Silicon fertilization in maize increases attractiveness of nocturnal herbivore-induced plant volatiles to Spodoptera frugiperda natural enemies

Abstract

Silicon (Si) fertilization has been well-documented to enhance plant resistance against insect pests by increasing the abrasiveness and toughness of leaf tissues. Additionally, Si also interacts with the jasmonic acid pathway, which modulates antiherbivore induced defenses, including the emission of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that attract natural enemies. In this study, we examined the influence of Si fertilization on the attractiveness of nocturnal HIPVs from maize plants infested with the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), to the predatory earwig Doru luteipes (Scudder).