Changes in the RWC, soil water content (A) and gene expression (B) in the leaves of BABA-treated and non-treated control plants.

<p>Four-week-old potted plants were soil drenched with water or a solution of BABA at a final concentration of 0.3 mM in the soil. The irrigation was halted, and the soil water content and leaf RWC were assessed by testing three plants in parallel at each time point. The soil water content was determined gravimetrically for a profile from 5 cm to 7 cm deep. One compound leaf per plant was used for the RWC determination. RNA was isolated from three single leaves derived from three plants. The transcript levels were analysed using RT-PCR. The <i>18S RNA</i> gene with a constitutive level of expression was used as the internal control. The plant test was performed three times and similar results were obtained. The data of one representative experiment are shown in the figure. Asterisks depict differences significant at <i>P</i>≤0.01 (<i>t</i>-test) compared to the non-treated, drought-stressed control.