This mite is one of the most important and harmful pests of soybeans in hot and dry summers, which often begins to cause damage at the end of the growing stage and the beginning of the reproductive stage of plants. Damaged leaves turn yellow and brown and fall off prematurely. The severity of the damage of this pest is greater when the distance between the plants is short and irrigation is not enough. This mite feed on soybean leaves and cause injury by sucking contents out of leaf cells. In severe infestations, infested leaves will turn yellow to tan, or sometimes bronze-colored, and may drop off plants. Infestations can reduce yield. In most cases, the use of acaricides is the only way to control this pest. The use of new acaricides while avoiding their resistance is important for plant mites control.

The present study was conducted in soybean fields of Golestan and Ardabil provinces (Moghan) with 6 treatments and 4 replicates. Treatments were, including clorfenapyr (Payton®) 36% SC  0.5 ml/L (recommended dose), clorfenapyr (Payton®) 36% SC  0.4 ml/L, propargite (Omite®) 57% EC 1 ml/L (recommended dose), bromopropylate (Neuron®) 25% EC 1 ml/L (recommended dose), hexythiazox (Nissorun®) 10%EC 0.75 ml/L (recommended dose) and a control treatment by spraying water. Mean number of mites per leaf was counted one day before and 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after spraying in three floors of plant (bottom, middle and top of plant).The percentage of efficiency was calculated by the Henderson-Tilton method. Statistical analyses were done using SAS software with randomized complete block design in multiple spaces. Data analysis and comparison of means were performed using Tukey test.

The efficacy of studied acaricides was acceptable in all three floors. In Moghan and Glostan province, before spraying on the lower, middle and upper leaves of soybean plants, the number of T. urticae mites counted per leaf in different treatments did not differ significantly. Clorfenapyr (Payton®) was effective after 3 days. The percent mortality of mites when were treated with clorfenapyr (0.5 ml/L) in the upper, lower and middle floors was 83-86% in Ardabil province, although has been reported 72-84% for Payton (0.4 ml/L). While in Golestan province, it has been 100%. The efficacy of the compound was 68-72% (0.4 ml/L) and 78-94% (0.5 ml/L) in Ardabil province (Moghan) and was 100% in Golestan province after 7 days. The knock down effect of this acaricide compared the others was significant. The efficacy of the compound was up to 99% (Ardabil province) and 96% Golestan province after 28 days that indicated the persistence of these acaricides. The results showed that two-spotted spider mite on the lower leaves in both provinces showed more infection. However when used pesticides, it did not show any significant differences. The percentage mortality of mites in Moghan were reported for Payton (0.4 ml/L) (86.32 ± 2.75%, 83.61 ±7.21%), (78.49 ± 4.01%, 82.87 ± 4.58%), (93.52 ± 1.47%, 74.80 ± 9.91%), (95.12 ± 3.90%, 80.39 ± 3.54%) and (99.33 ± 0.67%, 84.82 ± 8.29%) respectively after 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in lower leaves, while the percentage mortality of the spider mites when treated with Payton (0.5 ml/L) after  3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days  were 100 ± 0%, 100 ± 0 %, 94.94 ± 5.05%, 100 ± 0% and 93.95 ± 4.72% and for Payton (0.5 ml/L) were 100 ± 0%, 100 ± 0%, 88.80 ± 8.57%, 95.02 ± 2.87% and 85.51± 4.92% in lower leaves in Glostan province.

 It is recommended to use chlorfenapyr acaricide with Payton brand due to high short-term effect (three days after spraying) and duration of action up to 28 days after spraying to control two-spotted spider mite in soybean fields. These compounds showed acceptable efficacy in controlling two-spotted sider mites on soybean fields. In most cases, the application of the two concentrations of the clorfenapyr was not significantly different, but the percent mortality was more when it treated with 0.4 ml/L. The number mites in lower floors of soybean was more than the upper and middle floors, but after the application of this pesticides was not significantly different. Based on these results, we recommend the 0.4 ml/L dose of clorfenapyr (Payton®) for the control of two-spotted spider mite in soybean fields.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, are potent biocontrol agents that are widely used against various insect pests. The non-feeding and non-developing third stage infective juvenile (IJ), or the dauer juvenile, is the survival stage of EPNs that is able to survive outside the host and is used for formulation. In recent years, alginate has been recognized as the most promising biopolymer in the formulation of living cells and microorganisms. According to the results of scientific research, native isolates of each region have a greater impact than non-native and foreign isolates due to high ecological compatibility.

