2.2 Relative water content determinations
Young fully expanded leaves from the fifth node and comparable in size
were sampled for relative water content (RWC) determinations. Leaves
were weighed immediately after sampling (fresh weight), floated in the
dark for 48 h to achieve maximal turgidity (saturated weight),
oven-dried (80°C) for 16 h and weighed again (dry weight). RWC was
calculated according to the formula: [(fresh weight − dry
weight)/(saturated weight − dry weight)] × 100. Three biological
replicates were assayed for each treatment.