THE EFFECT OF DROUGHT STRESS ON THE DRY-MATTER PRODUCTION, GROWTH-RATE AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION OF ANTHEPHORA-PUBESCENS NEES

The effect of drought stress on the dry matter production, growth rate and biomass allocation of Anthephora pubescens Nees was examined at t hree phenological stages, i.e. vegetative stage (P1), initiation of re production (P2) and late reproductive stage (P3). Relative to control plants, total dry mass of Fl, P2 and P3 plants, harvested after an 8-d ay post-stress recovery period, was reduced by 78%, 60% and 35% respec tively. However, at the end of the growing season, there were no diffe rences (P > 0.05) in total dry matter accumulation between stressed an d nonstressed plants. This recovery of A, pubescens can possibly be ex plained by the phenotypic plasticity in leaf allocation in stages P1 a nd P2, and by the increase in the leaf area ratio of P1 and P2 plants, following drought stress.