Category Archives: plant protection

The Efficacy of The Integration of Plant Extracts, Chemical Pesticides and Releasing The predator Phytoseiulus  persimilis A-H in Controlling The Population of Tetranychus urticae K on Tomato in The Greenhouse Conditions

Ibrahim Aziz Saqr(1) Magedah Mohammad Mofleh(2) and Randa Suleman*(1)

(1). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia. Syria.

(2). General Commission of Agricultural Scientific Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Randa Suleman. E-Mail: randasuliman65@gmail.com).

Received: 18/05/2018                                Accepted: 05/06/2018

Abstract

The research was conducted in order to assess the efficacy of the integration between the use of the aqueous extracts of both Melia azedarach L. and Styrax officinalis L. and the pesticides Acetamiprid, Abamectin and Pyridaben and releasing the predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot in controlling the population of Tetranychus urticae Koch on tomato Lycopersicum esculentum under the greenhouse conditions. Results showed that both extracts M. azedarach L. and S. officinalis  L. have an effect reached to 50.99 % and 40.29 %, respectively after 24 hours of the experiment with no significant difference between them. The efficacy increased to 77.19 % and 70.18 %, respectively in the fourth week after releasing the predator Ph. persimilis with a significant difference. The acaricide Pyridaben surpassed the Abamectin where the efficacy recorded 63.13 and 62.07%, respectively after 24 hours of the experiment but with no significant difference. The predator Ph. persimilis was able to generate a population that was able to control the population of T. urticae with integration of Abamectin in the fourth week of the experiment after releasing the predator. The efficacy recorded 86.03%, it had the highest effect comparing to the other treatments with a significant difference except with the Pyridaben treatment.

Key words: Plant extracts, Chemical pesticides, Tetranychus urticae, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Lycopersicum esculentum, syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

The Efficacy of Some Fungicides, Insecticides, Acaricides and Foliar Fertilizers Against Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch

Atie Arab*(1) Rawa Youssef(1) and Deena Faeud(1)

(1). Agricultural Scientific Research Centre in Lattakia, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Atie Arab. Email: atiearab@hotmail.com).

Received: 20/05/2017                                Accepted: 23/09/2017

Abstract

Two experiments (in vitro and in greenhouse) were carried out at Agricultural Scientific Research Centre in Lattakia during 2014, to evaluate the efficacy of some fungicides, insecticides, acaricides and foliar fertilizers (methomyl, chlorpyriphos, flubendiamide, lufenuron, propamocarb hydrochloride, thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil, copper oxychloride, K2O35%+SO345%, abamectin) against two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. on common beans plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) which were artificially infected with sensitive strain of two-spotted spider mite reared in the laboratory. The effectiveness of pesticides and foliar fertilizer were tested at the recommended concentrations. Results showed that some evaluated pesticides effectively reduced two–spotted spider mite population comparing with acaricide Abamecten. The insecticides chlorpyriphos and methomyl showed high effectiveness (100% and 89.11%) respectively, after 3 days of treatment under laboratory condition. Foliar fertilizer K2O35%+SO345%, had relatively good efficacy (74.68%) with no significant differences versus acaricid Abamectin after 3 days of treatment under the greenhouse condition. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the fungicide chlorothalonill was relatively low (31.53%), after 7 days of treatment in the laboratory.

Key words: Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, Chemical pesticides, Foliar fertilizers.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

The Effect of Legume Type, Energy Level, and Period of Exposure to Microwaves on the Response of Cowpea Weevil

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Bruchidae: Coleoptera)

                              Emad Q. AL-Ebady*(1) and Marwa M. Abdallah(1)

(1). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University. Mosul, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr.Emad Q. AL-Ebady. E-Mail: semad82@yahoo.com).

Received: 26/07/2018                                Accepted: 10/10/2018

Abstract

The research was executed at Plant Protection Department during 2017 and 2018 to study the effect of some legume types (Cowpea, Chickpea and pea), and energy level i.e. 200, 500, 800 watts to different exposure times 15, 30, 45 and 60 seconds on the response cowpea weevil to microwave radiation. The results revealed that killing percentage in eggs, larvae, pupae and adults were varied according to the legume type and reached for cowpea, chickpea and pea (46.39, 42.22 and 59.44 % for eggs, but reached 51.39, 48.89 and 63.89 % for larvae, while it accounted 53.78, 43.61 and 45 % for pupae, finally the values were for adults 67.22, 53.89 and 51.11 respectively. The killing percentage mean of the insects stages proportionally increased with increasing the energy level 200, 500, 800 watt and reached 38.06, 46.39 and 63.61 % for eggs, and 44.53, 53.89 and 65.64 % for larva‘s, and 41.53, 46.39 and 54.46 % for pupas and 42.22, 60 and 70 % for adults. The results also exhibited that the killing percentage of insect’s stages was increased with increasing the exposure times.

