Effects of Defoliation on Growth, Reproduction, and Survival of a Neotropical Dioecious Palm, Chamaedorea tepejilote

Abstract

The effects of three levels of experimental defoliation on leaf production, reproductive behavior, and survival of an understory dioecious palm, Chamaedorea tepejilote, were studied. In both sexes leaf production usually increased significantly in defoliation treatments. Complete defoliation caused the highest leaf production in both male and female plants. Fifty percent removal of leaves increased the probability of reproduction of both female and male plants. Completely defoliated and undefoliated female plants had a similar probability of reproduction. Defoliated male plants produced more than twice the number of inflorescences as undefoliated controls while defoliated female plants did not differ significantly from control plants. No significant differences between treated and control plants were found in infructescent production. However, almost 50 percent of the inflorescences produced by completely defoliated palms failed to develop ripe fruit. Partial defoliation significantly increased fruit production. Completely defoliated palms produced as much fruit as the undefoliated controls in 1985, but twice as many in 1986. Survival was not affected by any defoliation treatment.