Data on ecology of the Hemiptera species found in the forest area of the Taygetus Mountain during the years 2004-2008 are presented. The scale insects Eulecanium sericeum (Lindinger) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Nemolecanium graniformis (Wünn) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Physokermes inopinatus Danzig & Kozár (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Dynaspidiotus abietis (Schrank) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and the aphid Cinara confinis (Koch) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were found infesting fir trees Abies cephalonica (Pinaceae) and the scale species Lineaspis striata (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and Planococcus vovae (Nasonov) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were found on Juniperus oxycedrus (Cupressaceae). The coccids P. hemicryphus, P. inopinatus, N. graniformis and the diaspidid D. abietis complete one generation per year in the study area. The predatory species Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Schneider), Coccinella septempunctata L. and Scymnus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were observed on the infested plants. The encyrtid Pseudorhopus testaceus (Ratzeburg) parasitized female adults of P. hemicryphus. The parasitization level reached 47.8% in July.

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Agriculture is increasingly forced to utilize marginal waters to meet its increasing demands, which in turn increases the risks of soil salinization and yield reduction in the arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean basin. Given that the bean is an extremely salt sensitive species, the purpose of the present work was to study the effect of 0 and 75 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) on leaf characteristics, growth, pod yield and ion accumulation of three green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars ('Corallo Nano', 'Romano Bush Plaja' and 'Starazagorski'), widely used in Greece. Plants were grown in a greenhouse of Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese in Messinia, Southern Greece, from April to June 2014, in hydroponics. The experimental design was the factorial completely randomized one with five replications; each replication consisted of the three plants grown on the same rockwool slab. The results of the majority of growth and yield parameters determined showed the superiority of 'Corallo' over 'Romano' whereas 'Starazagorski' tolerance was found to be intermediate. 'Corallo' tolerated NaCl salinity better due to its capacity for Na retention in the roots and maintaining appropriate K/Na and Ca/Na ratios, limiting the accumulation of toxic ions into actively growing shoots. The salt sensitivity of 'Romano' was related to its higher concentration of Na in the leaves and lower in the roots, to the greater decrease of the leaf number and leaf water content, as well as to the specific leaf area increase compared to the other two cultivars under saline conditions.

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The effect of four NH4:NO3 ratios in the nutrient solution (0:100; 25:75; 50:50 and 75:25) on growth and nutrient concentrations of four kale (Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala) hybrids: ‘CN KAL 1029’, ‘Redbor’, ‘Winnetou’, ‘Reflex’ and  one indigenous cultivar: ‘Ntopia Mytilinis’ was investigated. In the first four weeks of cultivation none of the NH4/NO3 ratios applied induced adverse effects on most growth characteristics determined whereas plants grown with 75% NH4-N accumulated higher leaf N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu concentrations. After an eight week period, plants under 75% NH4-N showed significant reductions in many growth parameters suggesting a probable preference of kale plants grown for a prolonged period towards either a complete exclusion of NH4 from the nutrient solution or a 25:75 or a 50:50 NH4/NO3 ratio. Among the genotypes tested, ‘Ntopia Mytilinis’ produced the greatest yield with the lowest leaf nitrate accumulation.    ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Agriculture is increasingly forced to utilize marginal waters to meet its increasing demands, which in turn increases the risks of soil salinization and yield reduction in the arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean basin. Given that the bean is an extremely salt sensitive species, the purpose of the present work was to study the effect of 0 and 75 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) on leaf characteristics, growth, pod yield and ion accumulation of three green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars (‘Corallo Nano’, ‘Romano Bush Plaja’ and ‘Starazagorski’), widely used in Greece. Plants were grown in a greenhouse of Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese in Messinia, Southern Greece, from April to June 2014, in hydroponics. The experimental design was the factorial completely randomized one with five replications; each replication consisted of the three plants grown on the same rockwool slab. The results of the majority of growth and yield parameters determined showed the superiority of ‘Corallo’ over ‘Romano’ whereas ‘Starazagorski’ tolerance was found to be intermediate. ‘Corallo’ tolerated NaCl salinity better due to its capacity for Na retention in the roots and maintaining appropriate K/Na and Ca/Na ratios, limiting the accumulation of toxic ions into actively growing shoots. The salt sensitivity of ‘Romano’ was related to its higher concentration of Na in the leaves and lower in the roots, to the greater decrease of the leaf number and leaf water content, as well as to the specific leaf area increase compared to the other two cultivars under saline conditions.