Regulation of lignin biosynthesis genes in OsERF71-overexpressing and RNAi knockdown transgenic rice plants. A, qRT-PCR analysis showing the transcript levels of OsCCR1, OsCCR10, OsCAD, and OsC4H in 2-week-old GOS2::OsERF71 and RCc3::OsERF71 roots. UBIQUITIN1 expression was used as an internal control. Data are shown as means + sd of three biological and two technical replicates. B, qRT-PCR analysis showing the transcript levels of OsERF71, OsCCR1, OsCCR10, OsCAD, and OsC4H in 2-week-old GOS2::OsERF71RNAi roots (lines 2, 5, and 8). UBIQUITIN1 expression was used as an internal control. Data are shown as means + sd of three biological and two technical replicates. C, Images of phloroglucinol-stained 3-month-old maturate roots of NT (left), GOS2::OsERF71 (middle), and RCc3::OsERF71 (right) plants. Black arrowheads indicate the Casparian strip; blue arrowheads indicate the cells between mature metaxylem cells; and white arrows indicate additional phloroglucinol-stained regions. Bars = 100 μm.