Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 28 4 2026 07 01 Properties of Palm Hearts from Three Iranian Date Palm Cultivars Affect Physiological Responses of Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) 981 994 24115 EN Fatemeh Khodadadi Esfichar Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Islamic Republic of Iran. Maryam Pahlavan Yali Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Islamic Republic of Iran. Peyman Namvar Namvar Plant Protection Research Department, South Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Jiroft, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 2025 09 16 <em>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</em> Olivier is a serious insect pest of date palm trees worldwide. In this study, we assessed the energy reserves and antioxidative defense response of <em>R. ferrugineus</em> larvae on palm hearts of three date palm cultivars i.e. Piarom, Mazafati, and Kalute. Furthermore, the specific biochemical and mechanical properties of them were evaluated. The insect was reared in a growth chamber at 29±2°C, 80±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) and the experiments were conducted using the seventh instar larvae. The results revealed that the highest contents of sugar and lipid in <em>R. ferrugineus</em> larvae were on Piarom and Mazafati, respectively. The antioxidant enzymes activities in larvae were significantly different on the tested palm hearts and. <span lang="EN">Mazafati</span> palm heart <span lang="EN">had the</span> lowest tissue hardness<span lang="EN">. Biochemical analysis revealed that the total sugar content was high in Mazafati and </span>Kalute and low in Piarom. The concentrations of<span lang="EN"> phenol and </span>flavonoid were also different in the tested palm hearts.<span lang="EN"> Moreover, Gas Chromatography-Mass</span> <span lang="EN">Spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling showed that alkaloids, terpenes, acids, and amides</span> were the major volatile components of the tested palm hearts. Piarom showed traits associated with reduced larval performance, suggesting its potential use in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.<br><br><br> https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_24115_cf3064dbc013dc19f7f5d954436cd3a8.pdf