Effect of Biochar on silica content and metabolomics against insect pests and mites of bhendi

Abstract Metabolomic profiling was done as a measure of confirmation of induced host plant resistance in the biochar applied bhendi plants. The results revealed that the sugar derivatives, inositol and fucose- meto were high with peak area of 0.14% and 4.06% respectively in the biochar treated leaves and they were absent in the untreated leaves. Among the fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, decadienedionic acid and eicosanedioic acid were present only in biochar treated leaves of bhendi. Seven silicone compounds were also detected in the GC-MS/MS analysis with total peak of 1.78% in the treated leaves. Similarly among the alcoholic compounds, benzyl alcohol is present only in the biochar treated leaves with peak area of 0.34%. The only organic acid phthalic acid, 2-propylphenyl tetradecyl ester was observed in the treated leaves of bhendi with peak area of 0.10%. The highest mean silica content was also recorded in the biochar treated plants which was negatively correlated with insect pests. Hence it is clearly proved that biochar induced silica and metabolites in bhendi significantly reduced key insects and mites and enhanced the pod yield.