Fig. 1.

Root-elongation rate (A) and cell sap osmotic potential (B) of 1cm root tips of the common bean genotype VAX 1 under OS (left column, 0; right column –0.60MPa osmotic potential). Plants were pre-cultured in a simplified nutrient solution containing 5mM CaCl₂, 1mM KCl, and 8 µM H₃BO₃ for 48h for acclimation and pH adaptation, and then treated without or with PEG (150g l^–1) in the simplified nutrient solution (pH 4.5) for 24h. Bars represent means ±SD, n=12, for (A) and n=4 for (B). *** denotes significant differences between the +PEG treatment and the –PEG control at P < 0.001.