Figure 6.

Expression levels of lignin biosynthesis genes during panicle development. The expression of PAL1 (A), CCoAoMT1 (B), COMT1 (C), CCR1 (D), and CAD2 (E) was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The cv Kasalath wild type (WT) and OSH15 RNAi lines 1 and 3 were examined at three developmental stages. Whole panicles were sampled when 1 to 3 cm long. Junction regions between panicles and the spikelet were sampled when panicles were 10 to 15 cm long and immediately prior to the heading stage (n = 4; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; and ***, P < 0.001). BH, Before heading.