Demetrio Guilherme Ramos, Venâncio Henrique, Batista Janaina Correa, Santos Jean Carlos
Laboratory of Plant Ecology, U.E. Penedo, Campus Arapiraca, Federal University of Alagoas, Penedo 57200-000, Brazil.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia & Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49107-230, Brazil.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Jan 17;14(2):250. doi: 10.3390/plants14020250.
Silicon (Si) is a widely recognized element in plant defense, often enhancing resistance to herbivory by strengthening cell walls and deterring feeding by external herbivores. However, its impact on internal, endophytic herbivores, such as gall-inducing insects, remains underexplored. This study investigates the role of silicon in , focusing on its effects on herbivory by insects. We hypothesize that while silicon strengthens plant tissues and reduces feeding by external herbivores, it may have a limited effect on internal feeders, such as gall-inducing insects. Our results indicate that silicon accumulation in leaves significantly reduces herbivory by chewing insects but has no direct effect on the occurrence of gall-inducing insects. Silicon content in galled tissues was lower compared to healthy leaves, suggesting that gall-inducing insects may manipulate silicon distribution to mitigate its defensive effects. Our results indicate that hypersensitivity reactions were positively influenced by silicon, highlighting the role of this element in enhancing localized defense mechanisms. Our findings reveal silicon's tissue-specific roles in plant defense, emphasizing the need for more research on its nuanced interactions with endophytic herbivores and implications for ecological applications. This research contributes to the literature on silicon's multifaceted role in plant-herbivore interactions and its potential applications in sustainable pest management.
硅（Si）是植物防御中一种广为人知的元素，通常通过强化细胞壁和阻止外部食草动物取食来增强对食草动物的抗性。然而，其对内部内生食草动物（如造瘿昆虫）的影响仍未得到充分研究。本研究调查了硅在[此处原文缺失具体内容]中的作用，重点关注其对昆虫食草行为的影响。我们假设，虽然硅会强化植物组织并减少外部食草动物的取食，但它对内部取食者（如造瘿昆虫）的影响可能有限。我们的结果表明，叶片中硅的积累显著减少了咀嚼式昆虫的食草行为，但对造瘿昆虫的发生没有直接影响。与健康叶片相比，瘿组织中的硅含量较低，这表明造瘿昆虫可能会操纵硅的分布以减轻其防御作用。我们的结果表明，硅对过敏反应有积极影响，突出了该元素在增强局部防御机制中的作用。我们的研究结果揭示了硅在植物防御中的组织特异性作用，强调需要更多地研究其与内生食草动物的细微相互作用及其生态应用意义。这项研究为关于硅在植物 - 食草动物相互作用中的多方面作用及其在可持续害虫管理中的潜在应用的文献做出了贡献。
