Effect of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on the Demographic Characteristics of <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Potato Plants

ABSTRACT Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an economically important pest of potatoes. Salicylic acid (SA), a key plant hormone, plays an important role in plant growth and stress resistance. However, the role of SA in inducing potato resistance to M. persicae remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of foliar application of SA at different concentrations (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mM) on the demographic characteristics of M. persicae using an age‐stage, two‐sex life table approach. The application of 5 mM SA significantly prolonged the pre‐adult developmental duration and total pre‐reproductive period (TPRP). Furthermore, life expectancy (), reproduction days, net maternity function (), and mean fecundity were reduced in 5 mM SA‐treated plants compared to the control. Consequently, this led to a lower net reproductive rate ( = 42.53 offspring/female), intrinsic rate of increase ( = 0.2852 d −1 ), and finite rate of increase ( = 1.3301 d −1 ). Furthermore, the population projection showed an 18.8‐fold reduction in population size in 5 mM SA‐treated potato plants. The findings indicate that 5 mM SA treatment can effectively induce resistance (i.e., antibiosis) to M. persicae in potatoes by reducing its demographic performance. These findings highlight the potential application of SA as a natural resistance inducer in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies targeting potato aphids.