FIGURE 2.
Virulence assay of R. solanacearum mutants with T3Es deletion of single-family on tobacco plants with leaf infiltration. Virulence of OE1-1 (the wild type strain) was compared with that of (A) RK7022 (Dgala), (B) RK7060 (Dskwp), (C) RK7057 (Dhlk), and (D) RK7167 (Dawr). About 50 μl of a bacterial suspension at an OD600 of 0.1 was infiltrated into N. benthamiana leaves with a blunt-end syringe. Wilt symptoms were inspected daily and scored on a disease index scale from 0 to 4 (0, no wilting; 1, 1–25% wilting; 2, 26–50% wilting; 3, 51–75% wilting; and 4, 76–100% wilted or dead). Each assay was repeated with at least four biological replicates using 12 plants per trial. The mean values of all experiments were averaged with standard error (SE). A t-test was conducted each day, and asterisks indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05).