Silicon as resistance inducer in to control black aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854 in Phaseolus lunatus lima beans

• Published in: Arquivos do Instituto Biológico (São Paulo) 2019, Vol.86
• Main Authors: Fortes Portela, Gilson Lages, Ramalho Silva, Paulo Roberto, Girão Filho, José Edmir, de Moura Pádua, Luiz Evaldo, de Melo Júnior, Luiz Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• ISSN: 0020-3653; 1808-1657
• DOI: 10.1590/1808-1657000512018

ABSTRACT In Brazil, there are few records of insects associated with the cultivation of lima beans; among them, there is the black aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of silicon application on the resistance induction of lima bean plants, Phaseolus lunatus, to the black aphid A. craccivora. The experiment was conducted in the Entomology Laboratory of the Phytosanitary Sector of Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), Brazil. The effects of the following treatments on biological aspects of the insect were evaluated: silicon applied to soil; silicon applied to soil + leaf; silicon applied to leaf; and control, without silicon application. The following biological variables were evaluated: generation period, reproductive period, and the fertility and daily average of produced nymphs per female. Plant silicon and lignin content were also evaluated. A 1% solution of silicic acid (2.0 g of product diluted in 200 mL of water) was applied around the plant stem (on soil), 15 days after emergence. Leaf application was performed with a 1-L spray, 5 days after the soil application. The non-preference of A. craccivora on lima beans was also evaluated. The evaluations were performed after 48 and 72 hours of infestation by counting nymphs and adults at each leaf section. Silicon application reduces nymph production, thereby interfering in the biological aspects of A. craccivora. Therefore, it can be used in cowpea pest management programs. RESUMO São poucos os registros no Brasil de insetos associados à cultura da fava; entre eles, destaca-se o pulgão preto Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de silício na indução de resistência de plantas de feijão-fava Phaseolus lunatus a esse inseto. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Entomologia do setor de Fitossanidade do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI). Os efeitos da aplicação do silício sobre os aspectos biológicos do inseto foram avaliados utilizando os tratamentos: silício aplicado no solo, silício aplicado no solo + folha, silício aplicado à folha; e controle, sem aplicação de silício. Foram avaliadas as variáveis biológicas: duração do período pré-reprodutivo, período reprodutivo e fertilidade, e média diárias de ninfas produzidas por fêmea. Os teores de silício e de lignina nas plantas também foram avaliados. O ácido silícico foi aplicado em uma