Growth of Morus alba L. under water deficit conditions
2008
Karatassiou, M.; Parissi, Z.M.; Abraham, E.M.; Kyriazopoulos, A.P., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Laboratory of Range Science
Morus alba is a high quality and forage species, recently introduced in the Mediterranean rangelands. The effects of water stress on growth parameters of M. alba were studied. M. alba seedlings were planted under a transparent shelter. Three irrigation levels (100 per cent, 50 per cent, and 25 per cent of water-holding capacity) were applied. Half of the plants were cut at 30 per cent of their current stem length at the end of May. Water potential (Ψ) and relative water content (RWC) were measured every 15 days. Additionally, leaf and stem growth rates were estimated. The cutting plants maintained more favourable water balance in the leaf tissue than the control. Ψ in plants subject to the cutting treatment decreased as the water stress increased, whereas the plants in 100 per cent water-holding capacity had higher Ψ and lower LGR/SGR ratio. These results suggest that M. alba could develop specific adaptation and growth mechanisms under water deficit conditions
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