FIGURE 3.

Direct comparison of long (manual) and short (tool) constructs. Relative expression of the respective fungal DCLs and AGOs 5 dpi on dsRNA-sprayed leaves is grouped by the target gene. The expression was measured via the ΔΔ-Ct method in which the expression of the respective AGOs and DCLs was normalized against the fungal reference gene EF1α (translation elongation-factor 1 α) and β-tubulin, and this Δ-Ct value was then normalized against the Δ-Ct of the GFP control. The asterisks indicate a significant expression of the sprayed leaves in comparison to the mock-treated TE controls. Bars represent mean values ± SE of the four independent experiments.