Irrigation effects on the morphology of pine needles and
mistletoe leaves
Long-term irrigation significantly influenced the morphological traits
of both pine needles and mistletoe leaves. Host leaf mass per unit leaf
area (LMA) was significantly higher in control trees than in irrigated
ones, but mistletoe leaves showed the opposite pattern (Fig. 2a). There
was no detectable difference in leaf water content between irrigated and
control pine needles (Fig. 2b). In contrast, leaf water content was
significantly higher in control compared with irrigated mistletoe leaves
(Fig. 2b). The area of single pine needles was not affected by the
irrigation treatment, but mistletoe had significantly larger leaves
under control dry conditions than when irrigated (Fig. 2c).