The present investigation was carried out at Esna distract, Luxor governorate
on 15 September 2011 to evaluate the negative effects of the infestation by Parlatoria
blanchardii (Targ.) on the mineral nutrients contents (macronutrient and
micronutrient) of certain date palm varieties leaflets. Date palm varieties named
White (local name), Seedy Balady, Gendeila, Malakaby and Shamia. The obtained
results revealed that the uninfested date palm leaflets were significantly higher when
found in fresh weight, weight after one hour of drying, dry weight, moisture content,
epicuticular wax, leaflet area, specific leaflet area and photosynthetic pigments than
the infested ones for the all tested varieties. In contrast, the dry matter, loss moisture
content and specific leaflet weight were significantly increasing in the infested leaflets
compared to uninfested ones. White date palm variety was considered the greatest
infestation with P. blanchardii, exhibiting the highest percentage of reduction in the
moisture content, epicuticular wax, leaflet area, specific leaflet area and chlorophyll
(a) and carotenoids, and exposed the least percentage of reduction in the dry matter, %
lost moisture and specific leaflet weight in the infested leaflets compared with the
uninfested ones. The loss in the measured parameters was a summation of many
factors including insect infestation, time of infestation and variety. The relative role of
these factors may differ among different varieties.