Effect of plant nutrition in insect pest management

Master’s Seminar
Kiran Bala
M.Sc. 2nd Year
25/Nov/2017 1Kiran
Effect of Plant Nutrition in Insect-Pest
Management

Outline of the Seminar
 Plant nutrition definition
 Classification
 Functions
 Influence on insects
 Management
 Conclusion

17 August 2018 Kiran 3
Introduction
 Insect-pests are threat to agricultural productivity. They affect the crop yield,
quality and aesthetic value.
 Nutritional quality of plant tissue is one of the main elements of host plant
selection by phytophagous insects.
 Nutrition of plant determine its resistance or susceptibility to pests.
 It has a substantial impact on the predisposition of plants to insect-pests.

The study that deals with plant’s
need for certain chemical
elements including their specific
and interactive effects on all
aspects of plant growth,
development, their availability,
absorption, transport and
utilization (Bareja 2012).
Plant Nutrition

 Chemical element that is essential for
plant growth and reproduction.
 Essential element is a term often used to
identify a plant nutrient (Barker and
Pilbeam 2010).
Plant Nutrient

Plant Nutrients: Classification
I.
Composition of
elements
II.
Nutrients
concentration
III.
Physiological
functions
(Katalin 2011)

I. based on composition of elements in plants
Mineral elements
 Necessary for normal growth
and development of plant
 Not replaceable in their
function by any other nutrients.
 Elements other than carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen
 Used as raw material by plants
( Arnon and Stout 1939)
Essential elements

II. based on nutrients concentration
Macronutrients Micronutrients
Consumed in larger quantities
Dose:
Consumed in lesser quantities
Dose: 0.01 –0.2% – 4.0% 0.02%

3. Osmotic regulators K, Na, Cl
4. Beneficial elements Co, Cr, Ni, F, Se, Si
5. Toxic heavy metals Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, As, Se, V
1. Activators of enzymes K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu
2. Components of redox
systems N, S, P, Ca, B, Fe, Mg
III. based on physiological functions of
elements

Essential Plant Nutrients (17)
Basic Nutrients(3) Macro Nutrients (6) Micro Nutrients (8)
Primary Nutrients Secondary Nutrients
(C,H,O) (N,P,K,Ca,Mg,S) (B,Cl,Cu,Fe,Mn,
Mo,Zn,Ni)
(N,P,K) (Ca,Mg,S)

Source of Plant Nutrients

Uptake of Nutrients
Nutrients Symbol Form available Category
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
C
H
O
CO₂
H₂O
O₂, H₂O
Non fertilizer element
applied through air, water and
soil nutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
N
P
K
NO₃⁻,NH₄⁺
PO₄ᶟ⁻
K⁺
Macronutrients required by
plants in large amounts
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulphur
Ca
Mg
S
Ca⁺⁺
Mg⁺⁺
SO₄⁻⁻
Secondary nutrients
required by plants in
moderate amounts
Boron
Chlorine
Copper
Iron
Manganese
Molybdenum
Zinc
Nickel
B
Cl
Cu
Fe
Mn
Mo
Zn
Ni
HBO₄⁻
Cl⁻
Cu⁺⁺
Fe⁺⁺, Fe⁺⁺⁺
Mn⁺⁺
MoO₄⁻
Zn⁺⁺
Ni⁺⁺
Micronutrients required by
plants in small amounts

Plant Nutrient Functions:
Basic Nutrients
Carbon  Basic molecular component of carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids and nucleic acids
Hydrogen  Play a central role in plant metabolism
 Important in ionic balance as the main reducing agent
Oxygen  Occurs in all the organic compounds of living cells

Macronutrients (Primary)
Nitrogen  Formation of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins
 Major component of chlorophyll
 Increases photosynthesis process
Phosphorus  Involved in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and
transfer
 Promotes early root formation and growth
 Increases protein and mineral content
Potassium  Increases disease resistance and translocation of starch
 Imaparts drought resistance and winter hardiness
17 August 2018 14
Kiran

