THE EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY ON WATER CONTENT AND RESPONSE TO DROUGHT.

Acute phosphorus deficiency was induced in seedlings of a number of species over a period of 5 weeks. Deficiency affected dry weight, root/shoot ratio, leaf water content, leaf water deficits and the time taken for the plants to show visible stress after watering was stopped. Populations of two of the species from soils differing in phosphorus status showed consistent and major differences in the effects of phosphorus deficiency. The ecological implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]