Keywords: Microwave radiation, Cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Evaluation of Local Isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) As control Agent for Potato Tuber Moth Phthorimaea operculella (Gelechiidae:Lepidoptera) Under Non-refrigerated Storage conditions

Nisreen Alsaoud*(1) Doummar Nammour(1) and Ali Yaseen Ali(2)

(1). Plant Protection Department,  Faculty of Agriculture, Albaath University, Homs, Syria,

(2). Tarsus Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Nisreen Alsaoud. E. mail nisreensoud@gmail.com).

Received: 16/07/2017                                Accepted: 01/10/2017

Abstract

The efficacy of three native isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), with concentration of 1×107 spore/ml, were tested on potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Gelechiidae:Lepidoptera) under non-refrigerated storage conditions (28̊±2 C and R.H=50%± 5). The results showed the efficiency of the three isolates in the studied concentration to control the pest in store. These isolates showed superiority on control, where infection rates of tubers were 67, 83, 87.9, 100% for isolates C, D, B and control respectively, and reduced the severity of infection to 50.7, 63.2, 70.8, and 99.2% for isolates C, B, D and control respectively. The averages of emerged adults were 25, 15, 6.3, and 44.3 adults for isolates C, B, C and control respectively. Results showed that the fungus B. bassiana is an important control agent in integrated pest management for potato tuber moth in non-refrigerated stores.

Key words: Potato tuber moth, Beauveria bassiana, Phthorimaea operculella, Biological control.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

New Records of Three Larval Species of Erythraeidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) in a Citrus Orchard in Latakia, Syria

Ziad Barbar*(1)

 (1). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ziad Barbar. E-Mail: ziadbarbar89@yahoo.com).

Received: 04/11/2017                              Accepted: 14/12/2017

Abstract

Most larvae of Erythraeidae are considered as parasites of various insect species, and their adults seem to be effective generalist predators of several agricultural pests. Studies of this fauna is limited in Syria. The present study aimed to identify mite species of Erythraeidae in a pesticide-free citrus orchard in Latakia governorate/Syria. Surveys were carried out three times in 2016 and 2017. Three Erythraeid species were collected, and all belong to the genus Erythraeus: Erythraeus (Erythraeus) phalangoides, Erythraeus (Erythraeus) adanaensis and Erythraeus (Zaracarus) didonae. This is the first report of these species in Syria. Morphological remarks of each species were collected and provided.

Keywords: Acari, Erythraeidae, Erythraeus, larva, Syria.

Full paper in English: PDF

Effect of Temperature and Retention Period on the activity of Olive Leaf Midge Dasineura oleae F. loew (Dipter: Cecidomyiidae) and its Endoparasitiod Platygaster demades Walker (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae)

Zahraa M. Baidaq*(1) Ali M. Ramadhane(2) and Randa Abu Tara(3)

 (1). Agricultural Research Center of Latakia, General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

 (2). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

  (3(. Faculty of science, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Zahraa Baidaq. E-Mail: Zahraaok2@hotmail.com).

Received: 22/11/2016                              Accepted: 17/01/2017

Abstract

This work aimed to study the environmental factors influencing growth stopped of olive leaf midge Dasineura oleae F. loew (Dipter: Cecidomyiidae) and its host (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) Platygaster demades Walker, such as temperature and reservation period. A series of experiments had been done to end this phenomena of larvae by changing temperatures from suitable temperature at 1±20  °C accompanied with different photoperiods 16 L: 8D and relative humidity of 75± 5% during 15, 30, and 60 days, to low temperature at 1 ±7 °C accompanied with complete darkness and relative humidity of 75± 5%  for 15 days. This had been done after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of growth stopped. The experiments showed that there was a strong correlation between P. demades and the host. The larval activity of P.demades was synchronized with the host at all stages in which an activity was recorded. The results showed that D. oleae enters in a real diapause, that can be ended as larvae was exposed to low temperature for more than 15 days. It has been shown that temperature is the limiting factor of D. oleae diapause and its parasitoid P. demades.

Keywords: Olive leaf midge, Dasineura oleae, Endoparasitiod, Platygaster demades, Diapause, Temperature.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Seed Treatments of Tomato Variety Merel with Four PGPR Bacterial Strains on Promoting Peroxidase Enzyme Activity and Growth Improvement

Hanan Kawas *(1) Omar Hamudi(2) Ahmad Ahmad(3) Imad  Ismail(4)

(1). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Agricultural Research Center of Latakia, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Agricultural Research Center of Tartous, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(4). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Hanan Kawas. E-Mail: hanankawas1@gmail.com).

