Growth ofLeptinotarsa decemlineata larvae in response to simultaneous variation in protein and glycoalkaloid concentration.

Growth of larvae of the Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), as measured by weight gain, was determined when larvae were reared on synthetic diets containing measured quantities of protein and one of fiveSolanum glycoalkaloids. Data were analyzed to determine if growth was affected by these two aspects of phytochemical variation independently, or if there was a significant interaction component in larval weight gain to simultaneous variation in protein and glycoalkaloid concentration. For four of the five glycoalkaloids examined, a bivariate regression model without interaction accurately accounted for growth ofL. decemlineata larvae. For alpha-tomatine, however, a regression model with the addition of a (protein × glycoalkaloid) interaction term more accurately accounted for larval growth. The influence of this interaction was less than either protein or glycoalkaloid concentration alone. The variation in protein concentration accounted for most of the variation in larval growth, and high protein concentrations could more than offset the effect of high concentration of any of the five glycoalkaloids.