FIGURE 8.

Utility of the MRFV VIGS system on different maize inbred lines. (a) MRFV symptoms and PDS photobleaching induced by MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ on B73, Mo17, and Va35 maize inbred lines compared to plants inoculated with MRFV‐WT or noninoculated healthy controls (HC). (b) RT‐PCR detection of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ and MRFV‐WT in systemic leaves of B73, Mo17, and Va35 plants 30 dpi. Noninoculated plants (HC) and water (H₂O) were included as negative controls; MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ plasmid (PL) served as a PCR‐positive control (not shown). M: 100 bp DNA marker. (c) Northern blot analysis of VIGS induced by MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ on B73, Mo17, and Va35 maize inbred lines. Blot hybridizations were as described for Figure 3. PDS mRNA and siRNA levels in MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀‐infected plants are shown (lanes 1–2; 7–8; and 13–14) compared to MRFV infected (lanes 3–4; 9–10; and 15–16) and healthy plants (lanes 5–6; 11–12; and 17–18). The relative levels of PDS mRNA were determined as described in Figure 3