Figure 4. Differential expression patterns of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and callose deposition in the root tissues of susceptible and resistant cultivars of rice infected with Meloidogyne graminicola.

Gene expression was measured by qRT-PCR in plants infected with M. graminicola at 2 dpi. Gene expression levels were normalized using two internal reference genes, Os18srRNA and Os-actin. Data are shown as the log₂-transformed values of the fold change levels of infected tissue in comparison with the control tissue (root tips of uninfected plants). Bars represent mean expression levels and SE from two biological and three technical replicates each containing a pool of ten plants. Asterisks indicate significant differential expression (P < 0.05) in comparison with uninfected plants.