Department of Plant Protection

Manager: Dr. Sedighe Azimi

Equipment: microscope equipped with digital camera, microscope equipped with drawing tube, stereomicroscopes, centrifuge, scale, laboratory refrigerator, freezer, incubator, series of extraction sieves, extraction trays

The nematology laboratory was established in 2020 in the department of Plant Protection at the College of Agriculture. The activities that take place in this laboratory including: Extraction of plant-parasitic nematodes as well as free-living and predator nematodes from the soil and various plant organs, performing tests to determine the infestation of nurseries, greenhouses, fields and gardens with important plant-parasitic nematodes, identification of nematodes based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characteristics, collection of microscopic slides related to new species in Iran and the world, holding educational courses, execution of research projects, masters and doctoral dissertations.

Manager: Dr. Hamid Alvani

Equipment: microscopes, stereomicroscopes, incubators, refrigerators, various Laboratory glassware, video projector and projector digital camera

The lab has a rich herbarium collection which contains different preserved plant diseases specimens collected from different regions of Iran. Different microscope slides of different pathogens are prepared and stored in this laboratory. Practical work in this lab helps students to learners and understands signs and symptoms of specimens and the students could study all types of pathogens such as fungi or nematodes microscopically or macroscopically.

Manager: Dr. Masumeh Ziaee

Equipment: HPLC, Chemical hood, Probe bearing ultrasonic, ultrasonic bath, Electrical Furnace

The activities carried out in Toxicology lab are including: Synthesis, and characterization of new natural-based formulations of pesticides and evaluation their activity to control insect pests in green spaces, greenhouses, fields, gardens. Evaluation efficacy of insecticides against insect pests, and their side effects on biological control agents. Dose-response assessment testing of insecticides. Performance of pesticide residue analyses. Our training courses for MSc and PhD students cover all aspects of pesticide testing, pesticide formulation technology, etc.

Manager: Dr. Saeid Tabein, Dr. Milad Aeini

Equipment: Gradient Thermocycler, ELISA Reader, Growth Chamber, Laminar flow hood, Water Bath, Incubator, Germinator

New virology and bacteriology laboratory was established at Department of Plant Protection, in 2020. Khuzestan province, southwest Iran, has a potential condition to occur plant viruses and evolve new species, specifically about ssDNA geminiviruses. Therefore, this prompted us to the research on plant viruses in this region of the country. In Bacterial lab, we are interested in topics such as, plant-microbe interaction, plant associated bacteria, plant pathogenic bacteria, and bacteria in bioremediation.

Manager: Prof. Arash Rasekh

Equipment: Beekeeping tools, Incubator, very accurate scale Oven, Stereo microscopes

The beekeeping station includes an apiary and two laboratories with equipment related to bee breeding and research activities. This station has been starting its activity since 1983 and many graduate students have performed their thesis research on this area. Most of the research topics focus on nutrition, behavior, and pest management of honeybees. We are interested in conducting research in these fields.

Manager: Dr. Arash Rasekh and Dr. Mehdi Esfandiari

Equipment: Microscopes, Stereo microscopes, Incubator, Fume hood, Oven, Refrigerator, rearing cages

This laboratory aims to identify important species of natural enemies and determine the best and most economical methods for their mass rearing. In this laboratory, postgraduate students conduct their research in this field. Also, in this center, mass rearing of these beneficial insects will be done and samples will be provided to farmers. It is supported and equipped with a series of incubators at incubator room to provide a controlled environment for the growth of insects

Manager: Mahnaz Farzin

Equipment: Microscopes, Stereo microscopes, Berlese funnel, Insect storage cabinets and video projector

In the entomology laboratory, activities such as identification of insects, pests, predators and parasitoids are carried out. Moreover, collection of various insects especially those of economic importance are being done in this laboratory. The practical part of various agricultural entomology courses in the undergraduate and graduate levels are also taught in this laboratory.

