Transverse sections of 2-month-old birch seedlings and the ratio of xylem area to total area under GA3 and/or PAC treatments. (A–D) GA and/or PAC treatment for 3 days; (E–H) GA and/or PAC treatment for 7 days; (I–L) GA and/or PAC treatment for 14 days; and (M–P) GA and/or PAC treatment for 21 days. (A,E,I,M) GA treatment; (B,F,J,N) GA + PAC treatment; (C,G,K,O) PAC treatment; and (D,H,L,P) water treatment (control). Phloroglucinol–HCl was used to stain lignin to highlight xylem vessels and fibers. Bars = 1 mm; (Q) The ratio of xylem area to total area in birch plants under GA3, GA3 + PAC, PAC and control for 3, 7, 14 or 21 days. Error bars were obtained from multiple replicates of the real-time PCR. Lower case letter indicates p < 0.05.