Figure 4.
Deletion of VdSsk1 compromises melanin biosynthesis (A) conidia at a concretion of 1 × 105/ml of each of the wild type, ΔVdSsk1-1, and ΔVdSsk1/Ssk1 strains, were spread onto cellulose membrane on top of BM agar and allowed to incubate for 6 days. Scale bar = 1.5 cm. (B) The melanized area of the colonies was assessed using ImageJ software. Error bars represent the standard deviation of three replicates and two asterisks represent statistically significant differences (P < 0.0) revealed by Student’s t-test. (C) The relative expression level of five genes related to melanin biosynthesis in V. dahliae. The expression was normalized against the expression of the V. dahliae β-tubulin. Error bars indicate standard deviations from three independent experiments. Statistical significance (∗∗P < 0.01) was revealed by Student’s t-test compared the wild type strain.