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A Castanea crenata agglutinin (abbreviated as CCA) was extracted and purified from bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis L., to determine its effects on the demographic parameters of Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller. Two groups of first larval instars were reared on an artificial diet containing 2% (w/w) of CCA and control diets until emergence of adults. Two Sex MS-chart life table software was used to analyze data and calculate life table parameters. Developmental times of larvae in control and CCA dietsshowed statistical differences for male, female except for third and fourth larval instars. It was found that A. ceratoniae larvaefed on control had a survival of 18 days but individuals fed on CCA diet survived for 12 days. The highest fecundity values of individuals fed on control and CCA diets were obtained at the age of 30 and 27 days, respectively. Adult longevity, pre-oviposition period, oviposition period and mean fecundity of A. ceratoniae fed on control were higher than those of individuals fed on CCA diet. The probabilities of a newborn egg surviving to age 28 days were 0.42 and 0.3 for control and CCA, respectively. Each female started egg laying on day 22 for control and 25 for CCA. Life expectancies of a newly laid egg were 29 days for control and 26 days for CCA treatment. Life table parameters except for mean generation time showed statistical differences between control and CCA treatments. These results demonstrated the negative effects of CCA on life table parameters of A. ceratoniae that might lead to a promising and alternative way to suppress population increase and damage caused by A. ceratoniae.

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Developing a technique for efficient and safe gene delivery to plant cells is a fundamental aim of plant biotechnology. Agrobacterium mediated transformation as the most common and practical method in plant gene delivery has considerable difficulties such as limitation in applicable for plant species. In recent years several new methods have been suggested, although none of them could be a good replacement. The use of nanotechnology has been provided new solutions to overcome the limitations of biotechnology. Designing biocompatible nanostructures for passing cell barriers and targeted delivery of cargo has improved the biological achievements. In this research the capability of arginine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (Arg-SWNT) as a new carrier to transfer plasmid DNA, which codes green fluorescent protein (GFP) to tobacco suspension cells, has been investigation. It is suggested that single-walled carbon nanotubes can pass through cell wall pores and plasma membrane while it carries plasmid DNA along with. The fluorescence microscopy images illustrate the success of gene delivery by Arg-SWNT