THE ADDITION OF POTASSIUM SILICATE TO THE FERTILIZER MIX TO SUPPRESS LIRIOMYZA LEAFMINERS ATTACKING CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Silicon is the second most abundant element in soils, and is essentially the mineral substrate for most of the world’s plant life.
This material has long been associated with increasing a plant’s ability to withstand attack by pests, but data in this area are limited.
We examined whether the addition of potassium silicate to potted chrysanthemum plants would reduce development of the leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii. A range of silicate concentrations were made on a regular basis for the full duration of a potted chrysanthemum crop, and then individual plants were repeatedly challenged with mated pairs of leafminers in caged studies.
At 200 ppm and higher, we observed a significant reduction in leafminers emerging from treated plants vs. the control.
These results suggest that the addition of silicon may increase the chrysanthemum’s ability to withstand attack by leafminers, and may an additional cultural tool in the IPM arsenal.

VIII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Advances in Soil and Soilless Cultivation under Protected Environment

M.P. Parrella, T.P. Costamagna, R. Kaspi

potassium silicate, chrysanthemum, cultural control, Liriomyza trifolii

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.747.45