Secondary macronutrients
Calcium  Component of cell wall
 Utilized for cell growth, division and formation
 Increases fruit set
 Helps in translocation of photosynthesis
Magnesium  Key element of chlorophyll production
 Improves utilization and mobility of phosphorus
Sulphur  Integral part of amino acids
 Synthesis of volatile compounds responsible for taste and
smell in mustard and onion families
 Helps in chlorophyll formation

Iron  Promotes formation of chlorophyll
 Acts as an oxygen carrier
 Reactions involving cell division and growth
Manganese  Acts as a catalyst in oxidation –reduction reactions
 Increases the availability of P and Ca
Molybdenum  Helps in fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the roots of
legumes by nodule bacteria
 Needed to convert inorganic phosphates to organic forms
in the plant
Zinc  Helps in formation of plant growth hormones (auxins)
 Necessary for chlorophyll and carbohydrate formation
Micronutrients…

Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Fatty acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Herbivores
(Insects)
Nutrient chain from plants to herbivores

Insect
nutrition
Carbohydrates
Proteins
amino
acid
Lipids
Fatty acids
Vitamins
Minerals

Insect Nutrition
 The science that interprets the interaction of nutrients and
other substances in food in relation to maintenance,
growth and reproduction of an insect.
 It includes food intake, assimilation, biosynthesis,
catabolism and excretion.
 Optimal nutrition involves a complex interplay between
feeding behaviour and post–ingestive processing of food.

Carbohydrates Source of energy eg: Hydrolyzing polysaccharides
Proteins and
amino acid
Enzymes, morphogenesis eg: Tyrosine (cuticular
sclerotization), tryptophan (visual screening pigment)
Lipids Fatty acids, phospholipids and sterols are the components of
cell wall
Vitamins Necessary for fecundity, spermatogenesis and reproduction
eg: Vitamin E
Minerals Important in hardening the cuticle of mandibles in many
insects eg: Zn, Mn etc.
Nutritional Requirements of Insects

Influence of Nutrients on Insects

Factors include:-
1. Growth rate
2. Potential fecundity
3. Developmental time
4. Population density
5. Intrinsic rate of increase
6. Life expectancy
7. Finite rate of increase
8. Mean generation time
Effect of Nitrogen on Population Growth
Parameters of Insects

Parameters Nitrogen fertilizer concentration
control 25%RC 50%RC 100%RC 125%RC
rm 0.17±.007 0.174±0.007 0.187±0.006 0.202±.07 0.225±0.06
Ro 15.47±1.64 16.15±1.54 19.23±1.81 23.12±2.14 28.28±2.58
Dt 3.99±0.16 3.97±0.15 3.71±0.14 3.42±0.11 3.08±0.09
Tc 15.81±0.18 15.86±0.16 15.86±0.16 15.54±0.127 14.87±0.12
λ 1.19±0.06 1.19±0.01 1.20±0.01 1.22±0.01 1.25±0.01
Effect of different concentrations of Nitrogen on population
growth parameters of Aphis gossypii reared on
Chrysanthemum
RC*=Recommended Concentrations
rm – intrinsic rate of increase; Ro– net reproductive rate; Dt – doubling time; Tc
– mean generation time; λ – finite rate of increase
(Rostami et al. 2012)

Age-specific fecundity (mx) Aphis gossypii reared on Chrysanthemum
indicum at different concentrations of nitrogen
RC*=Recommended Concentrations
(Rostami et al. 2012 )

Kiran 25
Herbivores Species Host Factors
rm Fecundity Growth Survival
Wheat aphid
(Sitobion avenae)
Wheat + +
Rusty PlumAphid
(Hysteroneura setariae)
Wheat + + +
Cereal aphid
(Metopolophium dirhodum)
Wheat + +
Potato aphid
(Macrosiphum euphorbiae)
Petunia + +
Bird cherry-oat aphid
(Rhopalosiphum padi)
Wheat + +
(Johanna et al. 2009; Aqueel et al. 2011; Gash 2012)+ = Increase *
17 August 2018
Influence on other Aphids

