The effects of shoot damage on starch concentrations in large roots an
d lower boles of the tropical timber tree, Cedrela adorata, were measu
red over a 30-day period following mechanical shoot removal. The degre
e of damage was based on amounts typically destroyed by Hypsipyla gran
della, a serious lepidopteran pest of C. odorata. From 14-month-old pl
antations at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, three treatments
were established based on the length of shoot and number of leaves re
moved: controls (no tissue removed), moderate damage, and severe damag
e. Initial starch concentrations were compared with concentrations obs
erved 18 to 30 days following shoot removal using enzymatic starch hyd
rolysis and colorimetry. Root starch concentrations increased in undam
aged trees, decreased slightly in the moderately damaged trees, and de
creased markedly in severely damaged trees during the sampling period.
Starch concentrations in lower boles did not decrease following shoot
damage, suggesting a specific role of root search reserves in respond
ing to aboveground carbon requirements. The dry weights of regrown sho
ots were similar for the moderately and severely damaged trees, but se
verely damaged trees produced numerous basal shoots while moderately d
amaged trees produced only one or two terminal shoots near the point o
f excision. Decreases in root search concentrations following shoot da
mage and rapid shoot regrowth suggest that starch remobilization in ro
ots of C. odorata might provide a survival mechanism after attack by H
. grandella.