Recognition and adaptation of climatic areas in Chaharmahaland Bakhtiari province of Iran in terms of tourism climate comfort

Climatic phenomena play a significant role in development of the tourism industry. An appropriate climate may bring positive responses of tourists. The tourists plan their journeys considering the climatic and weather conditions of their destination. Chaharmahaland Bakhtiari Province is a mountainous region in west of Iran which enjoys various distribution of climatic elements especially rainfall and temperature due to topographic diversity. Statistical methods of factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied to obtain a precise recognition about the climatic zones of the province. 26 climatic variables were selected from six existing weather stations in the province. The results obtained from factor analysis showed that province climate is affected by four climatic factors which are listed here in order of significance: rainfall factor, serene sky factor, thermal factor and humidity factor. Then, four climatic regions were distinguished in the province by means of cluster analysis that was administrated on matrix of factor grades. At last, using PET index, evaluation and comparison were carried out for climate comfort at stations representing each climatic region during a year. The results revealed that May was the best month in terms of climate comfort conditions. Thermal stresss began from June and reached their peaks in July and August. Boroujen and Kouhrang stations entered the climate comfort range in September while same conditions happened for Shahr-e-kord and Lordegan in October

A survey on growth indices and intestinal enzymes activity affected by feeding Beluga juveniles (Huso huso) subjected to a diet containing different levels of dietary -sodium chloride (NaCl)

The current study carried out to investigate the effects of adding salt (NaCl) in the diet of beluga, Huso huso and its impacts both on the function of intestinal enzymes and growth indices and food efficiency. In this regard, 480 species of Huso huso with a mean weight of 173.8 ± 0.49 g stocked in 12 fiberglasses 2000-liter tanks for 12 weeks. They fed a diet containing different levels of NaCl including 0, 3, 6 and 9 percent. Growth indices including final weight, SGR and daily growth showed significant differences in fishes of all treatments, except the fishes fed the diet containing comparing control group (p < 0.05) Weight gain percentage of fed fish at 6% sodium chloride level was significantly higher than fish fed control but no statistically significant difference was observed between other treatments. The mean FCR in fishes of control group was significantly higher than other treatments (p < 0.05). The mean rates ofrate of intestinal enzymes including Alkaline phosphatase, protease, lipase and amylase in the fishes fed by different levels of NaCl were significantly more than control group (p < 0.05). It is suggested to achieve a higher growth rate, improve food efficiency, reduction of production costs and enhancement of intestinal enzymes function. appropriate percentage of added NaCl is to be 3-6% per kilogram of diet for farmed beluga of at 150 to 700 g

Sublethal effects of some synthetic and botanical insecticides on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

In addition to direct mortality caused by insecticides, some biological traits of insects may also be affected by sublethal insecticide doses. In this study, we used the age-stage, two-sex life table method to evaluate the sublethal effects of the four synthetic insecticides: abamectin, imidacloprid, diazinon, and pymetrozin as well as the botanical insecticide taken from Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) extract, on eggs of the cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hem.: Aleyrodidae). The lowest and highest survival rates and oviposition periods were observed in whiteflies treated by diazinon and imidacloprid, respectively. We found significant differences in the net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (?), and the gross reproductive rate (GRR) among different insecticides. Altogether, our results showed that pymetrozin and C. procera induced the most sublethal effects, thus they may be suitable candidates for use in integrated pest management programs of B. tabaci

Age Stage Two-Sex Life Table Reveals Sublethal Effects of Some Herbal and Chemical Insecticides on Adults of Bemisia tabaci (Hem.: Aleyrodidae)

