The phenotype of transgenic plants under drought stress mimicking by mannitol. (A) Phenotype of ZmBES1/BZR1-3 expressing lines. (B) The phenotype of the ZmBES1/BZR1-9 expressing lines. (i), (ii), (iii) The phenotype, root length, and fresh weight of every line on 1/2 MS plates, respectively. (iv), (v), (vi) The phenotype, root length, and fresh weight of every line on 1/2 MS plates with mannitol, respectively. The seeds of every line were surfaced-sterilized, planted on 1/2 MS plates without (control) or with mannitol, and vertically cultured for three weeks. All data are means (±SD) of three biological replicates. L3-1 and L3-10 are homozygous lines expressing ZmBES1/BZR1-3. L9-3 and L9-5 are homozygous lines expressing ZmBES1/BZR1-9. bes1-D, untransformed mutant. WT, wild type. * and ** represents p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively.