FIGURE 4.

Silencing of group IVb SlCNGC genes in tomato plants reduced resistance to Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and enhanced resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Pythium aphanidermatum. (A) Phenotypes of the SlCNGC-silenced plants. Gene silencing analyses were performed using TRV-based vectors. TRV viral symptoms (indicated with red arrows) were more severe in the SlCNGC17- and SlCNGC18-silenced plants compared with the eGFP-control plants. Photographs were taken 3 weeks post agro-inoculation. (B) Detection of transcripts of the TRV₁ replicase gene and TRV₂ 2b gene in silenced plants by qRT-PCR. (C) Gene expression anaysis by qRT-PCR to detect SlCNGC gene silencing efficiency. (D) Disease symptoms of the SlCNGC-silenced plants after inoculated with S. sclerotiorum (Ss). Photograhps were taken at 24 hpi. (E) Statistical anaysis of disease severity in Ss inoculated plants. (F) Disease symptoms of the SlCNGC-silenced plants after inoculated with P. aphanidermatum. Photograhps were taken at 14 hpi. (G) Statistical anaysis of disease severity in P. aphanidermatum inoculated plants. For each pathogen at least six silenced plants were examined. The experiments were conducted three times independently. The data in all statistical analyses represent the mean ± SD of three experiments. Significant difference is indicated as small letters (p < 0.05, DMRT).