Suppression of a Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cellular microRNA following Baculovirus infection and its role in the insect cell - virus interactions.

Baculoviruses have been extensively studied for their potential in microbial pest control, but the mechanisms behind their mode of action still need to be addressed. Here we report differential expression of a cellular miRNA, Sfr-miR-184, from Sf9 cells in response to Autographa californica multicapsid Nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) infection. Our results showed that Sfr-miR-184 is down-regulated in AcMNPV-infected cells but not with UV-inactivated virus.

Thermal tolerance variations and physiological adjustments in a winter active and a summer active aphid species.

The Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) and melon aphid Aphis gossypii Glover are known as winter and summer active species, respectively. It is hypothesized that differences in the aphids' seasonal activities might be related to their response to temperature extremes and different physiological mechanisms. To study the aphids' thermal tolerance variations and mode of their physiological basis, they were cold acclimated at 20, 15, 10, 5, and 0 °C for 168 h (7 days) and heat acclimated at 20, 25, 30 °C for 168 h and 35 °C for 48 h.

Induction of diapause by clock proteins period and timeless via changes in PTTH and ecdysteroid titer in the sugar beet moth, Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The sugar beet moth, Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Boyd), one of the most severe sugar beet pests, causes quantitative and qualitative yield losses late in the autumn. Previously, it was shown that low temperature and short-day photoperiod together cause diapause induction in pupae. Here, the interaction of the critical elements of the diapause induction, including the period (PER), timeless (TIM), prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), and ecdysteroid titer, were investigated.

Erucin modulates digestive enzyme release via crustacean cardioactive peptide in the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Plant secondary metabolites influence the feeding in insects through several modes of action. In this study, the physiological effects of erucin isothiocyanate were investigated on the elm leaf beetleXanthogaleruca luteola(Müller) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) via impact on crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) and midgut digestive enzymes. Third instar larvae of elm leaf beetle were fed on leaves impregnated with erucin for three days.

The trypsin inhibitor pro-peptide induces toxic effects in Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella.

The inhibitory potential of an inhibitor peptide based on the pro-region of trypsin zymogen was investigated in Indianmeal moth, P. interpunctella, which is a world-wide insect pest of stored food. Five peptides were designed based on molecular docking simulations.

Induction of DNA methyltransferase genes in Helicoverpa armigera following injection of pathogenic bacteria modulates expression of antimicrobial peptides and affects bacterial proliferation.

Following pathogen attack in a host, widespread changes are induced in the host's gene expression, in particular those involved in the immune system, growth and survival. Epigenetic mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in the regulation of these changes through a number of mechanisms. DNA methylation is one of the important epigenetic processes that is carried out by DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase (DNMT) and alters expression of target genes.

The microRNA pathway core genes are differentially expressed during the development of Helicoverpa armigera and contribute in the insect's development.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs (18-25 nt) that are produced by all animals and plants as well as some viruses. Their roles have been revealed in many physiological processes including development, cancer, immunity, apoptosis and, host-microbe interactions through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we predicted, characterized and transcriptionally analyzed the core miRNA pathway genes in Helicoverpa armigera.

The Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on Diapause Induction in Pupae of Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Boyd) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most important pests of sugar beet that causes quantitative and qualitative yield loss in the late summer. To locate the position for diapause induction, combinations of constant temperatures at 15, 18, 20, and 25°C and day lengths of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 24 h were studied from egg to adult emergence. The incidence of diapause peaked at 15 and 18°C, with the day lengths of 12 and 11 h, whereas low temperatures did not improve the effects of short photoperiods (day lengths of 8 and 10 h) in diapause induction.

Diapause Induced by Temperature and Photoperiod Affects Fatty Acid Compositions and Cold Tolerance of Phthorimaea Operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

To find out the potential condition for diapause induction in the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), combination of constant temperatures (15, 20, and 30°C) and photoperiods (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 16 h) were employed from egg to adult emergence. In addition, changes in the total phospholipid fatty acid content and cold tolerance of non-diapausing and diapausing pupae were examined. The critical daylength for diapause induction were 12.

Rapid Cold Hardening Capacity and Its Impact on Performance of Russian Wheat Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is one of the most important pests of wheat and barley in most wheat-producing countries. Rapid cold hardiness (RCH) is a capacity of insects to develop, within hours, protection against subfreezing temperatures that plays an important role in aphid survival in response to sudden decreases in air temperature. In this research, we investigated the duration and rate of cooling on the induction of RCH of D.

Physiology of Cold Hardiness, Seasonal Fluctuations, and Cryoprotectant Contents in Overwintering Adults of Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), is widely distributed in various alfalfa-growing regions in the world. Adults enter the field gradually from hibernation places and overwinter in a nondiapausing state, exhibiting feeding, mating, and oviposition over autumn and winter whenever the weather permits. In this study, the variability of supercooling point (SCP) and cold hardiness in alfalfa weevil was investigated.

Sublethal Effects of Fenoxycarb on the Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

The effects of fenoxycarb, a Juvenile hormone analogue, at sublethal concentrations were tested on some biological parameters of Plutella xylostella (L.) in two consecutive generations. The calculated LC10, LC25, and LC50 values of the insecticide were 21.

