The COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID (CPP: Agonoscena pistaciae) is the key pest of PISTACHIO orchards in Iran. At the moment, insecticides despite their known adverse effects on human health and environment, are the only and the last option for controlling CPP in most cases. However, selection pressure of insecticides has resulted in establishing highly resistant populations of CPP. Nowadays, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of plants presenting opportunities for sustainable plant protection. In this regard, VOCs of PISTACHIO trees (Ohadi and Kaleh ghoochi cultivars) were collected by headspace method in the PISTACHIO orchards and identified chromatographically (GC– MS). VOCs, including monoterpenes, esters, acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and aromatics, were identified in both cultivars, numbering 43 in the Ohadi cultivar and 37 in the Kaleh ghoochi. The quantitatively dominant constituents were (E)-β-Ocimene (32. 5%), limonene (14. 8%) and methyl benzoate (12. 1%) in the Ohadi cultivar and (E)-β-Ocimene (29. 2%), limonene (20. 1%) and α-Thujene (6. 6%) in the Kaleh ghoochi. To study whether olfactory cues elicit responses in adult CPP, the odor of PISTACHIO leaves (Ohadi cultivar) were offered in a Y-tube olfactometer to field-collected populations. Significant positive responses to volatiles of leaves were found in both males (P<0. 03) and females (P<0. 001). These data may be useful in semiochemically-based management strategies in the PISTACHIO orchards such as mass trapping or deter of CPP or attraction of natural enemies.

The COMMON PISTACHIO psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hem: Aphalaridae), is one of the most important pests of PISTACHIO orchards in Iran. In this study, the effect of ethanol extracts of Thymusv ulgaris L., Rosmarinus officinalis Save, Ricinus communis L. and Sophopra alopecuriodes L. were studied on the mortality of this pest in vitro. The bioassay experiments were done within 8-cm-diameter Petri dishes, containing PISTACHIO leaf disks and fifth instar nymphs of COMMON PISTACHIO psylla. Different concentrations of extracts were sprayed on nymphs, by using the spray tower, and distilled water and ethanol were used as control. Nymphal mortality was calculated at 36 and 48h post-treatment. The experiment was conducted in a CRD design with three replications for each concentration of each treatment. According to the obtained results, the effect of different concentrations of all treatments was significant on the mortality of pest at 36 and 48h after treatment. The LC50 values for T. vulgaris, R. officinalis, R. communis and S. alopecuriodes (flowers) and S.alopecuriodes (leavs) at 36h after treatment were calculated to be 386.642, 322.207, 314.338, 94.367 and 25.127 g/l, respectively. Based on the toxicity of extract used in this study at 24 and 48 hours after treatment, T. vulgaris and S. alopecuriodes extracts had the lowest and highest insecticidal effect on COMMON PISTACHIO psylla, respectively. The extract of S. alopecuriodes flowers and leaves was more effective and it could be used as an effective and environmentally friendly compound candidate in controlling this pest.

The COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt & Lauterer (Hem.: Aphalaridae), is one of the most important pests of PISTACHIO trees in Iran and Middle East. Little is known about the morphological variation of the geographic populations of the COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID in Iran, especially in Kerman province as the main PISTACHIO production province. In order to prepare more information on the morphological variation of this pest, different populations were collected from some main producing areas of PISTACHIO in Iran, including Kerman and Khorasan Razavi provinces in 2016; and wing shape geometry of them was investigated using the geometric morphometric method. The results showed a significant difference in wing shape between the population of Khorasan Razavi Province and all of the populations from Kerman province. The results indicated a significant difference in the centroid size among the populations. Also, wing size was smaller in PSYLLID population from Ravar compared to other populations. Furthermore, narrower wing shape was found in PSYLLID populations from Khorasan Razavi province. In the studied populations, in spite of the allometric growth, significant shape differences still remain in constant size which may indicate the genetic basis of the variation rather than environmental factors. Moreover, links between morphological (in the present study) and molecular data (in the other studies) revealed.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was purified and isolated from adults of COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer, by using ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity chromatography using Glutathione Sepharose 4B column. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of 28. 4 kDa. GST was purified 39. 27-fold with a yield of 12. 37% and a specific activity of 30. 08 U mg-1 protein from A. pistaciae. The optimum temperature and pH of the enzyme activity were 30 ° C and 9. 0, respectively. The Km and Kcat values for GSH (Glutathione) substrate were also determined to be 0. 44 mM and 152. 9 s− 1 and for CDNB (1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene) substrate to be 0. 33 mM and 207. 7 s− 1, respectively. GST’ s activity was completely inhibited by the addition of EDTA, ZnCl2, and SDS; however, partially inhibited by CaCl2, BaCl2, CoCl2, KCl, MnCl2, Urea, MgCl2 and Hg2Cl2. The in vitro inhibition studies indicated that all kinds of conventional insecticides (i. e. imidacloprid, acetamiprid, phosalone, and amitraz) possessed inhibitory effects on the activity of purified GST. Our study broadens the biochemical information on A. pistaciae’ s GST and this information will help us to understand the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in this key pest.

COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt &, Lauterer (Hemiptera: PSYLLIDae) is the key pest of PISTACHIO orchards in Iran. The importance of this pest is such that gardeners inevitably use chemical poisons in large quantities to fight it, and this issue, in addition to environmental pollution, causes the destruction of natural enemies and in the long run can cause an outbreak of garden pests. be PISTACHIOs Eco-friendly pesticides, which have natural origin, are able to effectively destroy pests without toxic and harmful effects on the environment, and with proper use, they are able to significantly reduce the consumption of poisons, therefore, considering the low The danger of non-chemical insecticides for humans and the environment and the superiority of these compounds over chemical compounds against the phenomenon of pest resistance to chemical insecticides in these studies, the insecticidal effects of mineral compounds of solid sulfur, lime sulfur, boric acid, kaolin, non-ionic surfactant and potassium silicate and plant compounds such as matrine, parsley, thistle, etc. were investigated and researched on PISTACHIO psyllium nymphs. These researches were conducted in the form of completely randomized block design and in garden and laboratory conditions. These compounds were tested with specific concentrations and time intervals, and the results showed that they had a great effect on the control of the PISTACHIO psyllium population. Therefore, the pesticides used can have an acceptable control in the integrated management of COMMON PISTACHIO psyllium.

The COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID, Agonoscena pistaciae, is the key pest of PISTACHIO trees in Iran. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves and reduce plant vigor and yield, increase the number of blank, half growth kernel and unsplit nuts and also cause defoliation and buds drop. Detrimental effects of chemical synthetic insecticides and the resistance of COMMON PSYLLID PISTACHIO to them and the effect of three botanical insecticides, Sirinol (garlic extract), Tondexir (pepper extract) and Palizin (eucalyptus extract), were investigated as a randomized complete block design experiments in field conditions. The sampling was done 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment. The results showed that the highest mortality in Palizin treatment occurred after 2 and 7 days. The sampling of 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment were showed the highest and lowest mortality in Sirinol and Tondexir treatments, respectively. Generally, there were no significant differences between Sirinol and Palizin 28 days post-treatment, but these compounds showed significant differences with Tondexir. As a result, these botanical insecticides are suitable in integrated pest management of COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID.

The COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID is one of the most important pests of PISTACHIO trees. The damage of this pest is economic in terms of feeding on plant sap, being multi-generational, and having high reproductive capacity. Chemical insecticides are used to control it. Given the of chemical insecticides have many ,disadvantages, Therefore, it is essential to find a safe, effective, and natural method to control this pest. One of these methods is the use of a sulfur mineral compound, which is available in various sources, including mineral and refinery (liquid, wettable powder and micronized powder formulations). Various studies have shown that sulfur is more effective to control of the COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID than chemical pesticides such as imidacloprid and spirotetramat, acetamiprid, flupyradifuron, thiacloprid, and phosalone, and can control this pest for several weeks. The effect of Zarkooh Mine sulfur increases with increasing concentration, and in cases of high pest density that require rapid control, a higher concentration should be used, depending on the PISTACHIO variety and time. Micronized sulfur had better effect than other sulfur formulations to reduce the population density of COMMON PISTACHIO PSYLLID at different sampling times. The ,effect of sulfur on parasitoid, Psyllaephagus pistaciae and Ladybugs, Oenopia conglobata and Hippodamia variegate was less harmful, but on Chrysoperla carnea was medium harmful. Of course, the bioassay on the C. carnea was conducted under laboratory conditions. The application sulfur improves vegetative characteristics and quantitative and qualitative yield of commercial PISTACHIO cultivars and Quality characteristics of PISTACHIO nuts (Kernel composition, appearance and market acceptance). In general, necessary decisions should be taken regarding the method and timing of sulfur application in an integrated pest management program so that it does not adversely affect the sensitive growth stages of natural enemies and also does not cause burns to PISTACHIO leaves and nuts.

Glutathion S-transferase enzymes have an important role in the detoxification of pesticides compounds and the resistance of insects to insecticides. In this study, the activity of glutathione S-transferase enzyme between summer and winter forms of PISTACHIO PSYLLID, were measured and the effect of different concentrations of PBO (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg/Lit) on the inhibition of activity of this enzyme were investigated by using of 1- chloro- 2,4- dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as a substrate. In addition, the activity of glutathione S-transferase was determined at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hour after treatment the adults by the concentration of PBO that had maximum inhibition on this enzyme. The results indicated that there is no significant deference between the activity of enzyme in different forms of PISTACHIO PSYLLID (P<0.05) and the lowest activity of glutathione S-transferase or highest inhibition were obtained in 0.5 mg L-1 of PBO and the maximum inhibition were done at 4 hour after the synergism application. According to these results, it seems that by using the suitable dose of PBO and matching the time that the synergist has maximum inhibition to the glutathione S-transferase we will be able to promote the resistance management of PISTACHIO PSYLLID to pesticides.