The effect of sublethal concentrations of malathion on some biological parameters of the ectoparasitoid wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836)

The ectoparasitoid wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hym.: Braconidae) is one of the most important natural enemies of many pests in Iran. In this study, the effects of sublethal concentrations of malathion (LC10 and LC25) on biological parameters of the adult wasp including parasitism percentage, male production and longevity of the parasitoid in different growth stages (larvae, pupae and adult) were investigated. The experiments were conducted at 26 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5 % RH, and 16L:8D h photoperiods. The effect of sublethal concentrations of malathion on adults was determined by exposure of wasp to insecticide, and in the case of larvae and pupae, immersion method was used. Based on the results, with the increase of toxic dose, the percentage of parasitism in adult decreased from 95.6 5% to 87.78 %, compared to the control treatment. Male production increased from 22.73 % in control to 56.38 % at LC25 concentration. Also, the percentage of parasitism of the malathion-impregnated wasp larvae decreased from 87.78 to 22.92%, compared to the control treatment. Male production from 30.94 % in the control increased to 39.63 % at the LC25 concentration. In addition, the percentage of parasitism in the wasp pupae impregnated with malathion was reduced from 93.33 to 88.89 %, respectively. Male production increased from 22.98 in the control to 37.23 % in the LC25 concentration. The data showed that pupae were more susceptible to sublethal concentrations than the larvae.</p

Comparing the Effects of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calcium Enriched Mixture on Neuronal Cells Using an Electrophysiological Approach

Introduction: The main goal of this ex vivo study was to assess and compare the cellular and electrophysiological effects of two dental biomaterials, white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA) and calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement, on neuronal cell excitability and electrical properties.Materials and Methods: A conventional intracellular current clamp technique was used to study the cellular effects of WMTA and CEM on the excitability, firing and the shape of action potential of neuronal soma membrane of F1 nerve cells. The dental biomaterials were prepared according to the manufacturers' directions and were applied to the bathing media and 0.05 mL of total mixture of each dental material at a distance of 3 mm from the cells.Results: Findings indicated that exposure to both dental biomaterials shifted the irregular high frequency firing type observed in control conditions to a more regular low frequency firing pattern. Neuronal exposure to WMTA, but not CEM, significantly hyperpolarized the cell resting membrane potential. Both treatments significantly influenced the duration and the amplitude of action potentials. Extracellular application of either CEM or WMTA caused a significant increase in the after hyperpolarization (AHP) amplitude and AHP area, but the potentiating effect of WMTA was more effective than CEM.Conclusion: Treatment with WMTA or CEM resulted in a profound alteration in the firing behaviour of F1 cells and changed the AP characteristics. Both dental biomaterials reduced the neuronal activity possibly through enhancement of K+ outward current. This may possibly explain the positive mechanisms of these biomaterials in regenerative endodontics, though further research is needed for such a conclusion

A comparative study on anti-hyperalgesia effect of MTA and Ketoprofen in inflammatory pain

INTRODUCTION: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is an endodontic material with different clinical applications e.g. root-end filling, pulp capping and perforation repair.  It has been reported to possess antimicrobial and antifungal activities. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of White MTA on formalin-induced hyperalgesia in a rat with inflammatory pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inflammatory pain was induced by subcutaneous (SC) injection of formalin (40 µL, 2.5%) into the rat upper lip. The nociceptive behavioral responses i.e. shaking of the lower jaw and face rubbing were quantified. 40 µL of eugenol (50 mg/kg), WMTA (20 mg/0.2 mL) or ketoprofen were injected solely or in combination with formalin 2.5% and the behavioral responses were compared with those observed after formalin treatment alone. One-way ANOVA, Tukey were used for analysis of data. RESULTS: Formalin 2.5% provoked a biphasic nociceptive response, with an early and short lasting first tonic phase followed by a second phase. Solely SC injection of either WMTA or ketoprofen (a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) did not stimulate any significant nociceptive behaviour. However, injection of eugenol (a pain relieving agent) induced the early phase not the tonic phase of nociceptive response. WMTA, eugenol or ketoprofen injection 20 min before formalin injection attenuated the first phase but somehow prevented the induction of the second phase of nociceptive responses which were produced by formalin. Behavioural nociceptive responses including shaking of the lower jaw and face rubbing were significantly reduced when the subject was pretreated with either WMTA or ketoprofen (P&lt;0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, WMTA induced pain reduction by suppression of the formalin-induced nociceptive response