Effect of milk thistle, Silybium marianum, extract on toxicity, development, nutrition, and enzyme activities of the small white butterfly, Pieris rapae.

The methanolic extract of milk thistle, Silybium marianum L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), was investigated for its effects on the mortality, growth, feeding indices, enzymatic activity, and levels of non-enzymatic molecules of the small white butterfly, Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), a pest of cruciferous plants.

Combination of gamma radiation and essential oils from medicinal plants in managing Tribolium castaneum contamination of stored products.

Effectiveness of management of insect infestation of stored products with essential oils as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides can be enhanced with gamma radiation. We studied effects of sublethal doses of essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) and Perovskia atriplicifolia (Benth) (safe natural insecticides) in combination with gamma radiation on mortality of adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst).

Deciphering the metabolic changes associated with diapause syndrome and cold acclimation in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae.

Diapause is a common feature in several arthropod species that are subject to unfavorable growing seasons. The range of environmental cues that trigger the onset and termination of diapause, in addition to associated hormonal, biochemical, and molecular changes, have been studied extensively in recent years; however, such information is only available for a few insect species. Diapause and cold hardening usually occur together in overwintering arthropods, and can be characterized by recording changes to the wealth of molecules present in the tissue, hemolymph, or whole body of organisms.

Demographic parameters of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on different soybean cultivars.

Life table, reproduction, and population growth parameters of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were determined on nine soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivars ('032', '033', 'Hill', 'M4', 'M7', 'M9', 'M11', 'TMS', and 'Zane') at 25°C. The age-specific survival rate of eggs and immature stages was higher on 033 in comparison with other cultivars.

Biological activity of some plant essential oils against Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

This experiment was conducted to evaluate acaricidal activity of the essential oils of Thymus kotschyanus, Ferula assa-foetida and Eucalyptus camaldulensis against Varroa destructor under laboratory conditions. Moreover, fumigant toxicity of these oils was tested on Apis mellifera. After preliminary dose-setting experiments, mites and honey bees were exposed to different concentrations of the oil, with 10 h exposure time.

Evaluation of potential resistance in seeds of different soybean cultivars to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using demographic parameters and nutritional indices.

The use of resistant cultivars is a key component of any integrated pest management (IPM) program. Here, we assess the resistance status of 10 different soybean cultivar seeds according to their effects on demographic and nutritional indices of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) when incorporated into artificial diets. All experiments were conducted at 25 +/- 1 degrees C, 60 +/- 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h.

Digestive proteolytic and amylolytic activities of Helicoverpa armigera in response to feeding on different soybean cultivars.

Background: Digestive proteolytic and amylolytic activities of the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) fed either on artificial diet or on different soybean cultivars (356, M4, M7, M9, Clark, Sahar, JK, BP, Williams, L17, Zane, Gorgan3 and DPX) and response of the larvae to feeding on some soybean-based protease inhibitors were studied.

Results: The highest general and specific proteolytic activities were in artificial-diet-fed larvae. Although the highest general proteolytic activity was in the larvae fed on L17, M4 and Sahar cultivars, the lowest tryptic activity was on L17 and Sahar, which may be due to the presence of some serine protease inhibitors in these two cultivars, resulting in hyperproduction of chymotrypsin- and elastase-like enzymes in response to the inhibition of these enzymes.

Cold hardiness and supercooling capacity in the overwintering larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella.

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a worldwide apple pest, is classified as a freeze-intolerant organism and one of the most cold-tolerant pests. The objectives of this study were to examine the supercooling point of overwintering and non-diapausing larvae of C.

Modeling demographic response to constant temperature in Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is among the most destructive pests of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in the world. Survivorship and fecundity schedules of H.

Preimaginal development response to constant temperatures in Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): picking the best model.

Immature survival and development of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were examined at 15 constant temperatures ranging from 9 to 37 degrees C. At 9 and 37 degrees C, eggs did not develop. Embryos developed to adulthood between 11.

Seasonal change of cold hardiness in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

To elucidate the relationship between diapause and cold hardiness, seasonal variations of supercooling point and low temperature survival of overwintering and non-diapausing larvae of codling moth were studied in two regions of Iran, Damavand and Karaj. In both regions supercooling point decreased gradually over the autumn. Supercooling point of field collected larvae in Damavand reduced from a mean value of -16.

Effect of cotton cultivar on performance of Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Iran.

Cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), obtained from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., fields in the Gorgan region of northern Iran, were colonized on 'Varamin' cotton plants in a growth chamber. The development, survivorship, and life table parameters of the cotton aphid were evaluated at 27.

Lethal and sublethal effects of fenitrothion and deltamethrin residues on the egg parasitoid Trissolcus grandis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae).

Effects of fenitrothion and deltamethrin, the most commonly used insecticides in Iran for controlling Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), in wheat and barley were assessed on adults and preimaginal stages of egg parasitoid Trissolcus grandis Thompson (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Adult parasitoids exposed to field recommended concentrations of the insecticides suffered 100% mortality within 24 h. LC50 values of fenitrothion and deltamethrin for T.