Relative Drought Resistance of Desert Willow, Fruitless Mulberry, and Yellow Bells

Abstract

Desert willow and yellow bells had a higher capacity to avoid drought than fruitless mulberry under moist conditions, but the reverse was true under dry conditions. Desert willow and yellow bells had a higher tolerance to dehydration than fruitless mulberry, resulting in a higher relative resistance to drought under either moist or dry conditions. Detached leaves from desert willow and yellow bells plants grown under stress restricted water loss better than those grown under no stress. Fruitless mulberry leaves lost water at essentially the same rate regardless of irrigation.