Fig 1. Physiological and biochemical characterization of in vitro sugarcane plantlets under osmotic stress induced by PEG 8000.

Four physiological parameters and one biochemical parameter were measured in sugarcane plantlets to characterize the effect of the osmotic stress imposition. A) Plantlets exposed to osmotic stress by PEG 8000 (40%). The time of stress exposure (from top to bottom) is indicated by an arrow showing the severity of the stress treatment increased according to time (0, 24, 48, and 72 hours respectively). Physiological measurement of B) Relative water content, C) Osmotic potential, D) Assimilation rate, E) Transpiration rate, and F) Biochemical measurement of proline content in roots and leaves of sugarcane.