Ten-d-old CA4002 seedlings were hand-infiltrated with Agrobacterium carrying individual genes in the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector. When GhCla1-silenced plants showed albino phenotype (∼2 w after infiltration), the seedlings that silenced MKK2 or Ve1 were stem-inoculated with V. dahliae (isolate King) suspension spores at a concentration of 1 × 106/mL
(A) Whole plants and (B) detached leaves are shown at 34 d after V. dahliae infection.
(C) Percentage of plants showing Verticillium wilt phenotype at 34 d after infection. The disease ratio was scored with at least 15 plants per treatment and the assays were repeated for three times with similar results.