Host Range of Polymyxa betae Keskin which spread in Syria and the ability of the infected Weeds to transfer it to Sugar beet

Polymyxa betae is an important vector of many viral diseases and widespread in Syria. It was necessary to determine the host rang of Syria's isolate of the P. betae in the local plant species and their role as alternate host to P. betae, as well as its role to transfer the P. betae to sugar beet cv. 186 dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plant species were collected during the years 2007 - 2010 from sugar beet fields with a focus on Rhizomania infected fields regardless the planted crop. 10 dicotyledonous and two monocotyledonous plant species were positively tested with naturally infection of Polymyxa spp. In addition, 106 dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plant species kindly provided by the BASF AG (Germany) were tested in soil infected with Syrian isolate of P. betae only. After microscopic examination only 23 dicotyledonous plants species belong to 10 families were positively tested with P. betae. This study showed for the first time the infection of Cabbage, Brassica oleracea and Radish, Raphanus sativus with P. betae. All Weeds were infected with Syrian isolate of P. betae were able to transfer it to the roots of sugar beet. Some of weed species which show in Literature that potentially-infected with P. betae did not infect with Syrian isolate.

Effect of the Herbicide, Afalon on Weeds and Yield of Aniseed Crop, Pimpinella anisum L.

Aniseed Crop, Pimpinella anisum L. is one of the important medicinal and aromatic plants in Syria and the world. It has very important economic value, appear in its medicinal and multi-uses. Weeds considered as the greatest obstruct for aniseed production and hand picking is commonly used for weed control. So the investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of the herbicide, Afalon on the weeds of aniseed and its phytotoxicity. Afalon treatment resulted in high efficacy for the broad leaves weeds (92.4 %, 97.1 % and 96.1 %) for the half rate, field rate and double field rate, respectively and (5.8 %, 23.9 % and 29.1 %) for the narrow weeds. The treatment of double field rate gave a high yield (715.3 Kg/ha.) that was equal to weeded plots (777.8 Kg/ha.), and the field rate treatment (673.6 Kg/ha.) was significantly superior to other treatment. This indicated the importance of spraying aniseed crop with Afalon especially when hand picking not possible. Phytotoxicity effect were not recorded on anise plants. Some other plants were not affected by the herbicide like Ammi majus and coriander, those are belong to the same family, Apiaceae.

Wheat Preference to Lay Eggs by Sunn Pest. “Eurygaster integriceps Put.”, and Possibility of Mechanical Elimination of the Eggs in Controling this Pest in Northwestern Syria

Sunn bug Eurygaster integriceps selects certain weed plants to lay it’s eggs. This study was conducted to find out the most preferable weed by this pest in wheat fields in Northwestern Syria.