Received: 18/12/2016                           Accepted: 14/02/2017

Abstract

This research was conducted to study the effect of four bacterial strains (PGPR): Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342, Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48, Bacillussubtillis B2g and B. subtillis FZB27 to improve the growth of tomato plants in the greenhouse. Bacterial strains were applied to the seeds in a concentration of (1010 cfu/ml), of each bacterial strain. The results showed the treatment with bacteria improved peroxidase enzyme activity at a rate of (2.15-6.35) % after 78 days of treatment compared with non-treated control (0.002) n mol, and a rate of (60.71- 232.14) % after 94 days compared with non-treated control (0.056) n mol. The treatment with bacteria increased the height of plant at a rate of (1-21.37)% compared with non-treated control (57.83) cm, and increased fresh weight of foliage at a rate of (9.25-122.56)% compared with non-treated control (317)g, while it increased dry weight of foliage at a rate of (3.89- 61.98)% compared with non-treated control (111.33)g, and increased fresh root weight at a rate of (22.39-310.48)% compared with non-treated control (22.33)g, and increased root dry weight at a rate of (9.09- 33.27)% compared with non-treated control (5.5)g, and increased number of fruits at a rate of (7.73-54.73)% compared with non-treated control (8.66 fruit), and increased weight of fruits at a rate of (5.69-60.33)% compared with non-treated control (105.33)g . The strain B27 had the highest values of the studied traits.

Key words: PGPR, Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342,  Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48,  Bacillus subtillis B2g,  B. subtillis FZB27,  Tomato.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Methods for Maintaining Insect Cells Sf9 and its Morphological Characterization

Manal Saleh*(1)

(1). General Organization of Biotechnology, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Manal Saleh. E-Mail: manalcapno@gmail.com).

Received: 04/10/2016                                 Accepted: 18/11/2016

Abstract

The insect cell lines have a great importance in scientific research such as: Physiological and biological studies, producing biopesticides and vaccines, biotechnology and toxicology. The insect cell line Sf9, is derived from an immature pupal ovarian tissue of Spodoptera frugiperda. These cells were cultured, sub-cultured (more than 23 subculture) and cryopreserved. Morphological characterization of Sf9 cells were performed by using three staining methods i.e. Trypan blue, Wright, and Giemsa. Three different shapes of Sf9 cells were observed and they were: Spherical cells (large and small ones); fibroblast-like cells, and phagocytic cells. Two different populations of cells were identified in Sf9 cell cultures according to nuclear number: Mononucleated and polynucleated to ensure cells surviving.

Key word: Sf9 insect cell lines, Spodoptera frugiperda, Subculture, Cryopreservation, Morphological characterization.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

First Record of Labidostomis diversifrons Lefevre Beetle on Pistachio Trees in Syria

Mazen Bofaur*(1) and Rami Bohamdan(1)

(1). Sweida Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mazen Bofaur. E-Mail: mazenaudy@yahoo.com).

Received: 26/02/2017                                 Accepted: 14/09/2017

Abstract

Field survey has been conducted on a few orchards of pistachio vera in Sweida Governorate, Syria. The results of survey showed an expansion of new insect species for the first time in Syria, the leaf beetle Labidostomis diversifrons Lefevre, 1876 (Chrysomelidae; Coleoptera) which has been recorded on the trees of pistachio vera. The species classified depending on morphological features of entire insects, which caused direct injury to the leaves, and made the trees weakness and leafless. Different recourses have been observed for feeding, the beetle feeds on grasses such as: Lactuca virosa and Polygonum arenastrum.

Keywords: Labidostomis diversifrons L., pistachio vera, beetle, morphological features, Lactuca virosa, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Evaluation the Impact of Both Predator Serangium parcesetosum Sicard and Chilocorus bipustulatus L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Controlling Citricola Scale Insect Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) and Olive Scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera:Coccidae) on Citrus, Syria

Shadi Deeb(1) Rafik Abboud*(1) Majeda Mofleh(1) and Muhammed Ahmad(2)

(1). Latakia Agriculture Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Rafik Abboud. E-Mail: abboud.rafeek@hotmail.com).

Received: 30/07/2017                                 Accepted: 10/11/2017

Abstract

The citricola scale Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) and the olive scale insect Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) are considered economically important pests on citrus in the Syrian coast. This study was carried out at Ciano Research Station, Latakia Research Center/Syria, to evaluate the efficiency of the predators Serangium parcesetosum (Sicard), and Cilocorus bipustulatus L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to control both of pests within the cages. The study included six treatments, with three replicates per treatment. Citrus grasses isolated individually within cages, and infested in the first, second and third treatment by adults of citricola scale, and in the fourth, fifth and sixth treatments by adults of olive scale. The adults of S. parcesetosum were released after 30 days of the infection, in the first and fourth treatments, while the adults of C. bipustulatus were released in the second and fifth treatments at a rate of 2 adults/grass per a week, but the third and sixth treatments adopted as a control for comparison. The results showed the ability of the predators feeding on nymphs first age for each of the pests, and they were able to reduce the intensity of citricola scale nymphs by 97.8 and 99.2% in both predators C. bipustulatus and S. parcesetosum two weeks after the release, respectively, while the rate of decline in the control was 29.2% during the same period. Black scale nymph’s density also decreased by 99.9 and 99.4% in the treatments of predators C. bipustulatus and S. parcesetosum after three weeks of the launch, respectively. The results of this study showed the ability of each of predators C. bipustulatus and S. parcesetosum in control citricola scale and olive scale on citrus.

Key words: Biological control, Citricola scale, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum, Olive scale, Saissetia oleae, Serangium parcesetosum, Cilocorus bipustulatus.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF