Fig. 5.

Validation of effector-induced cell death using recombinant PVX virions. (a) Overview of the PVX-mediated transient expression method is shown. Agrobacterium carrying RXLR effectors was inoculated into lower leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. Upper leaves showing virus symptom were ground to produce a PVX-inoculum carrying RXLR effectors. The inoculum was mechanically inoculated on pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves to validate the effector-induced cell death. (b) Four pepper accessions (AC09-11, 186, 202 and 226) were wound-inoculated with recombinant PVX virions (PexRD8, PexRD13, Avrblb2 and PexRD50). PVX virions of PexRD2 and dGFP were used as positive control and negative control, respectively. Inoculated leaves were harvested at 5 d post-inoculation and cleared in 100% ethyl alcohol to remove chlorophyll in order to visualize the cell death.