Fig. 1.

Experimental design (A) and plant phenotype after 48h of treatment (B). (A) B73 maize seeds were germinated for 4 d, planted, and cultivated under control diurnal cycles (16h day (D)/8h night (N), 220±30 µmol m^–2 s^–1, 24 °C, 50% relative humidity) for 7 d. The plants were then kept under the same conditions (control) or under total darkness (shaded) for 48h. They were then returned to regular diurnal cycles for recovery. Sample harvesting was done every 8h for 48h, starting at the end of the dark period when plants were still under darkness. (B) Control and shaded plants grew at different rates as a result of the treatment.