Common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is one of the economical pest among the pistachio orchards. The adonis' ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Col: Coccinellidae) is one of the most prominent coccinellid predator in pistachio orchards. It is omnivorous and feed on aphids and psylla. Functional response studies using a suitable index of the successful of natural enemy in the biological control programs for pests. Sometimes the application of pesticides have indirect effects on functional response and related behaviors of predators. In this study, the effects of insecticide: hexaflumuron and acaricide spirodiclofen were investigated on functional response of the 4th instars larvae of H. variegata in controlled conditions (26±2ºC, 60±5٪ RH, 16L: 8D). For this purpose, different densities including 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 95, 128, 150, 200 and 300 5th instars nymphs of common pistachio psylla were placed on pistachio leaf disc in a petri dish. Larvae were treated with field recommended concentration by topical application method. Type of functional response, the searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th) were estimated by using logistic regression and non-linear regression methods, respectively using SAS software. According to the result, functional response was type II in all treatments. Searching efficiency in hexaflumuron, spirodiclofen and control were estimated 0.077±0.014, 0.098±0.030 and 0.125±0.245 h-1, and for handling time were 0.13±0.017, 0.11±0.023 and 0.01±0.12 h respectively. This achievement shows that these pesticides do not change the potential of H. variegata significantly.

Ladybird Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been reported from many parts of Iran, has an important factor on equilibrium and natural regulation of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hem.: Aphididae) population in alfalfa. Determining the population seasonal change of H. variegata and its parasitism rate by the most important parasitoid species was the aim of this study. The samplings were done from April to October, 2010 at research filed of Bu-Ali Sina University, Dastjerd (Hamedan Province) (ca. 4.5 ha of alfalfa var. Hamedani) where was intensively infested by Acyrthosiphon pisumHarris. Every week, H. variegata adults were collected by sweep netting and totally 400 samples were brought back to the laboratory. Population peakof H. variegata coincided with second and approximately third alfalfa cutting.The sex ratio of H. variegata (male: female) was calculated 1: 1.12. The most important parasitoid species of this predator was Dinocampus coccinellaeSchrank (Hym.: Braconidae) that its mean parasitism rate was %30.15 from September to November 2010. Therefore, considering nearly the permanent presence of this predator in alfalfa fields and necessity of conserving and supporting native ladybirds, this study showed the importance of H. variegata population change and some influencing factors.

The spotted amber ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Col.: Coccinellidae) is one of the most prominent coccinellid predators in Iran. It is omnivorous and feed on aphids and psylla. The effects of two diets Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)and eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on some biological aspects of Hippodamia variegata (goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were studied in the laboratory (27.5±2 ºC, 55±5% relative humidity (R.H.) and a 16:8 h L:D). Developmental time at egg to adult on the above-mentioned diets was 13.29± 0.39 and 14.72± 0.27 days, respectively. The total larval period (including the larva 1, 2, 3 and 4 instar) varied from 7.76 ± 0.41 to 10.23± 0.27 days for B. brassica and E. kuehniella, respectively. Larval survival rate of the first instars of H. variegata was lower and mortality persent was greater in either aphids or E. kuenilla eggs diet. The results showed that no significant differences in embryonic development and pupal stage of H. variegata  were detected when fed on either two diets but developmental duration of each instar significantly changed when fed on both diets  as well as total  larval developmental duration. The results indicated that B. brassicae is more suitable host for rearing this ladybird.

