LAUSR

BACKGROUND Plant viruses are mainly transmitted by piercing-sucking herbivores, and viral disease management relies on chemical control of vectors. Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is transmitted by the white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of silicon (Si) amendment for reducing SRBSDV transmission. RESULTS The settling and ovipositional preferences of WBPH females decreased significantly by 14.6-43.7% for plants treated with either 0.16 g or 0.32 g SiO2 kg-1 soil during SRBSDV acquisition and by 26.2-28.3% for plants treated with 0.32 g SiO2 kg-1 soil during SRBSDV inoculation, compared with controls. Adding either 0.16 or 0.32 g SiO2 kg-1 soil significantly reduced SRBSDV inoculation rate by 31.3% and 45.3%, respectively, and acquisition rate by 25.5% and 66.0%, respectively. Silicification was intensified more in plants treated with 0.32 g SiO2 kg-1 soil than in controls. The non-probing (np) duration increased, and the phloem sap ingestion (N4-b) duration decreased significantly in the WBPHs feeding on high-rate-Si-supplemented plants compared with control plants during both inoculation and acquisition access. CONCLUSION This study showed that Si amendment to rice plants decreased the WBPH settling and ovipositional preference and the SRBSDV acquisition and inoculation rates, thereby reducing SRBSDV transmission. The intensified plant silicification and the altered WBPH feeding behaviors, i.e., prolonged non-probing and shortened phloem sap ingestion, may explain the reduced SRBSDV transmission in Si-amended plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.