Induce of antibiotic resistance in bell pepper, Capsicum annuum L, against green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), by micronutrient fertilizers

The quality of host plants as the first level of nutrition and a key effective factor affect the biological ability of herbivorous pests. Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is an important pest of agricultural crops with the wide host range and the high ability to transmit important viral pathogens. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of micronutrient fertilizers of Alpha Fe, Zinc sulfate, Copper sulfate and Manganese sulfate on some physiological and phytochemical characteristics of Capsicum annuum L., as well as some biological parameters of M. persicae under greenhouse conditions. Duration of different developmental stages of the aphid and estimation of biological parameters were recorded using the two-sex life table procedure. The results showed that the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids in plants treated with micronutrient fertilizers was increased. Also, the foliar application of micronutrient significantly was increased the activity of plant antioxidant enzymes during the nutritional interaction between the treated plants and the aphid compared to the control and the treated plants before aphid infestation. On the other hand, the plants treated with different micronutrients effected the biological parameters of aphid and the lowest life span and reproductive period, fecundity and longevity of adults were observed in plants treated with manganese micronutrient. According to the results, the foliar spraying of bell pepper with micronutrients can induce antibiotic resistance in it and possibly other plants hosting of M. persicae and be used in integrated management programs of this pest.