Effective plant quarantine and biological control initiatives require rapid and accurate identification of exotic and potentially invasive taxa that may cause high economic losses or environmental damage. The genus Scirtothrips Shull includes several species that are serious agricultural pests, and, because of their minute size and cryptic behavior, prone to undetected transport through interna...

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in soils, and at elevated concentration levels in plant tissue Si is reported to improve plant resistance to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. in the present study, Si solutions at 100, 300 or 500 mg l-1 made from potassium silicate (K2Sio3) were applied as foliar sprays or soil drenches to pepper (capsicum annum l.) plants, and their effec...