Figure 3.

Response of latex- and laticifer-defective E. lathyris plants to infestation by the spider mite T. urticae.

(A) Artificial infestation of wild-type, pil1, and pil10 plants with T. urticae; infested plants were inspected visually for 49 days post infestation (dpi) to monitor chlorosis and plant damage. Scale bars represent 1 cm.

(B) Detail of a female, a male, and egg deposition of T. urticae on the leaf surface of pil1 plants. Scale bars represent 500 μm.

(C) Quantification of the number of mites identified at different stages, including adults (both male and female), nymphs, larvae, and eggs at 14 dpi. Error bars represent mean ± SE (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.0001).

(D) Strong proliferation of T. urticae in pil1 and pil10 plants occurs most prominently on the abaxial side of the leaf, whereas no mites are observed in wild-type plants. Scale bars represent 2 mm.

(E) Severe infestation was observed in pil1 and pil10 mutants 35 dpi while wild-type plants, growing side by side, showed no signs of infestation. Scale bars represent 25 cm.