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Title:   Author  item
                                            Ranger, Christopheritem
                                            SINGH, AJAY - RUTGERS UNIVRSITYitem
                                            Frantz, Jonathanitem
                                            CANAS, LUIS - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYitem
                                            Locke, Jamesitem
                                            Reding, Michael

                                                         - *Mike*item
                                            VORSA, NICHOLI - Rutgers University
  Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 3/25/2009
                                    Citation: Ranger, C.M., Singh, A.P., Frantz, J., Canas, L., Locke, J.C., Reding, M.E., Vorsa, N. 2009. Influence of Silicon on Resistance of Zinnia Elegans to Myzus Persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology. 38:129-136.Interpretive Summary: Studies were conducted to examine the effect of treating Zinnia elegans Jacq. with soluble silicon on the performance of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer).  Zinnia elegans plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution amended with potassium silicate (K2SiO2), or a nutrient solution without K2SiO2.  Aphid developmental rates and survivorship were not affected by K2SiO2 treatment, but offspring production and the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were slightly reduced on Z. elegans plants receiving soluble silicon.  Quantification of silicon content in leaf tissues confirmed significantly higher silicon concentrations in plants treated with K2SiO2 compared to control plants.  Plant defensive phenolics were also quantified from Z. elegans.  Compared to control plants, only slight elevations in 5-caffeoylquinic acid, p-coumaroylquinic acid and rutin were detected in leaves of Z. elegans plants treated with K2SiO2.  Similarly, a slight elevation in plant defensive enzymes was detected in plants treated with K2SiO2. Overall, these results indicate treatment of Z. elegans with soluble silicon provides a modest increase in resistance levels to M. persicae, which may be due in part to defense-related compounds.
                                Technical Abstract: Studies were conducted to examine the effect of treating Zinnia elegans Jacq. with soluble silicon on the performance of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer).  Zinnia elegans plants were irrigated every 2 days throughout the duration of the experiment with a nutrient solution amended with potassium silicate (K2SiO2), or a nutrient solution without K2SiO2.  Length of the prereproductive period and survivorship of M. persicae were not affected by K2SiO2 treatment, but total cumulative fecundity and the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were slightly reduced on Z. elegans plants receiving soluble silicon.  Quantification of silicon content in leaf tissues using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) confirmed significantly higher silicon concentrations in plants treated with K2SiO2 compared to control plants.  High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis was used to identify and quantify phenolic acids and flavonols in leaf tissue of Z. elegans.  Compared to control plants, only slight elevations in 5-caffeoylquinic acid, p-coumaroylquinic acid and rutin were detected in leaves of Z. elegans plants treated with K2SiO2.  Similarly, a slight elevation in guaiacol peroxidase activity was detected in plants treated with K2SiO2. Overall, these results indicate treatment of Z. elegans with soluble silicon provides a modest increase in resistance levels to M. persicae, which may be due in part to defense-related compounds.


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