As part of the principle of scientific collaboration between universities, the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Abdul-Hussein Karim, participated as the chair of the thesis defense committee at the College of Agriculture, University of Basra. The thesis was titled: “Using Certain Fungi and Plant Extracts in Controlling the Leafhopper Insect Amrasca biguttula (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Some Eggplant Varieties.”
The thesis involved a chemical analysis of eggplant varieties and a survey of greenhouse and open-field crops in Basra Governorate to identify the species of leafhopper affecting them, as well as studying their population density and spread on eggplant crops.
The thesis aimed to study the impact of different eggplant varieties and various biological control agents (plant extracts and fungi) in controlling the mobile stages of the leafhopper on eggplant crops, both in the lab and in the field.
The findings revealed that the spore suspensions of the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma harzianum showed significant effectiveness in controlling the insect. Additionally, extracts from neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and castor leaves and seeds (Ricinus communis) were found to be highly effective in controlling the pest.
The thesis was approved with distinction, reflecting exceptional scientific effort and a significant contribution to the academic field.