Silicon as a resistance inducer controlling the silvering thrips Enneothrips flavens Moulton, 1941 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its effects on peanut yield

The silvering thrips, Enneothrips flavens Moulton, 1941 is considered the major pest on peanuts in Brazil, due to its widespread occurrence, high population levels, and high damage to the crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon on E. flavens populations and on peanuts yield. Ten fully-opened or semi-opened leaflets per plant were sampled weekly from the peanut cultivar IAC 886. The following treatments were tested: leaf spraying of silicon at 20 days after plant emergence, two leaf spraying of silicon at 20 and 55 days, and the control check. A single silicon spraying provided protection to peanut by reducing the number of E. flavens adults and nymphs and by increasing the yield of peanut pods by 31.30% and peanut grains by 28.85%.