Figure 4.

Absolute quantification of mRNA transcripts of selected ESTs during urediniospore germination, germ tube elongation, and appressoria formation. RNA was extracted from urediniospores (U), urediniospores germinated on the surface of water for 6 hours (G6) or 24 hours (G24), and urediniospores germinated on an appressoria-inductive surface for 6 hours (A6) or 24 hours (A24). The y-axis represents absolute expression of these transcripts. Error bars represent the standard deviation. Bars topped with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Expression patterns fell into four basic groups. Group A had lowest expression in urediniospores and higher expression in germinated spores and appressoria at 6 hours. Group B showed lowest expression from appressoria at both time points. Group C had less variation in expression across samples. Group D showed the highest expression in urediniospores and lowest expression appressoria at both time points.