3.1. Overall mean effects of drought on growth response traits
The experimental treatments significantly affected all the studied
traits (Table 2 and3). Relative growth rate in leaf area
(RGRA [d-1]), total number of
leaves (TNL), total leaf area (TL[cm2]), total leaf dry weight
(TLDW [g])) and specific leaf area
(SLA [cm2 g-1])
were on average (12 – 38 %) lower in the restricted-water than in the
ample-water (Table 2). The larger declines for TNL,
TL than in TLDW in the restricted water
treatment is consistent with the negative effect of restricted-water on
SLA. Root volume to leaf area ratio (RL[cm3 cm-2]) was higher in
restricted-water conditions than in ample-water conditions (Table 2),
indicating a shift in the partitioning of resources towards root growth
in drought conditions.