FIGURE 3.

Phenotype of transgenic plants carrying LjPHO3 overexpression constructs. MG-20, wild-type L. japonicus; OE1, OE2, and OE3, three different transgenic lines. (A) Ten-week-old seedlings grown in a growth chamber; (B) Expression analysis of the LjPHO3 gene in leaves of 4-week-old seedlings. Values represent means of n = 6 ± SD (Duncan test: ^∗P < 0.05; ^∗∗P < 0.01); (C) Accumulation of starch in leaves of 10-week old seedlings. Leaves were heated in 80% (v/v) aqueous ethanol to remove pigments before staining with iodine (Lugol’s solution). EOL, end of light; EOD, end of dark; (D) Electron microscopic observation of starch granules; (E) Average length and width of starch granules (SGs). Over 500 SGs were measured for each line (Supplementary Figure S3). Values represent means of n ≥ 500 ± SD. (Duncan test: ^∗P < 0.05; ^∗∗P < 0.01.)