Figure 1.

An illustration of Brachypodium distachyon developmental stages and stress combination strategy. Plant developmental stages under the Mediterranean-like conditions and the corresponding number of days after sowing (DAS) ranging among treatments are indicated. Control plants were grown under optimal conditions throughout the experiment. Salinity (indicated by white color) was applied gradually starting at five leaf stage and maintained throughout the experiment. Drought (indicated by blue color) was applied at booting stage by gradually withholding irrigation and maintaining soil water content at 40%. Heat (indicated by red color) was applied at anthesis for four days. Double- and triple-stress combinations were generated by applying the single stresses at the same developmental stages and stress intensities.