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. 2017 Jul 5;7(1):4719.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05023-7.

Higher Fertilizer Inputs Increase Fitness Traits of Brown Planthopper in Rice

M M Rashid  1 , N Ahmed  2 , M Jahan  3 , K S Islam  3 , C Nansen  4   5 , J L Willers  6 , M P Ali  7
Affiliations

Higher Fertilizer Inputs Increase Fitness Traits of Brown Planthopper in Rice

M M Rashid et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary staple food source for more than half of the world's population. In many developing countries, increased use of fertilizers is a response to increase demand for rice. In this study, we investigated the effects of three principal fertilizer components (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) on the development of potted rice plants and their effects on fitness traits of the brown planthopper (BPH) [Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)], which is a major pest of rice in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Compared to low fertilizer inputs, high fertilizer treatments induced plant growth but also favored BPH development. The BPH had higher survival, developed faster, and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ) was higher on well-fertilized than under-fertilized plants. Among the fertilizer inputs, nitrogen had the strongest effect on the fitness traits of BPH. Furthermore, both the "Plant vigor hypothesis" and the "Plant stress hypothesis" were supported by the results, the former hypothesis more so than the latter. These hypotheses suggest that the most suitable/attractive hosts for insect herbivores are the most vigorous plants. Our findings emphasized that an exclusive focus on yield increases through only enhanced crop fertilization may have unforeseen, indirect, effects on crop susceptibility to pests, such as BPH.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Physiological characteristics of rice plants and their effects on brown planthopper (BPH) fitness traits.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of N and P on the increasing rate of natural increase (r m) of brown planthopper (BPH).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of N and P on the reproduction rate (R 0) of brown planthopper (BPH).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Univariate Box plot results following multivariate MANOVA for the fitness trait r m (labeled as R_m in the figures) over the 3 levels of the N factor. Note the subtle pattern for the group means (in sets of 3 moving by eye from left to right) in each panel and among panels.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Univariate Box plot results following multivariate MANOVA for the fitness trait R 0 (labeled as R_0 in the figures) over the 3 levels of the N factor. Note the subtle pattern for the group means (in sets of 3 moving by eye from left to right) in each panel and among panels.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Univariate Box plot results following multivariate MANOVA for the silicon (Si) content plant characteristic over the 3 levels of the N factor. Compare the subtle differences in eye fit lines (in sets of 3 groups, moving left to right) within each sub-panel and among the sub-panels.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Relationship among measured rice plant attributes and brown planthopper (BPH) fitness traits for intrinsic rate of increase (r m).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Relationship among measured rice plant attributes and brown planthopper (BPH) fitness traits for net reproductive rate (R 0).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Legend for 3-D graphics and symbology characteristics for fertilizers, life history traits of BPH and bioassay results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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