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hem.: Aleyrodidae), is an important pest of agriculture in subtropical and tropical areas. In this study, we used the age-stage two-sex life table to evaluate the sublethal effects of the herbal extracts taken from Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae), Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae), Calotropis procera (Willd.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae), and Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) as well as the two commercial synthetic insecticides, pymetrozin and neemarin. The whiteflies were exposed to each insecticide using leaf-dip method. Analysis of life table parameters revealed significant differences (P≤0.05) in the net reproductive rate (R0, NRR), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (λ) among different insecticides. The lowest values of the three population parameters, R0, r, and λ, were observed on whiteflies treated with pymetrozin (2.455, 0.036, and 1.036), T. polium (2.828, 0.044, and 1.045), and neemarin (2.998, 0.046, and 1.047), respectively. Results of this study highlights the satisfactory insecticidal effects of the extract taken from T. polium on B. tabaci, which is comparable to the two commonly used synthetic insecticides

Sublethal effects of some botanical and chemical insecticides on the cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hem: Aleyrodidae)

In addition to direct mortalities caused by acute concentrations of insecticides, some biological traits of target pests may be also affected by sublethal doses. The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hem: Aleyrodidae) is an important pest of a wide variety of agricultural crops across the world. The control of B. tabaci largely relies on wide application of chemical insecticides. In this study, we analyzed the life table parameters to evaluate the sublethal effect of three plant-derived insecticides (Fumaria parviflora (Fumariaceae), Teucrium polium (Lamiaceae), and Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae)) and two chemical insecticides (pymetrozin and neemarin) on B. tabaci. The whiteflies were allowed to oviposit on plants infected with each of the five insecticides using leaf-dip method. The data were analyzed using the age-stage two-sex life table. We found significant differences in the gross reproductive rate (GRR), the net reproductive rat (R0), the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) of treated whiteflies compared to control. Our results showed that some biological traits of B. tabaci are affected by sub-lethal doses of the plant-derived extracts and that these effects are comparable to those of chemical insecticides. Given the detrimental effects of chemical insecticides on human, environment and non-target organisms, plant-derived insecticides may provide valuable environmentally friendly tools for pest management programs

Biological traits and Life table parameters A and B biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) on cotton and rapeseed

The aim of this work was to construct life table of Bemisia tabaci (Gen.) A and B (silverleaf whitefly B. argentifolii Bellows and Perring) biotype (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) on two host plants; cotton, (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and rapeseed, (Brassica napus L.). Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber under 24 ± 2ºC, 55±3% RH and 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod on caged plants of cotton G. hirsutum L. (Varamin 76 variety) and rapeseed B. napus L. (global variety. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m), net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) for B. tabaci A biotype was 0.1010 females per female per day, 18.4075 females per female and 30.079 day (d) on cotton; 0.1286, 30.6760 and 26.77 d on rapeseed; and for B biotype (B. argentifolii) those above respective parameters averaged 0.1033, 27.8426 and 32.74 d on cotton and 0.1750, 40.75 and 21.27 d on rapeseed. The total survival of A and B biotype from the egg to adult on cotton was 22.08 and 22.25, respectively. The results showed significant differences between the two biotype reared on either host plant for gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0 or NRR), intrinsic rates of increase (r m), finite rate of increase (λ), doubling time (DT) and mean generation times (Tc). To obtain a better understanding of the biology of these biotypes, Stable age distribution (Cx) and some other aspects of life history related to their hosts were also studied. Based upon the results, both biotypes showed a greater reproduction capacity on rapeseed than on cotton. Thus, rapeseed was more suitable host than cotton for two biotypes and this was an important factor in host plant selection for optimizing the control strategies of these major pests

Synthesis and entomotoxicity assay of zinc and silica nanoparticles against Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), is one of the most important internal feeders of stored grain. Nanotechnology has become one of the most promising new approaches for pest control in recent years. In our screening program, laboratory trials were conducted to determine the effectiveness of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and zinc nanoparticles (ZNPs) against the larval stage and adults of S. granarius on stored wheat. Nanoparticles of silica and zinc were synthesized through a solvothermal method. They were then used to prepare insecticidal solutions of different concentrations and tested on S. granarius. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were found to be highly effective against S. granarius causing 100% mortality after 2 weeks. ZNPs were moderately effective against this pest