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Pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burkhardt & Lauterer (Hem.: Psyllidae) is one of the most important pests of pistachio orchards in Iran. The application of chemical pesticides early in the growing season until harvest has affected farmers’ and consumers’ health. In this research, the efficacy of arugula Eruca sativa cold press seed oil, methanolic spinach Spinacia oleracea seed extract, and dayabon® (SL 10%) was studied against nymphs and adults of pistachio psylla in a laboratory at 26 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, and photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h. LC₅₀ values of nanoemulsion formulation (NEF) of spinach seed extract and its nonformulated extract on the early nymphal stage were 468 and 4381 mg/l, respectively. In contrast, the LC₅₀ value of arugula seed oil and dayabon was 2281 and 4380 mg/l, respectively. NEF of spinach seed extract (LC₅₀ = 124 mg/l) was significantly more toxic than other compounds against the 5^th nymphal stage. There was no significant difference in nonformulated spinach seed extract (LC₅₀ = 3946 mg/l), arugula seed oil (LC₅₀ = 3189 mg/l) and dayabon (LC₅₀ = 3930 mg/l) against 5^th instars. The efficiency of dayabon and arugula seed oil and a chemical pesticide fenitrothion was studied in the field located in Dehmolla County, Shahrood, Iran. Sampling was carried out before and after treatment. There were no significant differences between days after treatments. It means that the botanicals were effective until 21 days after treatment. Findings indicated that botanical pesticides used in this study could be effective against pistachio psylla.

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Flowering transition is one of the most important developmental processes of higher plants, which is controlled by endogenous and external environmental signals. These signaling cues are perceived in leaves and shoot apical meristem (SAM) to induce flower formation. APETALA1 (AP1) is one of floral meristem identity genes that regulate the specification and formation of floral meristems and is required for sepals and petals formation. In this study, the expression of this gene in different organs of Eruca sativa as well as the effect of brassinosteroids (BRs) on flowering and the gene expression was investigated. RNA was extracted from different organs and first-strand cDNA was synthesized. Specific primers were designed based on the sequence alignment of AP1 isoform genes from other plants. In the vegetative stage, no expression was observed in different organs. Brassinosteroid treatment from 28 days (vegetative stage) to flower buds formation caused early flowering, so that the treated plants flower about 10 days earlier than the control. In addition, plant size and its organs were larger in plants treated with brassinosteroids. Evaluation of EvsAP1 gene expression in reproductive phase showed its expression in flower buds, sepals and petals but no was seen in roots, stems, leaves, stamen and gynocium. Also, the onset of expression of this gene was observed earlier, indicating that the transition to flowering and flower bud formation occurs faster in treated plants; therefore, expression occurs earlier. However, expression levels did not affected by brassinosteroids and no significant difference was observed between treated and control samples.