Fig 1.
Experimental layout for the treatment and harvesting of L. serriola plants.
The first and second harvest described for 100% WHC treatment was similarly followed for 75%, 50% and 25% WHC treatments.
Fig 2.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the relative growth rate of shoot height of L. serriola.
Shoot height was measured weekly from day 14 until day 63 of the treatment. 25% (▲) WHC, 50% (◆) WHC, 75% (●) WHC and 100% (■) WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. Vertical bars indicate standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatments at p < 0.05 (n = 7) throughout the entire experiment.
Fig 3.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the relative growth rate of shoot diameter of L. serriola.
Shoot diameter was measured weekly from day 28 until day 63 of the treatment. 25% (▲) WHC, 50% (◆) WHC, 75% (●) WHC and 100% (■) WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. Vertical bars indicate standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatments at p < 0.05 (n = 7) throughout the entire experiment.
Fig 4.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the number of leaves of L. serriola.
Number of leaves was measured weekly from the start of the treatment until day 63. 25% (▲) WHC, 50% (◆) WHC, 75% (●) WHC and 100% (■) WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. Vertical bars indicate standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatments at p < 0.05 (n = 7) throughout the entire experiment.
Table 1.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the leaf area, root: shoot ratio, total fresh weight, total biomass, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, Fm/Fv value and SPAD value of L. serriola at first harvest.
Table 2.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the leaf area, root: shoot ratio, total fresh weight, total biomass, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, Fm/Fv value and SPAD value of L. serriola at second harvest.
Fig 5.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the total soluble sugars of L. serriola measured at first harvest.
25%, 50%, 75% and 100% WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. The lines at the top of the bars represent the standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatment at first harvest at p < 0.05 (n = 3).
Fig 6.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the total phenolic content of L. serriola measured at first harvest.
25%, 50%, 75% and 100% WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. The lines at the top of the bars represent the standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatment at first harvest at p < 0.05 (n = 3).
Fig 7.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on the number of seeds produced per plant by L. serriola.
25%, 50%, 75% and 100% WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. The lines at the top of the bars represent the standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatment at p < 0.05 (n = 3).
Fig 8.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on 100 seed weight of harvested seeds of L. serriola.
25%, 50%, 75% and 100% WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. The lines at the top of the bars represent the standard error. Different letters represent significant differences amongst the treatment at p < 0.05 (n = 3).
Fig 9.
Effect of four different soil moisture levels on germination ability of harvested seeds of L. serriola.
25%, 50%, 75% and 100% WHC represent 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% soil water holding capacity in which the plants were maintained. The lines at the top of the bars represent the standard error. Different number, small and capital letters represent significant differences amongst the germinating conditions, amongst germination in 12/12 h light/dark condition and amongst germination in 24 h darkness respectively at p < 0.05 (n = 3).