Drought and Herbivory Shape Growth and Chemical Traits in Black Poplar (Populus nigra)

Due to climate change, extreme weather events such as droughts are becoming more frequent and intense. This has a profound impact on plant performance and ecological interactions, including those involving herbivorous insects. The combined impact of drought stress and insect herbivory on plant metabolism has rarely been studied, particularly in woody plants. In this study, we investigated the influence of varying degrees of drought, both alone and in combination with herbivory by the leaf beetle Chrysomela tremulae, on the morphological and chemical characteristics of black poplar (Populus nigra) trees using a full factorial experimental design. We quantified morphological traits, volatile o