Drought Hardening of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Seedlings in Mixed Cultivation

To alleviate the enhanced frequency, duration, and intensity of drought as a consequence global warming, admixing drought-sensitive European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with deep rooting silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) has been proposed. However, information on performance admixtures seedlings these tree species at limited water availability so far not reported. In present study, we investigated significance deprivation in mixtures foliar relative content (RWC), ?13C signature, total C N contents, C:N ratios both drought-rewetting cycle. Surprisingly, moderate triggered increased RWC leaves current year needles indicating hardening. The was preserved after rewatering leaves, but needles. Drought did significantly affect abundance (less negative values) one-year old needles, stomatal control upon drought. Total contents were rewatering, remained constant Foliar decreased rewatering. Accordingly, response to recovered These results suggest that hardening may be achieved least partially via osmotic adjustment by different compatible solutes No apparent effects number neighbours observed, although more tended increase leaves. indicate is largely independent interspecies neighbours.