Nitrogen
(ppm)
Mean ( total
development time)
Mean ( no.
of crawlers )
Mean (no. of
pupal exuviae)
Mean female
longevity
(mx)
308 25.0 57.7 55.0 45.7 3.9
140 25.5 27.2 21.0 45.1 3.7
84 24.2 30.5 21.3 40.2 3.2
mx = Fecundity
Effect of different levels of Nitrogen on growth parameters of
greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum on tomato
Host Herbivore species Factor Response Appearance
Okra Bemisia tabaci Population Increase
(Jauset et al. 2002; Rehman et al. 2010)
N (NH4)2SO4

Herbivores Species Hosts Factors
Population
( N+A)
Dry weight
Brown plant hopper
(Nilaparvata lugens)
Paddy + +
Leafhopper
(Empoasca decipiens)
Paddy +
White backed plant hopper
(Sogatella furcifera )
Paddy +
Scale insects
(Coccus viridis)
Coffee +
(Kushwaha et al. 1989; Ghorbani et al. 2010; Fernandes et al. 2012; Rashid et al. 2013)
N=Nymphs *, A=Adults *, += Increase *
17 August 2018 27Kiran
Influence of Nitrogen on other Hemipterans

Herbivore Species Host Factors
Incidence Feeding
preference
Borers
(Scirpophaga incertulus)
Rice
Punjab Bas-2
+
Leaf folder
(Cnaphalocrocis
medinalis)
Rice
Punjab Bas-2
+
Diamondback moth
(Plutella xylostella )
Cabbage +
(Altieri 2003; Randhawa 2013)+=Increase*
Influence of Nitrogen on Lepidoptera

Herbivores Species Host Factors
Incidence Feeding
Preference
Western flower thrips
(Frankliniella occidentalis)
Tomato + +
Survival
(L+P)
Body
Weight
Leaf miner
(Liriomyza trifolii)
Potato + +
(Brodbeck et al.2001; Facknath 2005)
+=Increase*, L=Larva*, P=Pupa
Influence on Thysanoptera
Influence on Diptera

Nutrients Mite species Crop Numerical response
of insects
N Panonychus ulmi Apple +
N Tetranychus telarius Apple +
N Tetranychus telarius Beans +
N Tetranychus urticae Beans/peaches +
.
Symbols: (+) increase in density with increasing rates of fertilizer element; (−)
decrease in density with increasing rates of fertilizer element.
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Mite
Abundance
(Luna 1988)

 Profuse plant growth due to high nitrogen fertilizer retards spray coverage.
 Excessive dose of nitrogen fertilizer produce lush green plants, which will
attract pest population.
 Plants given nitrogen fertilizer increases plant dry weight, leaf area, leaf
chlorophyll content and grain yield.
 Increase in nitrogen increases the biosynthesis or accumulation of proteins, free
amino acid and sugars that might have attracted insects eg: whitefly for feeding
in okra.
 Flower concentrations of phenylalanine due to nitrogen increase the abundance
of adult females (Brodbeck et al. 2001).
Why so???

Effects
 Population remained stable
at the lowest Nitrogen level
and decreased at the highest
Nitrogen level.
 Number of aphids displayed
a parabolic response to
Nitrogen level on peach.
(Sauge et al. 2010)
Green peach aphid
(Myzus persicae)
Nitrogen level( Mm)
Aphidpopulation 0.05 3 6 10 15
= Stable
= Increase
= Decrease
Some Exceptions…

Host Herbivore species Factor Response Appearance
Wheat Diuraphis noxia Population -
Nitrogen (liquid urea-ammonium nitrate)
(Riedell et al. 1993)
Another Example
- = Decrease*

 Concentrations of primary and secondary (plant defense-related) metabolites
in the plant shoots get modified e.g.- prunasin increased in some crops.
 Less dose of Nitrogen increase the Chlorogenic acid which acts as a
resistance factor in chrysanthemum plants e.g.- phenylpropanoids
chlorogenic acid and feruloyl quinic acid present in higher amount in thrips-
resitant chrysanthemums.
 Proper application of nitrogen fertilizers would be beneficial to manage
insect herbivores such as cotton aphid.
 The optimal regime of nitrogen fertilizer in irrigated paddy fields is proposed
to improve the nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the environmental
pollution.
Pest Management through Nitrogen
(Riedell et al. 1993; Zhong-xian et al. 2007; Leiss et al. 2009)

