The potential of populations of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) to become resistant to insecticides has stimulated research into alternative tactics of integrated pest management such as the induction of hostplant resistance. Recent data have shown that silicon can increase the degree of resistance of host plants to insect pests. Therefore the aim of our work was to study the effects of silicon application on the vegetative development of soybean plants and on the induction of resistance to the silverleaf white ly, B. tabaci biotype B. We performed choice and no-choice tests of oviposition preference on two soybean cultivars, IAC-19 (moderately resistant to B. tabaci biotype B) and MONSOY-8001 (susceptible), with and without application of silicon. Silicon did not affect silverleaf white ly oviposition preferences, but caused signi icant mortality in nymphs. Thus, silicon increased the degree of resistance to silverleaf white ly. Silicon decreased the production of phenolic compounds, but did not affect lignin production. However, when applied to cultivar IAC-19, it increased the production of non-protein organic nitrogen. Silicon had no effect on the vegetative development of soybean plants, but it increased the degree of resistance to the silverleaf white ly. We conclude that silicon applications combined with cultivar IAC-19 can signi icantly decrease silverleaf white ly populations, having a positive impact both on the soybean plant and on the environment.

No abstract