Relative water content (RWC) was calculated using the formula RWC = 100 × (FW − DW) / (TW − DW), where FW is the fresh mass measured on the sampling date, TW is the turgid mass measured after rehydrating the leaves for 24 h in the dark at 4°C, and DW is the dry mass measured after oven-drying the leaves at 80°C until constant weight. Leaflet area was measured with a flatbed scanner and processed with ImageJ (1.52p, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States). The LMA was calculated as DW/Leaflet area.
For C and N analyses, 3 mg of dry leaflets were ground, weighed, placed in tin capsules, sealed and analyzed using an organic elemental analyzer (Thermo EA 1108, Thermo Scientific, Milan, Italy). Standard conditions recommended by the supplier were applied (Combustion reactor at 1,000°C, reactor chromatographic column at 60°C, helium flow 120 ml/min and 10 ml oxygen circuit at 100 kPa).
For C and N analyses, 3 mg of dry leaflets were ground, weighed, placed in tin capsules, sealed and analyzed using an organic elemental analyzer (Thermo EA 1108, Thermo Scientific, Milan, Italy). Standard conditions recommended by the supplier were applied (Combustion reactor at 1,000°C, reactor chromatographic column at 60°C, helium flow 120 ml/min and 10 ml oxygen circuit at 100 kPa).