Fig. 11.

Cell death and caspase 3-like activity in barley embryogenic suspension cultures. (A) Cells of suspension culture visualized by differential interference contrast microscopy (upper) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining for DNA revealing the nuclei (lower); bar, 45 μm. (B) Histogram showing the percentage of dead cells identified by Evans Blue staining in control and stress-treated cells. (C) Evans Blue staining revealing dead cells in blue (arrow) and living cells unstained (arrowhead); bar, 45 μm. (D) Caspase 3-like activity in control and stress-treated cells, as well as in stress-treated cells with the caspase 3 inhibitor as control. Letters indicate significant differences at P < 0.05 according to Duncan’s multiple-range test (This figure is available in colour at JXB online.)