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.