Fig 1. Schematic representation of the adaptation treatments and water stress challenge, and the analysis performed in L. plantarum PM411 and TC92 strains.

Gene expression of cells was studied in non-adapted (N), acidic (A), and combined-stress (C) conditions after the adaptation treatments. After the treatments (N, A, and C) cells were exposed to water stress (i) in vitro for the study of cell inactivation kinetics and gene expression, and (ii) in planta for the study of cell inactivation kinetics.