Fumigant Toxicity and Oviposition Deterrency of the Essential Oil from Cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum, Against Three Stored—product Insects

Use of insecticides can have disruptive effects on the environment. Replacing the chemical compounds in these insecticides with plant materials, however, can be a safe method with low environmental risk. In the current study, chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oil from cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum L. (Maton) (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae) on the adults of three stored product pests was investigated. Results indicated that essential oil of E. cardamomum toxic to the bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Adults of E. kuehniella were more sensitive than the Coleoptera. Also, the highest mortality of these insects was seen after 12 hours. Results of the LT50 tests showed that the lethal time of mortality occurred between 10–20 hours in various test concentrations. Essential oil of E. cardamomum had a good efficacy on oviposition deterrence of C. maculatus females, too. The chemical constituents of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. The major constituents of cardamom were identified as 1,8-cineol, α-terpinyl acetate, terpinene and fenchyl alcohol. These results suggest that essential oil of E. cardamomum is a good choice for control of stored product pests

Developmental Time and Fecundity of White Peach Scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), on Potato, Kiwi and Mulberry Hosts in Iran

Abstract: The white peach scale (WPS), Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), is a world wide polyphagous scale insect. It is widely distributed in north of Iran, near the Caspian Sea areas, where it is the main pest of mulberry and kiwi trees. The development and fecundity of P. pentagona were examined at different temperatures and on different hosts in the laboratory. The longevity of WPS decreased with a rise in temperature. At 25°C the largest number of crawlers (76.1 crawlers/female) was observed. The development time of WPS was generally longer on kiwi than mulberry or potato; fecundity was higher on potato than on other hosts, potato tubers and kiwi trees

Effect of geographical directions, height and the color of yellow traps in capture of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) in citrus orchards

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Dip.: Tephritidae) is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in the world. To replace chemical control methods, as well as the timing of the peak population of Mediterranean fruit fly, the yellow sticky vertical traps were used in this study. The research was carried out in some citrus orchards of various cities of Mazandaran province of Iran, during the four months from August to November 2016. To determine the best type of yellow color to trap this fly, four types of yellow colors with measured wavelength of reflection, including the fluorescent yellow (538 nm), lemon yellow (574 nm), yellow (602 nm) and amber yellow (641 nm), were used. Also, to determine the best geographical direction and appropriate height for installation of yellow cards, four cardinal directions and five different heights of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 m above ground level were determined and the cards were installed. The results of mean comparison of captured flies in different treatments showed that there are significant differences between all of them. The results indicated that the fluorescent yellow, heights of 1.5 and 2 m, the south direction, and month October had the highest number of capture in yellow cards.</p

Spatial distribution of the cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in the tea orchards

In the north of Iran, near the Caspian Sea, about 35,627 ha is cultivated with tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze on both plain and hilly land. The cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is one of the most important pests of tea orchards in the north of Iran. Spatial distribution is an important item in entomoecology and needs to be studied for many pest management programs. So, weekly sampling of P. floccifera population was carried out throughout the 2008-2010 season, in the tea gardens of the Tonekabon region of the Mazandaran province of Iran. Each cut branch of tea was determined as a sample unit and after primary sampling, sample size was calculated using the equation: N = (ts/dm)2, (d = 0.15, sample size = 50). The data acquired were used to describe the spatial distribution pattern of P. floccifera by Tylor’s power law, Iwao’s mean crowding regression, Index of Dispersion (ID), and Index of Clumping (IDM). Tylor’s power law (R2 > 0.84) and Iwao’s mean crowding regression (R2 > 0.82) indicated that spatial distribution of 1st and 2nd nymphal instars is aggregated, but the distribution of 3rd instars, adults, and egg ovisacs is uniform. A result of ID and IDM showed that distribution of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars, adults, and egg ovisacs were aggregative each time the sampling was done