Figure 2.
Transgenic rice plants overexpressing M. xanthus PPO exhibited more tolerance to water deficit stress than wild-type (WT) rice plants. A, Phenotypes of wild-type and transgenic plants before and after water withholding for 48 to 84 h. B, Changes in ΨW. The results of shoot water parameters are given as a pooled mean of six separate pots with three replicates in each. C, RWC of leaves. D, Soil water content. Wild-type and transgenic rice plants expressing M. xanthus PPO were grown in the greenhouse under optimal conditions for 4 weeks. Well-watered plants were subjected to water stress by withholding irrigation. Cont, Nondesiccated controls; D-36, -48, -60, -72, and -84, water withholding for 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 h, respectively; M4 and M7, homozygous lines of transgenic rice plants. Values are means ± se of six replicates from two independent experiments. Means denoted by the same letter did not differ significantly at P < 0.05 according to Duncan’s multiple range test.