Open AccessSilicon-based induced resistance in maize against fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)]
Author(s) -
Inzamam Ul Haq,
Aroosa Khurshid,
Rehan Inayat,
Kexin Zhang,
Changzhong Liu,
Shahbaz Ali,
Ali Tan Kee Zuan,
Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi,
Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0259749
Subject(s) - fall armyworm , biology , agronomy , fecundity , dry weight , horticulture , pest analysis , lepidoptera genitalia , noctuidae , abiotic component , botany , spodoptera , ecology , population , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna , demography , sociology
The fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) is a major economic pest in the United States and has recently become a significant concern in African and Asian countries. Due to its increased resistance to current management strategies, including pesticides and transgenic corn, alternative management techniques have become more necessary. Currently, silicon (Si) is being used in many pest control systems due to its ability to increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic factors and promote plant growth. The current experiments were carried out at the College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China, to test the effect of Si on lifetable parameters and lipase activity of fall armyworm and vegetative and physiological parameters of maize plants. Two sources of Si (silicon dioxide: SiO 2 and potassium silicate: K 2 SiO 3 ) were applied on maize plants with two application methods (foliar application and soil drenching). The experiment results revealed that foliar applications of SiO 2 and K 2 SiO 3 significantly (P≤0.05) increased mortality percentage and developmental period and decreased larval and pupal biomass of fall armyworm. Similarly, both Si sources significantly (P≤0.05) reduced lipase activity of larvae, and fecundity of adults, whereas prolonged longevity of adults. Among plant parameters, a significant increase in fresh and dry weight of shoot, stem length, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activity was observed with foliar applications of Si. Root fresh and dry weight was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in plants treated with soil drenching of SiO 2 and K 2 SiO 3 . Moreover, SiO 2 performed better for all parameters as compared to K 2 SiO 3 and control treatment. The study conclusively demonstrated a significant negative effect on various biological parameters of fall armyworm when plants were treated with Si, so it can be a promising strategy to control this pest.