Figure 9.

Histological observation of fungal growth in TaADF3-knockdown plants challenged by virulent Pst CYR31. The fungal structure was stained with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The fungal growth of Pst pathotype CYR31 in wheat leaves inoculated with BSMV:00 or BSMV:TaADF3 at 24 hpi (A,B), 48 hpi (C,D), and 120 hpi (E,F) was observed under a fluorescence microscope. The average number of haustoria (G) of Pst in each infection site were counted. (H) Hyphal length, which is the average distance from the junction of the substomatal vesicle and the hypha to the tip of the hypha, was measured using DP-BSW software (unit in μm). (I) Infection area, the average area of the expanding hypha, was calculated using DP-BSW software (units of 10³ μm²). All results were obtained from 50 infection sites, and three biological replications were performed. (J) Quantification of fungus in Pst infected wheat leaves. The ratio of Pst CYR31 mRNA to total wheat mRNA was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Asterisks indicate a significant difference (P < 0.05) from BSMV:00-inoculated plants using a one-tailed Student's t-test. SV, substomatal vesicle; HMC, haustorial mother cell; IH, infection hypha; H, haustorium.