Some preliminary studies of the effects on leaf biochemical contents of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), artificially infested with red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The biochemical contents of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) were measured by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) after different treatments. The treatments included artificially infested plant leaves with Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (IL), control plant leaves (CL) and mechanically wounded plant leaves (WL). The results showed that the main compounds were n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, methyl-n-αikanoites, sterols and triterpenoids. The relative concentration of the chemical compounds varied with the type of the different treatments. Indicating that the type of the treatment affected the relative concentration of the chemical compounds of the plant.