xTriticosecale Witm, seed size, drought, germination, seedling growth.

Effect of seed size (small, medium and large) on germination and seedling growth of triticale (xTriticosecale Witm. cv. Presto) at the different osmotic potential of NaCl and PEG solutions weredetermined in the present study. Germination tests were conducted under five osmotic potential levels (-0.45, -0.77, -1.03, -1.44 MPa, and Control) of PEG 6000 and NaCl. Germination percentage (%) at 4 and 8th days and also seedling growth traits such as root and shoot length (mm), dry root and shoot weight (mg), root : shoot length (R:S) ratio, and relative water content of shoot (RWC, %) were investigated inthis study. The results indicated that decreases in the osmotic potentials caused a reduction in germination percentage and seedling growth. It was seen that drought created by PEG 6000 had morenegative effects on germination and seedling growth than that of NaCl. In consequence, the total germinability and seedling growth were higher in large seeds rather than in small seeds in control solution and under osmotic stress. In addition, it was observed that seedlings obtained from larger seeds survived even at the lower osmotic potential of PEG and NaCl; whereas, seedling obtained from small seeds did not survive in the intensive stress

Investigations on the Genus Rhizoecus (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) with Description of Two New Species from South America

Neotropical species of the scale insect genus Rhizoecus Kunckel d'Herculais (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) found in soil sample material of the Hungarian Natural History Museum were studied. Two new Rhizoecus species, Rhizoecus kontschani Kaydan and Konczne Benedicty sp. n., and Rhizoecus granaradewillinkae Kaydan and Szita sp. n., are described and illustrated based on the adult females. Also, the adult females of Rhizoecus keysensis Hambleton and Rhizoecus pseudocacticans Hambleton are illustrated. An identification key and new additional locality records for the currently known Rhizoecus species are provided

Integrative taxonomy methods reveal high mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) diversity in southern Brazilian fruit crops.

The Serra Gaúcha region is the most important temperate fruit-producing area in southern Brazil. Despite mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) infesting several host plants in the region, there is a lack of information about the composition of species damaging different crops. A survey of mealybug species associated with commercial fruit crops (apple, persimmon, strawberry and grapes) was performed in Serra Gaúcha between 2013 and 2015, using both morphology and DNA analyses for species identification. The most abundant species were Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), found on all four host plant species, and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), infesting persimmon, vines and weeds. The highest diversity of mealybug species was found on persimmon trees, hosting 20 different taxa, of which Anisococcus granarae Pacheco da Silva & Kaydan, D. brevipes, Pseudococcus sociabilis Hambleton and Ps. viburni were the most abundant. A total of nine species were recorded in vineyards. Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti) were observed causing damage to grapes for the first time. A single species, Ps. viburni, was found associated with apples, while both Ps. viburni and Ferrisia meridionalis Williams were found on strawberry. Four of the mealybug species found represent new records for Brazil

EVOLUTION OF SENSORY ANTENNAL STRUCTURES IN THE ENSIGN SCALE INSECTS (HEMIPTERA COCCOMORPHA ORTHEZIIDAE)

The Ortheziidae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) are considered one of the most ancient families of Coccoidea. In this study, the antennal structures of species belonging to the Ortheziidae are examined and combined with data from a previous phylogenetic study as well as habitat preference data. Illustrations of the antennal structures (with a focus on the distribution of setae and specialized sensilla) for the type species of all genera in the Ortheziidae are provided. The three main ortheziid lineages can be recognized by their sensilla: (i) the Ortheziinae all possess coeloconic sensilla; (ii) the Newsteadiinae, which only includes Newsteadia, is characterized by a different type of coeloconic sensilla, here named Newsteadia-type coeloconic sensilla, and (iii) a clade that includes the Mixortheziinii, Nipponortheziini and Ortheziolini, all possess only basiconic sensilla

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) associated with persimmon Diospyros kaki L. (Ebenaceae) in Southern Brazil.

Temperate fruit production is an important economic activity in Southern Brazil. In this region, persimmon Diospyros kaki L. (Ebenaceae) is grown in small farms for domestic consumption and internal market. Mealybugs are o*en found in at least 50% of the orchards causing damages on fruits due to the honeydew secretion. However, there is a lack of informatin about species composition damaging orchards in Southern Brazil. In this work, we present a survey of mealybugs associated with persimmon trees in the Serra Gaúcha Region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Diaspididae, and Pseudococcidae) found on Myrciaria dubia in Pará State, Brazil

The present study aimed to report the occurrence of scale insects, namely Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus, 1758), Ischnaspis longirostris (Signoret, 1882), Pinnaspis aspidistrae (Signoret, 1869) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and Nipaecoccus filicis Williams & Granara de Willink, 1992 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on plants of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh (Myrtaceae) in the experimental fields of Embrapa Amazônia Oriental in the municipalities of Belém and Tomé-Açu, Pará State, Brazil. This is the first report of these species on M. dubia, as well as of N. filicis in Brazil

Guidelines on cost modelling: Economic policies and methods of determining the costs of services related to national telecommunication/ICT networks

These final guidelines on cost modelling were elaborated under ITU-D Question 4/1 on economic policies and methods of determining the costs of services related to national telecommunication/ICT networks, including next-generation networks