Ma:ry aspects of plant gro$th are known to be affected by drought stress including leaf expansionwhich is reduced due to the sensitivity of cell to water stress (Hsiao, 1973). Results of thii study show thatwater stress applied at the vegetative growth stage significantly reduced number of leaves per plant,branching and plant height (Fig. l) compared to the control and water stress at flowering and poa-nilinggrowth stages. These results are similar for all varieties investigated and hence no signincant interactions.Water stress is known to reduce leaf production and promote sittescence and abscission (Kanaras, l9E0),resulting in decreased total leaf area per plant. While water stress at the flowering and pod-filling gowthstages had no appreciable effects on leaf production, there was also no evidence in thi present study nosuggest that water stress at these gronth stages resulted in increased leaf senescence. This was probablydrre to minimai change in plant water potential during stress (Turk et al, l9B0; Turk and gatl, tptolWien e/ al, 1979b indicating that cowpeas are excellent drought avoiding plants. This then shows thatleaf production is more sensitive to water stress than leaf senescence in cowpea.Reduction in leaf production and hence leaf area with stress at tlre vegetative stage might also be adrought avoiding mechanisnn Shackel and }Iall (lg7g) have shown that cowpeas-avoii' drought byreduction in leafarea, decrease in stomatal conductance and changes in leaflet orientation. Reduction inleaf growth in the present study was accompanied by reduced branching and decreased height (Figs lb
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