Manager: Prof. Parviz Shishehbor

Equipment: Several incubators, Insect rearing cages, Stereo microscopes,

In this laboratory several M. Sc. and Ph. D. students are working on their projects. These projects are related to biological control of insects and mite pests. Our research is mostly focused on parasitoids and predators of insects and mites of field and glasshouse crops. Most of the research in this laboratory is related to the mass production of natural enemies to promote biological control of pests and to reduce pesticide use and impacts on the environment. We also work on diversity and abundance of soil and water mites.

Curator: Dr. Mehdi Esfandiari

Equipment: Microscopes, Stereo microscopes, insect drawers, and cabinets

Insect and Mite Collection of Ahvaz (IMCA), located at the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. It was established in 1963 in the College of Agriculture, Molasani, north Ahvaz, by Dr. Seyed Hossein Hodjat and Dr. Siavash Tirgari. Then it was moved to its current place in 1972 and later, Dr. Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh played an important role in the growth and improvement of the collection. The collection includes thousands of local and exotic species (including some paratypes) from Iran and some other countries. Special groups include Apoidea, Coccinellidae, Noctuoidea, Aphidoidea, Acridoidea, Acari, etc., some of which are unique in the Middle East. This collection is the third largest of its kind in Iran. At present, Dr. Mehdi Esfandiari is the curator of the collection. Thanks to Mr. Babak Mahmoudi for his help in operating. Identification of insect fauna is the main goal and MSc and PhD theses as well as other projects are performed resulting in several publications.

Manager: Dr. Ali Asghar Seraj

Equipment: Cages, stereo microscopes

Growth room of Plant Protection Department allow researchers to control the environmental conditions when studying insects and provide the precise environmental conditions for optimal and healthy growth of insects.  They can control humidity, temperature, light, and other factors. Entomologists use growth room for insect rearing and studying the effect of insect pests or their predators on plants.

Manager: Dr. Seyed Ali Hemmati

Equipment: Incubator, Oven, Chemical hood, Refrigerator, Stereo microscopes

The physiology Lab specializes in biochemistry and molecular biology of insect digestion, particularly digestive enzyme inhibition. Our scientific work focuses on nutritional indices and digestive enzyme activities of insects both from basic research and applied control perspectives. We try to integrate computational methods (as a tool for designing a potent inhibitor), molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology to address fundamental and applied aspects of these interactions with emphasis on insect pest control. We are proud members of the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz Plant Protection Department.

Manager: Dr. Mehdi Esfandiari

Equipment: Microscopes, Stereo microscopes, Oven, Refrigerator, Insect photography equipments, Light traps, Malaise trap, Insect nets, Berlese funnel, and other insect collecting and preparing materials

Research in our Lab of insect systematics is focused on insect systematics/taxonomy, and biodiversity, in connection with population variation aspects. We use both classic and molecular (e.g. COI gene) methods. We also conduct expeditions to explore local fauna and inventories it which is far from complete. We conduct research mostly on Noctuoidea moths, but also on other insect groups.

Technical Officer: Babak Mahmoudi

Equipment: PCR, -70 °C freezer, Electrophoresis, Freeze drier, Centrifuges, ELISA reader, Fluorescent microscope

The Molecular Genetics Lab of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz was established in 2012. This lab provides a professional place for conducting molecular researches related to the identification of plant pathogens including fungi, nematodes, prokaryotes (phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas and bacteria), and meso-biotic agents (viruses, viroids and virusoids). The research interests of this lab also include the comprehensive studies on the molecular phylogeny and systematics, biochemistry, molecular biology, host/resistance, genetics, and functional genomics of plant pathogens; host-phytopathogen interactions and molecular mechanisms involved in these interactions. This lab also provides the possibility of conducting molecular-genetic experiments by Master students, Predocs, Postdocs and Professors, which work on fungi, nematodes, prokaryotes, and viruses.