Hemiptera
Thysanoptera
•Aphids
•Bugs
•Whiteflies
•Thrips
Influence of Phosphorus on Insect Orders

Hosts Herbivore species Factor Response Appearenc
e
Mustard Lipaphis erysimi Population -
Cowpea Clavigralla sp. Population -
Cotton Bemisia tabaci Incidence
-
Cotton Empoasca sp. Population
+
Busy
Lizzy
Frankliniella occidentalis Population
(Female Adults) +
(Chen 2004; Pandey 2010; Pitan 2010; Zahi 2012; Rashid et al. 2013)
- = Decrease*, + = Increase*
Influence of Phosphorus on Insects

Pest Management through Phosphorus
 Changes in secondary metaboiltes such as phenolics and terpenes
 Accumulation of phenolics (tannin, lignin) acts as barrier having deterring
(antifeedent) or directly toxic (insecticidal) effects on herbivores
 Phenolics interfere with digestion, slow growth, block enzyme activity and
cell division
 Terpenes like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, terpene polymers interefere
with neural transmission, block phosphorylation and gum up insects
 Excessive dietary P (1%) reduced growth and survival of some insects. eg.:-
Schistocerca americana
(Cease et al. 2016)

Hemiptera
Thysanoptera
Lepidoptera
Coleoptera
•Aphids
•Hoppers
•Borers
•Leaf folders
•Thrips
•Beetles Arachnida
•Mites
Influence of Potassium on Different Pests

Host plant Herbivore species Factor Response Appearence
Mustard Mustard aphid
(Lipaphis eryisimi)
Population -
Canola Green peach aphid
(Myzus persicae )
Population -
Wheat Green bug
(Schizaphis graminum)
Population -
Pea/Broadbean Pea aphid
(Acyrthosiphon pisum)
Number of
nymphs/plant
-
Cotton Cotton aphid
(Aphis gossypii)
Population -
(Pandey et al. 2010; Nazir et al. 2011; Ai TC et al. 2011)
Influence of Potassium on different Aphids
- = Decrease*, + = Increase*

Population dynamics of cotton aphid at different potassium fertilizer levels in the
cotton field during seedling stage.
K: potassium fertilizer (KCl), K1 = 60 kg/ha, K2 = 120 kg/ha, K3 = 180 kg/ha
(Pandey et al. 2010)

Influence on Hemiptera
Host Herbivore species Factor Response
Rice Brown planthopper
Population - e
Influence on Lepidoptera
Sugarcane Sugarcane borer
(Chilo suppressalis)
% surviving
larvae and
body weight
-
Rice Rice leaf folder
(Cnaphalocrocis medinalis)
Population -
Rubber Caliothrips brassilensis Population -
(Calafiori et al. 1993; Rashid et al. 2013)
- = Decrease*

Influence on Coleoptera
Host Herbivore species Factor Response
Cotton Root weevil
(Brachyrhinus sulcatus)
Fecundity -
Cotton (Cylas formicarius) Incidence -
Cotton (Pempherulus affinis) Incidence -
(Kandasamy et al. 1982)
K K₂O Foliar Spray
- = Decrease*

Influence on Arachnida
Host Mite species Factor Response
Apple Panonychus ulmi Population
-
Apple Brevipalpus spp. Population
-
(Chaboussou 1976; Luna 1988; Sharma 2010 )
+ = Decrease*
- = Increase*
K KNO₃ Foliar Spray

Pest Management through Potassium
 High dose of potassium decreases the nitrogen uptake
 Adversely affect the biology and behaviour of insects
 Increase in potassium decreases intake and assimilation of food
 Excessive amount of potassium causes quantitative changes in nutrients and
allelochemicals
 They strongly influence the chemical environment of the plant and play an
important role in suppressing the population
 High accumulation of potassium by crops during optimal growing conditions
may be considered as an “insurance strategy” to enable the plant to better
survive under sudden environmental stress
(Zorab et al. 2014)

Secondary
Macronutrients
Calcium
Sulphur
Micronutrients
Zinc
Silicon
Influence of Other Nutrients…

