Compensation in seasonal leaf area dynamics and leaf longevity after defoliation in Buddleja davidii

Buddleja davidii is a major invasive weed and its success is attributed to its ability to recover rapidly following defoliation. To quantify the impacts of defoliation on seasonal leaf area dynamics, we measured rates of leaf area growth and loss on cohorts of leaves on control plants and on plants that were defoliated by 66% repeatedly at monthly intervals throughout two growing seasons. The rate of leaf area growth was closely related to cumulative air temperature, but the maximum rate for the defoliated plants in the first season was 2.2 times that of the control plants. This compensational leaf growth resulted in 52% greater total emergent leaf area, attributable to increased node production (34%) and leaf size (35%), compared with control plants. Leaf longevity during the first growing season in the defoliated plants was 12% greater than that in the control plants. During the second season, the degree of compensation was greatly reduced, attributable to reduced leaf size in defoliated plants compared with the control. Total emergent leaf area over both seasons in the defoliated treatment exceeded control values by only 15%. The impact of leaf loss on the vigour in this invasive shrub may, in the short term, be less significant than would be predicted. However, the impacts of continued defoliation are likely to increase markedly in subsequent years. The study provides the basis for modelling leaf area dynamics and plant growth in response to defoliation associated with biocontrol release programmes.