The native isolate of Steinrnema carpocapsae IRMoghan1 from the Moghan region, with accession number MF187616 in the NCBI database, was selected for use in the alginate-based formulation owing to its high potential of survival and pathogenicity. The best and most cost-effective capsule composition was selscted by evaluating 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% alginate concentrations with 0.5%, 1%, and 2% concentrations of a calcium chloride solution. Formulation characteristics, the survival rate of the nematodes inside the formulation, exited water volume, escaped nematode rate, and pathogenicity of the formulated nematodes against Galleria mellonella larvae as the laboratory host were measured and recorded during 4 to 90 days post formulation. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and comparison of means by Duncan’s test were performed on data using SAS software.

Based on the results, the best concentrations for sodium alginate and calcium chloride were 2% and 0.5%, respectively, which were therefore selected for the next experiments. The diameter of the formed capsules ranged from 3.5 to 4.5 mm. The ANOVA of the amount of water leaving the capsules, the number of nematodes escaped from the capsules, and the survival rates of the nematodes inside the capsules were significantly different at various time intervals post formulation (P ≤ 0.01). Statistical analysis showed that the formulated nematodes had a higher survival rate than the unformulated congeners in all the time points from (4 to 90 days) after formulation. The results of the ANOVA for bioassay experiments showed significant differences between different time points in the percentage of mortality of G. mellonella (P ≤ 0.01).

The present study showed the high potential of S. carpocapsae IRMoghan1 native isolate for sodium alginate formulation and, the successful formulation of an entomopathogenic nematode as a biocontrol agent, which is a valuable finding as it increases the shelf life without refrigeration. This finding should be used as the basis of further studies for the commercialization of this isolate.

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. is one the most important economic vegetables crop cultivated in Iran and many countries of the world. The cotton-melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most destructive polyphagous pests of Cucurbitaceae plants in greenhouses and open fields. A. gossypii can cause severe damage in commercial fields. The honeydew that aphid excretes decreases the photosynthetic activity of plants and contaminates fruit, resulting in severely reduced quality. Moreover, A. gossypii can transmit more than 80 type of viral diseases that can cause substantially greater losses than the damage from direct feeding of the insect. The focus of the control methods against this pest in our country is the use of insecticides. Additionally, A. gossypii has developed different levels of resistance to many insecticides. Agricultural adjuvants can improve the efficacy of pesticides and can be effective in reduction of pesticides use. In the current research, the effects of two adjuvants (Scorch and Torpedo п) on efficiency of imidacloprid (SC35%) and flonicamid (WG50%) to control this aphid were investigated on cucumber in greenhouse. These two insecticides have systemic property doing their job after leaf penetration. It is known that the leaf penetration step is very determinative for systemic pesticides. Besides, Scorch and Torpedo п are multi-functional adjuvant, showing penetration, wetting, adhesion and spreading properties.

The project was performed based on a completely randomized design with 15 treatments and 3 replicates. The efficacy in the sampling units was recorded at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after treatment. The treatments were: 1) imidacloprid (recommended dose); 2) imidacloprid+Scorch; 3) imidacloprid+Torpedo п; 4) imidacloprid (10% reduction of dosage)+Scorch; 5) imidacloprid (20% reduction of dosage)+Scorch; 6) imidacloprid (10% reduction of dosage)+Torpedo п; 7) imidacloprid (20% reduction of dosage)+Torpedo п. Flonicamid was replaced by imidacloprid in the treatments 8 to 14. The control treatment (No. 15) was sprayed by water only. The efficacy was calculated using the Henderson and Tilton formula. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS software (ver. 9.1). One row was considered as the distance between the experimental units. Two rows on either side of the greenhouse were also considered as margins.

