Evaluation of the effect of calcium and nano calcium on Agonoscena pistaciae (Hem.: Aphalaridae) in pistachio orchards

Abstract

Calcium (Ca) is necessary for the construction of cell walls and a wide range of physiological activities in plants. In this study Ca nanoparticles were produced from a solution containing Ca Sulfate by solvothermal method and were investigated in relation to varying fertilization of macroscales and nanoparticles of Ca on one of the important pistachios pests, the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae, fed on pistachio saplings of Ahmadaghaei rootstock (20-year-old) in pistachio orchard. The population density of A. pistaciae was tested using complete randomized blocks with three replications and four treatments: Ca, nano-Ca, pesticide (acetamiprid), and control (distilled water). The results revealed that the influence of feeding solution on nymph and egg populations differed significantly at the % 1 level, with acetamiprid having the highest measure of control on eggs and Ca having the lowest. In addition, acetamiprid boosted nymph abundance whereas Ca lowered it.