Fig. 2

ThST7 overexpression improved salt tolerance of 2-weeks-old cotton seedlings grown in hydroponic culture or in soil under different salt concentrations. A, B Seeds of the CK and ST7-OE lines germinated in soil for 4 days, transferred to hydroponic culture for 1 week and then treated with 140 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl for 3 days. Bar = 4 cm. Values are mean ± SD (7 plants per replicate, four replicates per treatment). Different letters denote significant differences (P < 0.05) from Duncan's multiple range tests. C The 20-days-old seedlings grown in soil were treated with either 0 or 300 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl for 10 days before the images were recorded. Bar = 4 cm. D Survival rate of the seedlings as in C. Values are mean ± SD (10 plants per replicate, five replicates per treatment). Different letters denote significant differences (P < 0.05) from Duncan's multiple range tests