Calcium + Silicon Calcium silicate
Host Insect species Factor Response
Tomato Frankliniella schultzei Mortality of
nymphs
+
Tomato Thrips palmi Population
-
(Almeida et al. 2009)
17 August 2018 46
Kiran
+ = Decrease*
- = Increase*

Influence on Hemiptera
Paddy Brown planthopper
Population
-
Sulphur
Zinc Sulphate + NPK
Influence on Lepidoptera
Paddy Yellow stem borer
(Scirpophaga incertulus)
Infestation -
(Sarwar 2011; Dash et al. 2007)
- = Decrease*

 Production of antibiosis effects like toxic metabolites
(alkaloids, glucosides)
 Insufficiency of essential nutrients
 Zinc and Iron content produces antibiosis effect in paddy
against Brown plant hopper
 Conversion of cysteine into methionine ultimately cause the
death of insects
Management of Insects through Secondary
Macronutrients and Micronutrients
(Rath et al. 2009)

 Involved in plant resistance against insect pest damage via two major
defense mechanisms :
1. Physical defense
2. Induced biochemical defense
 Deposited as opaline phytoliths increasing hardiness and abrasiveness
of tissues
 Create feeding deterrent which reduce the palatability
 Leaves no pesticide residue in food or the environment
 Easily integrated with other pest management practices
Effects of Functional Plant Nutrient on
Insects
Silicon

Influence of Silicon on Lepidoptera
Herbivores Species Host Factor Response
Shoot borer
( Chilo infuscatellus)
Sugarcane % larval
damage
-
Stalk borer
(Eldana saccharina)
Sugarcane % larval
damage
-
Stem Borer
(Diatraea saccharalis)
Sugarcane % larval
damage
-
Rice stem borer
(Chilo simplex )
Paddy % larval
damage
-
(Keeping et al. 2012; Laing et al. 2006; Sasamoto 1953)
17 August 2018 50
Kiran
- = Decrease*

Effect of Silica supply on the Resistance of Rice to
Chilo suppressalis
(Ma and Takahashi 2002)

Managements Through Fertilizers
 Higher doses of fertilizers affect the crop maturity and heavy attack of
sucking pests.
 Proper fertilization is necessary to give the plants a certain level of resistance
against pests (Walters and Bingham 2007).
 Primary pest defense of plants like physical and biochemical properties can
be enhanced by balanced fertilization with plant nutrients.
 Use of inorganic fertilizers with manures, vermicompost and biofertilizers
reduce pest attack in crops.

Combination of Inorganic Fertilizers (NPK) with
Organic Manures and Biofertilizers
(Chatterjee et al. 2013)
Effect of different nutrient sources on white fly incidence of tomato
RDF*= Recommended Dose of Fertilizer
FYM*= Farm Yard Manure
VC* = Vermicompost

FUTURE STRATEGIES- the road ahead
 If integrated crop production is to be extensively used in the
future, a greater understanding of relationships among soil
characteristics, fertilization practices, plant nutrient content
and the ability of pests to reduce yield or crop quality will be
required.

Conclusion
Lot more to unravel…

 Unlike in human nutrition where its effect on “health” has gained considerable
importance, the implementation of “ healthy” nutrition to improve resistance
and tolerance of plants lags its potential.
 In modern agriculture, the most critical problem for increasing yield and
developing sustainable agriculture is sufficient fertilizers supply and
successful crop protection against herbivores.
 Herbivores are sensitive to alternation in host plant nutrition.
 Nutrient enrichment from agricultural and atmospheric sources has the
potential to alter plant–insect interactions via changes in plant growth and
defense (Whittaker 2001).
 Optimized management of chemical fertilizers will be essential for achieving
sustainability of intensive farming.
Conclusion

Acknowledgement
 Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood
 Dr. Surjeet Kumar
 Dr. Nikhil Sharma
 Dr. Chhavi Dogra
 Dr. Vinay Singh Pathania
 Dr. Jayaram
 Miss Pooja
 Miss Sudeshna Thakur
 Miss Anandita Chaudhary
 Miss Priyanka Uppal

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