Response of Calamagrostis arundinacea and C-epigeios to short- and long-term water stress

Water relations of two rapidly expanding species in deforested localities, Calamagrostis epigeios and Calamagrostis arundinacea, were compared. After short- or long-term water stress, water content and specific leaf area were more reduced in C. epigeios than in C. arundinacea. After short-term stres s, osmotic potential was similar in both species, but after long-term stres s, it was much lower in C. epigeios plants. Abscisic acid and proline conte nts were higher in stressed plants of C. epigeios than in those of C. arund inacea.