Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND The efficacy of integrated pest management programs can be affected by interactions between different pest control methods. Silicon (Si) amendments increase plant resistance to phytophagous insects; however, such amendments may also affect higher‐trophic level species, causing either negative or positive impacts on the biological control of pests in treated crops. To evaluate the effect of Si amendment on the potential for control of the pest aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald) by the parasitoid Aphidius platensis (Bréthes), the key biological parameters and the fertility life tables of both species were assessed in the laboratory at both 23 ± 1 °C and 29 ± 1 °C without Si application and in a greenhouse trial, with the insects reared on plants grown in soil with and without the application of Si (800 kg of Si per hectare). RESULTS Without Si, the net reproductive rate ( R 0 ) value of the parasitoid at 23 °C was higher than that of the aphid (ratio of R 0 of parasitoid/ R 0 of aphid = 1.2), showing that the aphid can be controlled by the parasitoid at this temperature, but at 29 °C this reversed, with the R 0 ratio declining to 0.79, permitting aphid outbreaks. In contrast, with Si, the parasitoid's R 0 and r m (intrinsic rate of increase) were both equal or higher than the aphid's at both temperatures, with parasitoid/aphid ratios for R 0 and r m ranging from 1.0 to 1.8. CONCLUSION Silicon amendment can increase A. platensis control of M. sorghi , representing its potential use in the integrated management of this pest in sorghum. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Without silicon at 23 °C, the parasitoid R0 was higher than the aphid R0, with a ratio of 1.2.
- Treatment
- Without Sie2
- Interactor
- Aphidius platensisAphidius platensise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Melanaphis sorghi
Melanaphis sorghie1pest - Outcome
- ratio of R 0 of parasitoid/ R 0 of aphide2
- Value
- 1.2e2
- Setting
- 23 °Ce2
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“control of the pest aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald) by the parasitoid Aphidius platensis (Bréthes)”
e2“Without Si, the net reproductive rate ( R 0 ) value of the parasitoid at 23 °C was higher than that of the aphid (ratio of R 0 of parasitoid/ R 0 of aphid = 1.2)”
e5“its potential use in the integrated management of this pest in sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Without silicon at 29 °C, the parasitoid R0 ratio declined to 0.79 relative to the aphid.
- Interactor
- Aphidius platensisAphidius platensise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Melanaphis sorghiMelanaphis sorghie1pest
- Outcome
- R 0 ratioe3
- Direction
- declininge3
- Value
- 0.79e3
- Setting
- 29 °Ce3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“control of the pest aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald) by the parasitoid Aphidius platensis (Bréthes)”
e3“but at 29 °C this reversed, with the R 0 ratio declining to 0.79, permitting aphid outbreaks”
e5“its potential use in the integrated management of this pest in sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
With silicon, the parasitoid R0 and rm were equal to or higher than the aphid values at both temperatures, with ratios of 1.0 to 1.8.
- Treatment
- with Sie4
- Interactor
- Aphidius platensisAphidius platensise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Melanaphis sorghiMelanaphis sorghie1pest
- Outcome
- R 0 and r me4
- Direction
- equal or highere4
- Value
- 1.0 to 1.8e4
- Comparator
- aphide4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“control of the pest aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald) by the parasitoid Aphidius platensis (Bréthes)”
e4“In contrast, with Si, the parasitoid's R 0 and r m (intrinsic rate of increase) were both equal or higher than the aphid's at both temperatures, with parasitoid/aphid ratios for R 0 and r m ranging from 1.0 to 1.8”
e5“its potential use in the integrated management of this pest in sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend silicon amendment for integrated management of Melanaphis sorghi in sorghum with Aphidius platensis.
- Interactor
- A. platensisAphidius platensise6biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- M. sorghiMelanaphis sorghie6pest
- Outcome
- potential use in the integrated management of this peste6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“Silicon amendment can increase A. platensis control of M. sorghi , representing its potential use in the integrated management of this pest in sorghum”