Fig. 1

Experimental design and images of wind treatments. a The Decreased wind velocity treatment was implemented through a wind shield, which was 1 m × 1 m × 0.75 m (0.75 m high) and built with four steel tubes and transparent plastic sheets. The plastic chambers did not have a roof, so that ambient air could mix with that in the cubicles freely. b There was no additional treatment for the ambient treatment, apart from a large-mesh, 0.6 m high fence to avoid herbivory by wild rabbits (In a pilot test, the fence had a negligible influence on wind velocity). c The Increased wind velocity treatment was implemented through experimental wind baffles. We placed 1.5 m long and 1 m high iron sheets at each side directed towards the North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West, respectively from each pot, to converge and increase wind velocity. These baffles were at 0.7 m distance from the plant pot to avoid a shading effect