Figure 3.

The effects of priming by (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate (Z-3-HAC) on mechanical wounding (MW) and insect elicitor (IE) induced growth responses in systemic leaves of maize (Zea mays) seedlings (expressed as growth rate in cm*h⁻¹, n ≥ 7). Responses in control maize plants at different ages are shown in the left column and responses of Z-3-HAC-treated plants are shown in the right column. Maize seedlings were first exposed to physiological concentrations of Z-3-HAC (2 μg L⁻¹ air volume) for 15 h before the MW or IE treatment was applied to an actively growing leaf (7- and 12-day-old seedlings) or a fully developed leaf (8- and 14-day-old seedlings). The growth of the next (systemic) leaf was measured for 3 days and is expressed as growth rate (cm*h⁻¹). Values are means ± SE and different letters indicate significant differences between the different treatments (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Circled time points indicate no significant differences between treatments. Day 1 and Day 3 growth rates show no significant differences between treatments, with only 13-day-old Z-3-HAC-treated seedlings showing different growth rates on day 3.