Formulation of blastospores of entomopathogenic fungi may help to overcome unfavorable climatic conditions and may increase their effectiveness. In the present study, different products of wettable powder of blastospores were prepared for two isolates of Beauveria bassiana and were stored at two different temperature regimes, refrigerator (4±1°C) and laboratory (24±3°C) conditions. After storage durations (24 hours and 30 days), their effects were investigated against second instar larvae of the onion thrips. Results indicated that mortality percent of thrips larvae in blastospore's treatments maintained in laboratory (BML), blastospore's treatments maintained in refrigerator (BMR), new formulated blastospore (NFB) and new blastospore )NB) in 108 spore/ml concentration were 66, 89.4, 92.7 & 91% in  B. bassiana EUT105 and 70, 93, 89.8 & 91 % in B. bassiana EUT116, respectively. These results indicated positive effects of storing at low temperature on preserving high viability in treatments maintained in refrigerator than those maintained in the laboratory. The results of this study can be valuable base for research on increasing stability and efficacy of fungal spores, changing or replacement of carrier ingredients in our country.

Fire blight is an important worldwide disease of pome fruits that control of which through antibiotics is particularly critical. In this case and in absence of another chemical methods, the biocontrol methods can be considered as the best alternative for control of fire blight. In this study efficacy of 5 isolates of antagonistic bacteria belongs to Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pantoea agglomerans on fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora was investigated in laboratory assays and field experiments. For this purpose antagonist bacteria and the pathogen were isolated from infected and healthy tissues of pear and apple trees in Qazvin and Tehran provinces. These bacteria were identified by morphological, biochemical and physiological properties. To investigate the efficacy of these antagonists on the growth of fire blight pathogen, laboratory assays were performed such as chloroform test and inhibition zone (antibiosis). All antagonists showed significantly effect on E. amylovora growth in laboratory assays. A field experiment also performed to study of antagonistic effect on blossoms blight of pear trees. In orchard trial, analysis showed that these antagonists significantly reduce the blight on pear blossoms. These treatments decreased the incidence of disease by  55.3%-  86.4% in field experiments. These findings indicated that these five antagonists are effective in biological control of fire blight in both laboratory and orchard situations.

Fluorescent pseudomonads are important biocontrol agents showing capability to restrict or suppress phytopathogens, especially the fungal pathogens via production of some inhibitory metabolites and siderophores directly, and promote the plant growth through some different phytohormones. The objective of this research is to screen and introduce Pseudomonas fluorescens UTPF68 as a new biocontrol and plant growth promoting rhizobacterium that is isolated from the canola rhizosphere  in Dashte-Naz (Mazandran province). This strain was evaluated in biocontrol laboratory of Plant Protection Department at University of Tehran, for controlling of soilborne pathogens under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Production of siderophore, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), salicylic acid (SA), antibiotics diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) and pyoluteorin (Plt), and some lytic enzymes were determined. In greenhouse trials, biocontrol effects on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (in canola), Rhizoctonia solani (in bean) and Fusarium oxysporum were studied. Also, bacterial biocontrol effects in combination with Trichoderma virens was evaluated. The results showed that the strain UTP68  is a promising candidate to be commercially applied in Iran. It is worth to be considered further for developing an efficient biopesticide.

Systemic induction of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase in tomato roots and stem followed by application of split root system method was investigated. Root system of tomato seedling in the sixth growth stage were divided in two equal sections after washing and replanted in two adjacent pots and then inoculated with nematode and fungus as fallowing treatments. The second treatment was inoculation of half root by Trichoderma spore suspension and half root with sterile distilled water. The first treatment was the inoculation of half of root by nematode and the second treatment was another half of root inoculated just by  sterile distilled water. Inoculation of half root by Trichoderma and another half by nematode. Inoculation of both roots section with sterile distilled water (control). Changes of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase enzymes activities in each root extract and stem section in each treatment were measured daily by spectrophotometer, between zero and seven days. The results showed that Trichoderma can increase enzymes activities not only in site of inoculation but also, in other part of plant such as root and stem. Maximum of peroxidase activity in root and stem was occurred at 5 and 4 days after inoculation. Maximum of polyphenoloxidase activity in root and stem was occurred at 6 and 4 days after inoculation, respectively. The results suggest that Trichoderma systemically induce plant defense mechanism and can be considered as a suitable inducer for root- knot nematode management.