The combine analysis of variance showed that interaction of treatment × place was not significant, meaning that the experimental treatments had the same respond in different locations. Therefore, the data were statistically analyzed based on this, without considering the locations (Urmia and Karaj). The results showed that both adjuvants were able to improve the efficacy of imidacloprid and flonicamid, as it was confirmed at all times after spraying. For example, three days after spraying, the efficacy of imidacloprid alone was estimated at 81.47%, while "imidacloprid + Torpedo" and "imidacloprid + Scorch" were estimated at 92.60% at 93.43%, respectively. Similarly, seven days after spraying flonicamid alone showed 87% efficiency, whereas the treatment of "flonicamid+Torpedo" and "flonicamid+Scorch" exhibited 94.34% and 95.31%, respectively. When Torpedo п was used in combination of reduced doses of imidacloprid, the efficacy was severely reduced. Thus, the addition of Torpedo п is not recommended with reduced doses of imidacloprid. Instead, adding the Scorch when reducing the imidacloprid dosage, the efficacy was remained as high. For example, three days after spraying, "Imidacloprid with 10% dose reduction + Scorch" and "Imidacloprid with 20% dose reduction + Scorch" treatments were 93.65% and 94.23% efficacy, respectively. Besides, by reducing the flonicamid dosage and adding both adjuvant, the efficiency was as high as to the treatment using the recommended dosage. For example, 14 days after spraying, flonicamid with 10% dose reduction + Scorch and flonicamid with 20% dose reduction+ Scorch showed 93.94% and 93.48% efficacy, respectively. Our results can be important from both economic and environmental point of view, as the obtained results indicated that imidacloprid and flonicamid dosage can be reduced by 20%. However, it should be keep in mind that other factors, such as the price of adjuvants, are involved in their practical and field use by farmers, which should be taken into account.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional self-control training on managing interpersonal conflicts and problem-solving strategies among women with marital problems.

The research was a semi-experimental with pretest-post-test design with control group and follow-up study. The statistical population of the study was 300 women with marital problems, that 34 people according to their high grades in marital conflict questionnaire (MCQ)and low grades in emotional self-control index were selected as samples and  Based on demographic variables (age, education, economic status, duration of marriage, number of children), they became homogeneous, and randomly placed in two groups as experiment (n=17) and control groups(n=17).The experiment group was trained in eight 75-minute sessions base on the Gross emotional regulation protocol, and the control group did not receive any training. Data collected with interpersonal conflict management styles (ROCI-II) and problem solving questionnaires (PSS) and analyzed with Multi-covariance analysis (MANCOVA).

The results indicated that by controlling the pre-test grades, the difference between grades of experiment and control groups was meaningful among integrated conflict styles, avoiding, dominant and compromising except required conflict solution styles. The difference between experiment and control groups in problem solving styles (constructive and non-constructive) was meaningful, too. Results related to the effect of emotional self-control on conflict resolution styles and problem-solving methods persisted in follow-up studies.

Based on the findings of this research, emotional self-control education has an impact on managing interpersonal conflicts and problem-solving strategies, accordingly.

Paspalum dilatatum spikelets with ergot symptoms were collected from Rice Research Institute of Iran in Rasht, Guilan province during the fall of 2018. Ergot symptoms usually are caused by different Claviceps species on grasses. Sclerotia of ergot were globular in shape, black in color and irregularly roughened on the surface that resembles a brain. Different fungi were isolated from the ergot symptoms such as Alternaria species mostly. Some isolates were identified as Epicoccum based on the morphological features. Morphological characteristics of the isolates were studied on both host substrate and culture media (potato dextrose agar, oat meal agar and malt extract agar) in vitro. Shape, color and size of conidia of fungus grown on host substrate (ergot) were similar to the grown conidia on culture media in vitro condition. This fungus was identified as Epicoccumandropogonis based on molecular data of ITS-rDNA sequence, morphological characteristics and host specificity, which usually grown on Claviceps honeydew and immature sclerotia and can be consider as an indicator of ergot disease on grasses. This is the first report of ergot symptoms on P. dilatatum as well as E. andropogonis species from Iran.