Plant Responses to Water Stress and Antitranspirants: Changes in Growth and Dry Matter Production of <I>Grevillea robusta</I> A. Cunn.

Abstract

The effect of water stress and some antitranspirants on the survival, growth and dry matter production of Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. were studied under controlled laboratory conditions. In general, the survival percentage, height of plants, number of leaves per plant, no. of branches per plants, fresh and dry mass of roots, stem, branches and leaves decreased with increasing water stress irrespective to control (untreated) as wen as in aU antitranspirant treatments. However, the effect was more prominent under antitranspirant treatments. Commonly the decrease in the said parameter was more sharp from daily to weekJy watering interval than to fortnightly interval. No seedlings could survival under monthly watering interval.