Effect of variations in phytochemicals of Populus nigra and Populus deltoids on life history attributes of Chaitophorus leucomelas (Koch, 1854) in the littoral (Zéralda) and the sublittoral (Soumâa) of Algeria

Abstract

The aphid Chaitophorus leucomelas (Koch, 1854) is one of the most im-portant pests of poplar (Populus spp.) in Algeria. In the present study, water content in leaves and phytochemical analysis of two poplar species (P. nigra and P. deltoids) were carried out to assess their trophic impact on life-history traits of C. leucomelas. The study was conducted in two areas located north of Algeria during the period printano-summer. The results showed that each metabolite fluctuated at the expense of physiological variations in the plant depending on its reaction to the study area. Soluble carbohydrates gradually decreased over the two study seasons. The concentration of proline was higher for P. deltoids in Zeralda comparing to Soumâa. However, the flavo-noids showed close values. Interestingly, Relative water content and soluble carbohydrates had a positive effect on both aphid weight and lipidic ener-getic reserves on P. nigra, but on P. deltoids only carbohydrate content was marginally related to soluble carbohydrates.