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Amir Tourani

Candidature

PhD Candidate

Thesis Title

Reproductive manipulations and population dynamics of endosymbionts in haplodiploid thrips and their application in pest management

Project Summary

Amir TouraniMy doctoral research focuses on investigating the dynamics of maternally inherited endosymbionts, specifically Cardinium and Wolbachia, in populations of the haplodiploid Kelly’s citrus thrips, Pezothrips kellyanus. This project is groundbreaking as it explores how Wolbachia spreads in host populations by the means of reproductive manipulation and assesses the potential of the Wolbachia-facilitated incompatible insect technique (IIT) for biological pest control in an insect species of the haplodiploid arthropod group, which represents a significant portion of biodiversity, including numerous pest species.

Selected Publications

Tourani AH, Katlav A, Cook JM, Riegler M, (2024) 'Mating receptivity mediated byvendosymbiont interactions in a haplodiploid thrips species', Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciances), vol.291, no.2033, art no.20241564

Tourani A, Amiri-Besheli B, Abbasipour H (2021). Toxicity of selected plant-derived pesticides to citrus spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) and their predator Stethorus gilvifrons under semi-field conditions. International Journal of Acarology, 46(8). DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2020.1866664.
3- Tourani A, Abbasipour H, Karimi J, Askarianzadeh A (2020). Seasonal population fluctuations of white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and its parasitism in kiwi orchards of northern Iran. Biologia. Online published. DOI: 10.2478/s11756-019-00347-3.
4-  Aboutalebian A, Haghani M, Norbakhsh H, Abbasipour H, Tourani A (2020). Selected demographic data of bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L., on corn (Zea mays L.) at different temperatures. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 22(1): 197-207. http://jast.modares.ac.ir/article-23-16716-en.html
5- Tourani A, Abbasipour H, Doostdar Kalkenari L (2017). Toxicity of selected biorational insecticides to Pulvinaria aurantii Cockerell and its predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant in citrus fields. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science. DOI: 10.1080/09064710.2017.1338745.
6- Amiri-Besheli B, Tourani A, Abbasipour H (2019). The effect of biorational insecticides on citrus aphids and their predator Coccinella septempunctata L. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 114(2): 221-229.
7- Tourani A, Abbasipour H, Dehghan-Dehnavi L (2019). Biodiversity and population fluctuations of parasitoids of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), in kiwifruit orchards in northern Iran. Hellenic Plant Protection Journal, 12(1): 12-21. DOI: 10.2478/hppj-2019-0003.
8-  Tourani A, Abbasipour H, Amiri-Besheli B, Heydari S (2019). Integrated management of the striped rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker, in Hashemi Tarom rice under farm conditions. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 52(13-14): 1079-1094. DOI: 10.1080/03235408.2019.1679949.
9-  Tourani A, Abbasipour H (2019). Parasitoids of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, in kiwifruit orchards of northern Iran. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 15(1): 107-109.
10- Tourani A, Abbasipour H (2017). Effect of geographical directions, height, and the colour of yellow traps on capturing Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824), in citrus orchards. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 109(3): 561-575. DOI: 10.14720/aas.2017.109.3.08.
11- Tourani A, Abbasipour H (2017). Oviposition behaviour and distribution of egg masses of the European leaf roller, Archips rosanus (L.), on citrus trees. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 50(9): 1-9. DOI: 10.1080/03235408.2017.1327402.

Honours & Awards

2025, Student Scholarship to attend the 12th Wolbachia Conference at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Okinawa, Japan.

2024, Finalist for the Phil Carne Award of the Australian Entomological Society.

2024, Australian Entomological Society Student Conference Grant, Hobart, Tasmania

2024, Winner of two Best Poster Presentation Awards at the HIE Symposium and HIE Forum (Year 2 student).

2022, Western Sydney University Postgraduate Research Award.

2017, Winner of the Prof. Jalal Afshar Award for the best M.Sc. thesis at the 2nd Iranian International Congress of Entomology.

Supervisors

Professor Markus Riegler, Professor James Cook, Doctor Alihan Katlav