Demographic analysis of fenpyroximate and thiacloprid exposed predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Knowledge of the impact of pesticides on predators is crucial for developing integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite used to control several species of pest including Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and arthropods. T. urticae is a major pest of multiple greenhouse-grown and field crops including apples in Iran. Lethal and sublethal effects of fenpyroximate and thiacloprid were investigated on A. swirskii, using these chemicals separately at recommended rates or in combination at reduced rates. Recommended tested rates of both pesticides negatively influenced the biological parameters of A. swirskii such as the net reproductive rate (R0) and the intrinsic rate of increase (r). However, the combined treatment of the two pesticides at their reduced rates was less hazardous to A. swirskii. Our findings indicate that the combined use of these chemicals may be compatible with IPM programs utilizing A. swirskii as biological control tool against phytophagous mites and other pests. However, semifield and field studies to investigate the effects of reduced rate treatments of fenpyroximate and thiacloprid alone and in combination on T. urticae and A. swirskii are required for developing IPM programs

Biological control of Echinothrips americanus by phytoseiid predatory mites and the effect of pollen as supplemental food

The poinsettia thrips, Echinothrips americanus Morgan, is an upcoming pest in greenhouse crops, causing serious damage in various vegetable and ornamental crops through extensive foliage feeding. We assessed which stages of E. americanus are attacked and killed by the phytoseiid predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot), Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman and McGregor), Euseius gallicus Kreiter and Tixier and Euseius ovalis (Evans). Both the predation and oviposition rates were assessed in the laboratory to evaluate which mite species is potentially the most effective predator of E. americanus. In two greenhouse trials with non-flowering sweet pepper plants, we compared the efficacy of the predators E. gallicus and E. ovalis with A. swirskii and we assessed how this was affected by the application of cattail pollen. All stages of E. americanus, except adults, were consumed by all species of predatory mites. The highest predation and oviposition rates were recorded for A. limonicus followed by A. swirskii and E. ovalis when first and second larval stages were provided as prey, but E. ovalis appeared to be the best predator of thrips pupae. Euseius gallicus displayed very low predation and oviposition rates compared to the other species of predatory mites. Cattail pollen did not support the population growth of poinsettia thrips, but it strongly increased the predatory mite population densities, particularly those of E. ovalis. Both A. swirskii and E. ovalis significantly reduced thrips densities on plants. The application of pollen significantly enhanced the control of E. americanus by A. swirskii; this was not the case for E. ovalis. Euseius gallicus did not reduce densities of E. americanus on sweet pepper plants, not even at high densities in the presence of pollen

Molecular and morphological study of the genus Senecio L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) in Iran

The genus Senecio (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) with about 1250 species is one of the largest genera in the family. Due to historical and present time inter-specific hybridization and reticulate evolution in the genus, the morphological and molecular phylogenetic evolution are disjunct. The genus contains 17 species belonging to four sections, sect. Crociseris, sect. Quadridentati, sect. Jacobaea and sect. Senecio, in Iran out of which, six are endemic. Therefore, the present study was performed with the aim to provide data on the above issues. In general, ISSR molecular markers could delimit the studied Senecio species and revealed the species relationships, but did not support any of the sections. The ITS and cp-DNA sequencing of six species of S. iranicus, S. vulcanicus, S. kotschyanus, S. paulsenii subsp. khorasanicus and S. joharchii were obtained for the first time. S-DIVA suggests three possible ancestral ranges, of Kordestan (A), Mazandaran (G), and West-Azarbayejan (D), for Sececio species in Iran. These areas are located in the western parts of Iran. Mazandaran province played important role in the speciation process that led to the formation of endemic Sececio species in the country, while, Kordestan and West-Azarbayejan are the main road for the entrance of Sececio species from Europe via neighboring countries. The morphological characters used could also delimit the four sections of the genus Senecio. However, ISSR, cp-DNA and nuclear genes sequences-based phylogenetic trees portrayed the species relationship much different from that of morphological dendrogram

Quality of Life in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder: Is It Related to Disorder Outcome?

Bipolar I disorder (BID) and its treatments have shown to be associated with deep impacts on patients' subjective feelings and quality of life (QOL). There are also some comments about impact of these feelings on course and outcome of patients with BID. This study was aimed to evaluate quality of life in patients with BID and to assess its relationship with course of disorder. Fifty patients with BID were recruited based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) from May 2008 and followed for 12 months. Quality of life and mood disorder recurrence were assessed through World Health Organization Quality of Life and SCID-I tools respectively at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the independent effect of QOL and demographic factors on BID recurrence. Fifty patients (66% male; 48% never married; 48% in primary school level) with mean ± SE age and age of BID onset 33.8±1.5 and 26.6±1.1 years were studied. They had 3.4±0.6 episodes already. Twenty eight percent suffered from recurrences during the follow-up. The QOL scores at baseline, after 6 and 12 months were 70±1.8, 69.6±1.1 and 73±1.3 respectively. There were no significant change in QOL and its sub-domains during the follow-up (P=0.37). QOL showed no independent relationship with BID recurrences (P>0.1). No change in the QOL during the follow-up could denote lack of effectiveness of routine interventions on this factor. Also, short-term follow-up might be concerned as the possible reason. Of prime importance is to consider quality of life independently in treating patients with bipolar disorder

Sweet Peppers

Sweet pepper is an important greenhouse vegetable crop and highly attractive to multiple pest and pathogen species. The main pests and diseases detrimental to pepper crops in various parts of the globe are reported here, along with the most effective or sustainable control strategies currently applied to manage them. Biological control of the main pest species, such as thrips, whiteflies and spider mites, is in general very successful with generalist predators, because of their ability to establish populations prior to pest invasions by using the plant-provided pollen as an alternative food source. However, other pest species, such as aphids, stink bugs and the pepper weevil, are still hard to control without pesticides and require new tools for management that do not disrupt the robust system of biological control. Most diseases can be controlled well by managing the climate, soil solarization, growing out of soil or by applying bacterial or fungal antagonists. All these tools together offer the opportunity to manage most pest and diseases with a minimal use of pesticides