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Braconidae (Hymenoptera) communities at high altitudes in alfalfa fields of Kerman province (Iran) were analyzed. The communities were sampled by sweep netting in 2014 and 2015. Samples were taken from three altitudinal transects: 1900–2300 m, 2400–2700 m and 2800–3100 m. A total of 1773 braconid specimens belonging to seven subfamilies were collected. Alpha, beta and gamma diversities were analyzed. The samples from 1900–2300 m and from2400–2700 m showed similar diversity, but from 2800-3100 m had the highest number of specimens and differed considerably in diversity.

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A survey was performed to investigate the fauna of Ichneumonidae in Fars province during 2012 to 2013. Totally, 14 species belonging to 13 genera and six subfamilies were collected and identified including: Exetastes adpressorius (Thunberg, 1822) (Banchinae); Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén, 1949) (Campopleginae); Cryptus inculcator (Linnaeus, 1758); Dichrogaster saharator (Aubert, 1964) (Cryptinae); Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781); Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst, 1829); Homotropus nigritarsus (Gravenhorst, 1829); Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Diplazontinae); Colpognathus celerator (Gravenhorst, 1807); Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829); Ichneumon sarcitorius Linnaeus, 1758; Virgichneumon callicerus (Gravenhorst, 1820) (Ichneumoninae); Orthocentrus asper (Gravenhorst, 1829); Picrostigeus setiger (Brischke, 1871) (Orthocentrinae), of which Exetastes adpressorius and Picrostigeus setiger are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. In addition the male of the latter species is recorded for the first time and described. All species except Dichrogaster saharator are new for Fars province.

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Water stress is a serious environmental problem throughout the world. It is a conse-quence of both drought and salinity which may be relieved by breeding cultivars that can tolerate low soil water potentials. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is normally grown in arid and semi-arid zones. One approach to improving the ability of the crop tolerate drought is to make use of the variation provided by tissue culture derived from somaclonal varia-tion. Seedlings of a moderately salt tolerant line CUF 101-1S derived from the commercial variety CUF 101 were used as a source of explants to initiate and regenerate tissue cul-tures. Regenerant plantlets were allowed to grow to maturity, selfed, and set seed. These seeds (R1) were germinated and grown in a nutrient medium containing 0, 200 and 250 g l-1 polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and additional calcium as CaCl2 (4.0 mol m-3) for 14 days to assess their ability to withstand stress in the progeny generation. Tolerance to PEG was assessed using measurements of root and shoot lengths. Proline levels and activ-ity of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione reductase (GR) (EC 1.6.4.2) were also determined. Selected somaclones were more tolerant than the parent. A large increase in the level of proline was observed in the somaclones compared with the parent variety in response to PEG stress. The activity of catalase and glutathione reduc-tase increased in the tolerant genotypes but remained unchanged in the parent when they were subjected to PEG stress.

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Through a survey that was conducted in Basrah Province, Southern Iraq in 2021, specimens were collected from alfalfa fields (Medicago sativa L.) using a sweep net. These specimens were identified as Neotrichoporoides Girault, 1913 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae), which is a new report of the genus in Iraq. Three species were collected and identified, i.e. Neotrichoporoides basiflavus Li & Li, 2021; N. cavigena Graham, 1987; and N. viridimaculatus (Fullaway, 1955). An illustrated key for identifying Neotrichoporoides species in Iraq and notes on diagnostic characters of the newly recorded species along with illustrations are provided. The distribution map of the Iraqi species is presented. Furthermore, a preliminary checklist of recorded species of Eulophidae from Iraq is provided.

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Salinity is among important soil stresses adversely affecting the process of nitrogen (N) fixation in leguminous plants in different parts of the world. It has been indicated that salinity can inhibit the early stages of nodulation process between bacterium and the host plant including the exchange of signal molecules (nod gene inducers). There has not been any research regarding the effects of nod gene inducers on the growth of alfalfa inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti under saline conditions. A growth chamber experiment was conducted to determine the effects of pre-incubation of S. meliloti with effective inducers of nod genes Luteolin, Methyl jasmonate and Genistein on the growth and N-fixation of two different alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars (Yazdi and Hamedani) under salt stress. Nod gene inducers increased alfalfa growth and N fixation under normal as well as under salt stressed conditions. Yazdi cultivar showed to be more tolerant to salinity than Hamedani with a higher growth rate and N fixation. Luteolin was the most effective nod gene inducer on plant growth and N fixation under normal and as well under salt stressed conditions. The results suggest that pre-incubation of S. meliloti with effective nod gene inducers can improve alfalfa growth and N fixation under salinity stress.

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In order to assess the effect of salinity constraint on some agro-physiological and biochemical traits in Medicago sativa L., four Alfalfa populations (Tafilalet 1, Tafilalet 2, Demnate and Tata), originated from mountains and oasis of Morocco, were tested. The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in pots filled with sand and peat under three salt treatments (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl). Thereafter, plants were harvested 45 days after salt treatment and some agro-physiological and biochemical parameters related to salt tolerance, such as plant biomass, water content, membrane permeability, nutrients contents, nitrate reductase and acid phosphatase activities, were measured. Results showed that increase in NaCl concentration gradually reduced plant biomass, which displayed significant differences among the tested populations. Thus, Tata population appeared to be the most tolerant population to salinity, Tafilalet 1 population was the least tolerant one, while Tafilalet 2 and Demnate displayed moderate salinity tolerance. Variations in plant growth were associated with changes in physiological and biochemical parameters. Indeed, salinity caused a decrease in relative water content, perturbation of membrane permeability, and nutrients concentrations. Results also showed that salinity inhibited nitrate reductase activity in leaves of all tested populations, but acid phosphatase activity was increased in both leaves and roots of stressed plants. Salt tolerance of alfalfa populations was associated with high inorganic ion accumulation and the maintenance of membrane integrity and an adequate level in terms of nitrate reductase and acid phosphatase activities.

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The effectiveness of IRAP, REMAP, SSR, and ISSR markers were investigated to assess genetic diversity among and within eight Medicago sativa L. populations. A total of 101, 119, 117 loci and 31 alleles were amplified using 10 IRAP, 14 REMAP, 16 ISSR and eight SSR primers, respectively. IRAP markers generated the maximum proportion of polymorphic loci per primer (PPLP) while the maximum value of percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) was observed for SSR markers. ISSR markers showed the highest value of marker index (MI). The maximum amount of expected heterozygosity (He), effective number of alleles (Ne), and Shannon’s information index was produced by SSR markers. UPGMA cluster using Nei’s genetic distance coefficients and combined data of four markers separated the populations into three major groups. Correlation coefficients among pairwise genetic and geographic distance matrices, made on the basis of all studied markers, were calculated using Mantel's test. Regression and correlation analysis between genetic distance and geographic distance showed no significant correlations (p>0.05).