Understanding How Silicon Fertilization Impacts Chemical Ecology and Multitrophic Interactions Among Plants, Insects and Beneficial Arthropods

Silicon (Si), an essential nutrient in the plant health system, are gaining momentum in facilitating defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. Recently, Si has received increased attention for its role in alleviating arthropod pests. Albeit many studies focused on direct mechanisms such as physical /mechanical barrier and the biochemical and molecular mode in reinforcing defense activity, the deep insight into the tri-trophic level is obscured. Our study emphasizes the key role of Si in tri-trophic interaction (plant-herbivore-natural enemies), its accumulation in plant tissue, and its consequences on beneficial arthropods. Evidently, the accumulation of Si is greater in monocot tissues than in dicots. We summarize how soil and climatic factors influence Si upregulation in plants. Ironically, the herbivore-induced plant volatiles play a crucial role in defense action, resulting in cascading effects on the attraction of natural enemies, facilitating locating the prey, subsequently strengthening the natural biocontrol. This review explores the abundance of Si in up-regulating the defense activity in the plant by favouring natural enemies and suppressing harmful arthropods, subsequently supporting a green environment and sustainable production system. Further, the present study elucidates variable functions of stress signal hormones like jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene in both monocots and dicots. The study also highlights the availability and mode of Si application in response to plant health and emphasizes the future research needs on the role of Si in safeguarding plant health against arthropod pests.