Impact of Drought on Productivity and Water Use Efficiency in 29 Genotypes of Populus deltoides x Populus nigra

$\bullet$ We examined the relationships among productivity, water use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance in 29 genotypes of Populus x euramericana (Populus deltoides x Populus nigra), and investigated whether some leaf traits could be used as predictors for productivity, WUE and drought tolerance. $\bullet$ At $Orl\acute{e}ans$, France, drought was induced on one field plot by withholding water, while a second plot remained irrigated and was used as a control. Recorded variables included stem traits (e.g. biomass) and leaf structural (e.g. leaf area) and functional traits [e.g. intrinsic water use efficiency (Wi) and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ)]. $\bullet$ Productivity and Δ displayed large genotypic variability and were not correlated. Δ scaled negatively with Wi and positively with stomatal conductance under moderate drought, suggesting that the diversity for Δ was mainly driven by stomatal conductance. $\bullet$ Most of the productive genotypes displayed a low level of drought tolerance (i.e. a large reduction of biomass), while the less productive genotypes presented a large range of drought tolerance. The ability to increase WUE in response to water deficit was necessary but not sufficient to explain the genotypic diversity of drought tolerance.