Fig. 5.

Influence of gradual desiccation at ambient temperature (t 0 h) and subsequent rehydration for 1 (t 1 h) and 18 h (t 18 h) on DNA strand breaks (% DNA in the tail) representing single, double strand breaks and alkali-labile sites measured with the alkaline comet assay. Nuclei were isolated in Sörensen buffer supplemented with 0.5 mM Na₂EDTA and 0.5% DMSO from embryonic axes of Acer pseudoplatanus L. Values labelled with different letters are significantly different at p ≤ 0.05, according to Duncan test. Data represent mean ± SE, n = 3