Fig. 11.

Effect of betasatellite infection on relative mRNA level of genes involved in chloroplast structure and function. N. benthamiana plants were agroinoculated with A and A+β. Quantitative RT–PCR was used to determine the relative mRNA level of target genes involved in (A) chlorophyll biosynthesis, (B) chlorophyll degradation, and (C) the structure and function of chloroplasts. The expression of the mRNAs was normalized with β-actin expression. Fold change of the transcript level in leaves infected with A+β in comparison with only A-infected leaves was calculated. Bars represent means ±standard errors for fold change obtained from at least three replicates per treatment. Grand means obtained were subjected to independent sample t-test to determine significant differences between A- and A+β-infected samples at the 0.05 significance level. Abbreviations of transcripts are given in the text.