Silicon Supplementation in Wheat, Its Effect on Feeding Preferences and Development of Bird Cherry Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi (hemiptera: Aphididae)

Silicon (Si) is a significant stress reliever in plants, since it improves both biotic and abiotic stress situations. To see the efficacy of Si, wheat plants were subjected to three different silicon treatments (150, 250 and 500 mg/L). We assessed the effect of different silicon concentrations on feeding preferences of Rhophalosiphum padi in both laboratory as well as greenhouse conditions until 72 h. Aphid development was determined by analysing reproductive, lifespan, fecundity and mortality. The findings demonstrated that the increasing silicon concentrations were less preferred by aphids in both free choice and pair choice tests after 48 h. Aphid fecundity, longevity and mortality are affected by higher silicon concentrations. High silicon concentrations showed low LC50 values and high toxicity index. Our findings demonstrate that the impact of silicon on the feeding preferences and development of R. padi could be used as a possible substitute for pesticides in integrated pest management practices.