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).